PALABORA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- People / Leadership / Executive
- Senior Manager Concentrator
- Senior Manager Concentrator, UG Construction & Vent Shaft
Job Titles:
- Chemical Engineer
- PMC in 2009 As a Superintendent
Brave Mushikita is a seasoned Chemical Engineer with more than twenty-seven (27) years of experience in practical operating, technical, project management and leadership positions in various aspects of mining. Having worked his way up in both hydro (aqueous) and pyro (smelting and refining metal concentrate) industries, Brave's experience includes copper and cobalt extraction (leaching); copper smelting and acid manufacturing in Africa (South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia) and Internationally
Brave joined PMC in 2009 as a Superintendent in the Smelter Department and ascended through the ranks. In 20111, Brave was promoted to the position of Manager for Smelter Operations; a position he held until 2017 when he was promoted to Senior Manager for Smelter and Refinery Operations. As a Senior Manager for Smelter and Refinery Operations, Brave is responsible for amongst others, providing strategic direction and leadership to ensure that the Division safely smelt and produce refined copper efficiently and effectively in support of PMC's Strategy.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chartered Governance Institute of Business Management
- People / Leadership / Executive
- Senior Manager Human Resources
Modise's career began in the retail industry where he held various management positions including being a Finance Manager for Woolworths.
He joined Palabora Mining Company (PMC) in 2009 where he served as an Assistant Company Secretary and was later appointed as a Company Secretary and Principal Officer for Palabora Pension Fund in February 2016.
Modise is a qualified member of the Chartered Governance Institute of Business Management, Institute of Directors South Africa, and Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa. He recently got appointed as the PMC Human Resources Senior Manager, in June 2021.
Qualifications
Governance and Administration (Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa) Member of the Chartered Institute of Business Management Member of the Institute of Directors South Africa.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- People / Leadership / Executive
Ms Nakene was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Ex Officio Board member, with effect from 18 April 2011. Ms Nakene joins the Company with broad experience in finance, management and internal and external auditing. She is a chartered accountant CA (SA) and certified internal auditor (CIA). She has held numerous senior positions, including Executive General Manager, Audit Partner and as Chief Financial Officer for the department of Sport, Arts and Culture as well as Chairperson of the Audit Committee for Food and Beverage SETA.
Ms Nakene holds a B. Comm (Accounting) Cum Laude (University of the North); B. Compt Honours (University of South Africa); and a Higher Diploma in Taxation Law (Wits). In addition to this, she is a member of several professional organisations including the Institute of Internal Auditors and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Qualifications
B. Comm (Accounting) Cum Laude, B. Compt Honors, Higher Diploma in Taxation Law
Job Titles:
- Procurement Specialist Buy / Finance
Job Titles:
- Vermiculite Global Supply Chain Manager
Job Titles:
- People / Leadership / Executive
- Senior Manager Marketing, Sales & Business Strategy
Lance commenced his journey at Palabora, 22 years ago. Together with a short stint, working as a Business Analyst at Richard's Bay Minerals, he has acquired more than 2 decades of experience at Palabora. He has worked his way bottom-up through various areas of the mining business, and prides himself as a results-driven go-getter determined to create value for the local communities, employees, shareholders, and the downstream copper cable & wire market in South Africa.
His track record speaks for itself, having won the Best Employee Award (2012) under the previous ownership of Rio Tinto, he was behind the Business Case for PMC's flagship $1 billion Lift II Feasibility Study, the lifeline for the Ba-Phalaborwa area. Lance was also instrumental during the business recovery of 2018-2019, and the slag re-mining success story of the time, ensuring the viable continuity of the mine. In his most recent achievement (2021-2022) he has taken the lead to redefine the vermiculite market strategy in the USA, transitioning the supply chain to work better during this difficult time. Lance leads a globally diversified sales & marketing team, across different continents, managing PMC's mineral sales portfolio of copper, magnetite, and vermiculite products.
His vision is help see PMC through a new chapter, bringing the Lift II metals to market. He believes in the team approach and is passionate about creating lasting value for all Palabora stakeholders.
Qualifications
Lance holds a National Diploma in Analytical Chemistry from Durban University of Technology, a Certificate in Finance from Wits Business School, and a Certificate of Achievement from the International Institute of Trade & Industry of Southern Africa (ITRISA)
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- People / Leadership / Executive
- PMC As a General Manager
Mr Guangmin Wei joined PMC as a General Manager in 2018. He resumed his new responsibility as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2021 to support the PMC broader strategy. He is a Material Scientist Engineer with more than twenty years experience. Mr Wei is from HBIS Dufero China where he held the position of the Chief Operation Officer responsible for manufacturing and processing. Prior to that, Mr Wei was the Vice President for processing and manufacturing at Handan Steel Group. He was also responsible for managing development and implementation of sales strategy and plans, management of technology leadership and quality control.
Job Titles:
- Vermiculite Global Client Manager
Job Titles:
- Mining Engineer
- People / Leadership / Executive
- Senior Manager Operations & Lift II Project
Sam Ngidi is a Mining Engineer with more than 20 years of massive mining experience in operations, technical and projects environment. Sam has held numerous management positions within Palabora Copper which includes Lift II Mine Study Manager, Project Manager Shafts & Technical Services as well as Project Execution Manager prior to his current appointment.
He is a registered Project Management Professional PMI, competent person for Mine Reserves, member of the South African Institute for Mining & Metallurgy SAIMM including the Association of Mine Managers of South Africa AMMSA. Sam has a passion in leading teams that are driven by new challenges and continuous improvement.
He has a track record of managing successful multi-disciplinary teams and have led teams in operations and projects that brought about change and preserved/improved value through innovative technical solutions.
Qualifications
Sam holds a BSc Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand , Mine Managers Certificate of Competency and certificate in Project Management.
Job Titles:
- People / Leadership / Executive
- Senior Manager Supply Chain & Logistics
Sanda is a supply chain and logistics management professional with over 20 years combined experience in mining, trading, petroleum, agricultural and third party logistics sectors. He has gained regional and international experience with leading multi-national organizations in various specialist and management roles.
Throughout the years at Palabora, Sanda has been instrumental in sales growth by improving supply to customer; unlocking value from rail, port and vessel operations. In his current role, he is responsible for the supply chain and logistics strategy direction and execution from mine to market.
Qualifications
Sanda holds a Maritime Studies Diploma, Honours and Master's Degree from Technikon Natal and the University of Stellenbosch respectively. He also holds a General Management Programme resident certificate from the University of Cambridge UK and the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford UK.
Job Titles:
- Mining Company As Senior Analyst
- People / Leadership / Executive
- Senior Manager Smelter Retrofit
Willie joined Palabora Mining Company as Senior Analyst in the Chemical Laboratory and has worked his way up through the ranks. He has extensive experience in the operational and technical aspects of copper smelting and sulphuric acid production. He has gained valuable experience as the manager in several service departments in the Palabora environment i.e. Safety, Process Improvement, Maintenance Planning, Information Services and Project Management.
Willie was involved with the Lift II project as the project manager for all the Surface Works including the two magnetite projects. He was the leader of the team that did the successful recovery of the production shaft after the rope failure in 2012.
Qualifications
Willie holds a Bachelor of Science degree (majors in Chemistry & Statistics) and a Management Develop Program certificate, both from UNISA.