Nikisi Lesufi joined the Minerals Council (then Chamber of Mines of South Africa) in 2002 as an Environmental Advisor. He was appointed to his current position in 2008. He previously lectured at the University of the North (now University of Limpopo) and served the then Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in various capacities such as Deputy Director: Water Quality, Director: Water Resources Management and Head of the regional office of DWAF in the Free State.

Yogan Reddy is a Partner in PwC’s Capital Projects & Infrastructure practice and leads the water and urban infrastructure teams. He is a registered Professional Engineer and holds degrees in engineering (BSc. Eng.) and commerce (MBA). Yogan has considerable experience in the public and private sectors and has advised a range of government departments on institutional arrangements, policy and strategy.  He has consulted across the continent, having worked with utilities in Malawi, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Nigeria. Yogan has advised the Department of Water & Sanitation on both water services and water resources policy. He has more recently been involved in the restructure of the South African water sector through the institutional reform process, developing the regulatory framework, drafting the raw water pricing strategy and supporting the water services and water management institutions. He has also been involved in revising the water security strategy for the power generation sector, undertaking feasibility studies on mine water reuse, strategic cost reduction on water costs for mining and industry and developing go-to market strategies for a mine water treatment technology company. 

Mongezi Veti holds a Master’s degree in Business Leadership (MBL) from UNISA. He also holds a National Higher Diploma in Metalliferous Mining and National Diploma in Coal Mining from the then Technikon Witwatersrand and now University of Johannesburg. In 2009, he completed advanced management program at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania in the USA. He also holds a Mine overseer’s Certificate and Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency for fiery mines. In the early 80s, Mongezi worked for Anglo Gold at Western deep Levels and later joined Sasol Mining in 1994. In 2002, he became Mine Manager at Arnot and was appointed General Manager Area 2 in Exxaro soon after the merger. In 2010, Mongezi was appointed General Manager: Safety Health Environment and Community. In 2012, Mr. Veti was elected President of the South African Colliery Managers’ Association (SACMA). In 2015, Mr. Veti was appointed Executive Head: Sustainability, which is his current position.

Ingrid Watson joined the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI), University of the Witwatersrand as Programme Manager in 2009, where she leads the Centre’s work on environment, biodiversity, mine closure and land use. Ingrid teaches in the Masters programme and supervises MSc students in the faculties of Science and Engineering. Ingrid’s research focus is on socio-ecological systems, with a particular focus on land use and livelihoods post mine closure. Before joining the CSMI, she had a successful career progression working on land reform in government, and then for mining company De Beers. Ingrid holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Science, an MSc in Environment and Society, and an MPhil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management. 

Bernard is the Chairman of the annual Junior Indaba and Joburg Indaba as well as an Executive Director of the SBI. He is a Partner at To-The-Point Growth Specialists as well as a Partner in THINKspiration. He served as Non-Executive Director on the boards of Impala, Zimplats, Eqstra and African Rainbow Minerals Limited. Previous roles include Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Village Main Reef Limited and CEO of Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited. He is Chairman and Managing Partner of MMC (Manganese Metal Company) as well as a non-executive director of African Rainbow Energy Producer (AREP).

Warren Adams is the Founder and Managing Director of Jaro Capital. He is an accounting graduate with an MBA from the Henley Business School. Over the years, Warren has obtained a number of other relevant certificates from The Security Institute of London, The South African Institute of Financial Markets, The Beaufort Institute, SAFEX, and the Princeton Energy Programme. With over two decades’ worth of experience in such varied fields as banking, petrochemicals, mining and refining, Warren has worked for Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank, as well as Sasol Oil and Sasol Trading International (Isle of Mann). He has also served as Group Treasurer for Total, Implats and Rand Refinery.

Marius started with the Department in 1974, has worked in several Directorates and has acquired a solid background in both technical and managerial aspects. He holds a National Diploma and National Higher Diploma in Chemistry. Between 1980 and 1989 he was in charge of the Caledon Bloemfontein Government's Water Scheme, at the time the Department's largest water treatment plant. He was then transferred to the Highveld Region, today called Gauteng Region, and was tasked to manage water quality in the Upper Vaal catchment. Since 2002 he became involved with the AMD challenges in the Witwatersrand. He was appointed as acting Provincial Head in the Gauteng Region during the period January 2014 until August 2015. In 2014, Marius was promoted to Chief Director: Mine Water Management, overseeing mine water management nationally. Since 2018, he has also been responsible for water quality management nationally and serves on several committees dealing with mine water and water quality management.

Khetiwe McClain has distinguished herself as a leading woman in the mining sector for over 15 years. Prior to her mining career she worked at the South African Embassy in Rome, where she promoted the export of all South-African products and the facilitation of bilateral trade initiatives between South Africa and Italy. On her return to South Africa she spent some years working for the Ministry of Minerals and Energy. She went on to hold a number of executive roles in the mining industry, including executive in charge of mineral benefaction at Harmony Gold and CEO of Alexkor Diamond Mine. She was a member of the Industrial Development Committee’s Agency Development and Support Steering Committee and held a number of board positions in executive and non-executive roles. Her non-executive roles included Village Main Reef Mining Company, The Rumelca Group of Companies, AECI Board of Trustees, Mintek, Chairmanship of the Minerals and Petroleum Board of South Africa. Khetiwe holds a degree in fine arts from Italy.