Michael Arendsen, SC Sustainability, Supply Chain Management, Exxaro

Michael is a strategic sourcing, logistics and supply chain specialist who blends his experience across the mining, financial, manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors to achieve sustainable improvements in profit, stakeholder support and environmental impact. Michael’s keen interest is in collaboration across the supply chain and the efficient use of resources through shared learning. He has qualifications from the University of Pretoria, University of South Africa and the GIBS Business School across the fields of Supply Chain, Business and Information Management as well as Process Optimisation based on Lean and Six Sigma principles.

Ahsan Mahboob, Head of Sibanye-Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory (DigiMine)

Mr Ahsan Mahboob is the Head of Sibanye-Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory (DigiMine) at University of The Witwatersrand. DigiMine is hosted by the Wits Mining Institute (WMI), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE).

He holds a Masters degree in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems. Due to his extraordinary academic performance, he has earned the President’s Gold Medal during his master degree. Besides that, he has published several research papers in national and international research journals/conferences. During his professional career as an Assistant Professor in Geospatial Technologies, he carried out projects for government and industry organizations. His personal research interests include satellite technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), remote sensing, GIS, smart mineral explorations, data science, artificial intelligence and cyber-physical spatial data modelling. Under his leadership, DigiMine will initiate several new projects, starting with the integration of technologies for smart, secure and sustainable mining – for decision-making from a control room environment.

Mike Jackson, Founder and Director, Ramjack Technology Solutions

Mr. Jackson has been working in the mining technology field for 25 years. He’s enjoyed a career spread almost equally between mine operations (Barrick Gold), advanced technology management (Modular Mining Systems), management consulting (Bluffside Ventures) and system integration (Ramjack Technology Solutions). During his career, Mr. Jackson has been responsible for defining and developing business plans and system justifications for advanced mining technology companies and solutions, including: managing the commercial elements and implementation of autonomous haulage solutions and other stand-alone mine management, safety and productivity improvement applications. Mr. Jackson has a strong background and senior-level experience in solving operational challenges and achieving business growth objectives related to real-time mining technology. Mr. Jackson has lived and worked in the USA, Canada, Australia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East and prefers working in traditionally ‘demanding environments’ including company turnarounds and emerging market development. At Ramjack Technology Solutions, Mr. Jackson is the President & CEO, responsible for idea creation, international business development, technology partner relationships and company leadership.

Phil Piper, Managing Director, Groundwork Consulting

Phil graduated from University of Wales in 1980 with a degree in Mining Engineering, followed by a Masters in Engineering from University of the Witwatersrand in 1990. His formulative years were spent in mining technology and rock mechanics at the Chamber of Mines Research Organisation under the guidance of Professors Miklos Salamon, Horst Wagner and Jim Galvin. Phil then spent 3 years with HL&H Mining Timber as business development manager before starting his own consulting business, Groundwork Consulting, which now employs 20 people and specialises in the monitoring the stability of mining and engineering structures. His particular areas of technical interest are the design and development of instrumentation for monitoring the health and performance of mining excavations and the application of geotechnical information for mine optimisation. He is a fellow of both SANIRE and the SAIMM. He has served on SAIMM Council, chaired their Technical Progamme Committee for a number of years, been a Council member of SANIRE as well as a past editor of both the International Rock Mechanics News Journal and SANIRE News.

Liv Carroll, Senior Principal, Applied Intelligence, Mining Transformation, Accenture

Liv is a Senior Principal with Accenture Applied Intelligence and works with clients to address business needs, define strategy, develop data-driven operating models and transform working practices with the goals of improved safety, sustainability, margin and productivity. Leveraging advanced platform and mobile technology, data science, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, Liv applies an understanding of Behavioural Science to engender adaptation in a rapidly changing world and adoption of tools and working practice for better business. Liv is a Chartered Geologist with 18 years’ experience in the extractives industries, supported by a Masters in Mineral Project Appraisal from Imperial College, a BSc (Hons) in Geology from Durham University and an Executive Course in Behavioural Science from London School of Economics & Political Science. Liv is an active member of GMG; scrutineers for Chartership at the Geological Society; and has been convening the London Mining Sundowner, the UK’s largest monthly networking event, since 2007.

James Cleverley, Global Product Manager – Geosciences, IMDEX

James Cleverley is the UK-based Global Product Manager at ASX-listed Imdex Limited, a leading METS company providing technology for real-time sub-surface intelligence in the minerals industry under its REFLEX and AMC brands. James completed his PhD in hydrothermal geochemistry at University of Leeds before moving to Australia as a postdoc at JCU in the Predictive Mineral Discovery CRC. Following this he joined CSIRO in Computational Geoscience and X-Ray Characterisation, later involved in the Deep Exploration Technologies CRC and development of the Lab-at-Rig. James joined Imdex in 2014 where he has learnt much about the process of commercialisation of technology and the challenges of introducing new disruptive technology products to market. Experience in academia, applied research and business, and being exposed to the challenges of the mineral industry in a range of commodities has been an amazing experience but may have led to a few grey hairs.

David Osborn, Managing Director, Dassault Systèmes

Mr. Osborn graduated with Honours from the University of Natal and received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Geology. He has a Master of Business of Administration from the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria. With over 20 years’ experience in the mining technology industry, Mr Osborn has worked with many mining companies across multiple commodities in understanding and deploying their digital technology requirements. Mr Osborn began his career at Digital Mining Services in a mining consultant role, before joining Dassault Systemes in 2006 to work with mining companies across Africa, India and more recently the Middle East. Mr. Osborn’s deep domain knowledge has allowed him to help mining companies understand and adopt new technologies from other industries, to start them on their digital transformation journey. Mr Osborn is the Managing Director for Dassault Systemès South Africa, responsible for deployment of the company’s technology across the Middle East and Africa

Wynand Van Straaten, Mining Development Manager, Exxaro

Bio to come

Eeje Van Jaarsveld, Solutions Analyst, Exxaro

Eeje Van Jaarsveld is an experienced Solutions Analyst with a demonstrated history of working in the mining & metals industry. Skilled in Systems Engineering, Mining, Project Management, and Engineering maintenance. Strong information technology background with a passion for Autonomous mining equipment. Education includes a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering and a Honours degree in Engineering and Technology Management from the University of Pretoria.

Anesh Naidoo, Capital Sales Manager, Epiroc

Bio to come

Vikesh Chiba, Product Manager Automation, Epiroc

Qualified mechanical engineer with a passion for technological developments aimed at automation. Work experience includes design and projects in the automotive, production, rail, military and mining sectors. Have developed a strong skills set relating to mechanical/mechatronic design and project management.

Wayne Sterley, Business Manager, Epiroc

Wayne is an experienced mining engineer with more than 30 years in the South African Mining industry as an end user and supplier. Skilled in Mining Methods, Business improvement and Change management processes. Education includes Mining Degree and a MBA with Research conducted on “Barriers to implementing new technologies in the Mining Industry.”

Kurt Crossman, Engineering Manager, Sedna

Kurt is a mechanical engineer with a deep interest in software development and automation. He leads the research and development team at Sedna where his focus is on guiding clients through the process of implementing an autonomous haulage system (AHS) on mines and development of Sedna’s V2X offering for AHS. He has recently installed and run ASI’s AHS system and run Sedna’s first successful V2X trial at Nevada Gold Mines where Sedna was able to leverage the technology to increase safety and productivity. Kurt will soon be based in Australia where Sedna has been contracted to implement and integrate both AHS and V2X technologies at Royhill’s mine where a total of 77 haul trucks will be retrofitted, making it the largest autonomous haul truck fleet in operation.