Top 10 South African Women In Mining

Top 10 South African Women In Mining is a very important feature because African and South African women have been marginalised from sectors such as mining and Industry. South African women have not allowed the stereotypes and red tape to dictate their roles in these sector. Below is a list of Top 10 South African Women In Mining.

Lindiwe Nakedi

Lindiwe Nakedi is Owner and Managing Director of Gubhani Exploration. Gubhani is a surface exploration drilling company servicing the mining industry, servicing organisations such as Coal of Africa, Exxaro, Nkomati Mine of ARM, South32 and De Beers. Gubhani is a 100% black female owned drilling company.
She has 8years experience in the surface core drilling industry.She is the current Chairperson of Women in Mining SA (WiMSA). WiMSA is a not for profit organization that aims to provide a forum to facilitate the growth and development as well as participation of women in the mining industry.

Lindi is a multidimensional entrepreneur with a drive and passion for business. She has experience in Search and Recruitment, marketing and communications, brand development and business management. She also co-founded a successful and influential recruitment agency within the Supply Chain Management industry called the The People Shop. And she is founder of an NPO called Shekinah Academy of Arts which is an arts extra mural activities school teaching dance, music and fine arts. This is a “heart” project for her as it’s a part of her life’s passion to expose children in the townships to the arts.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Industrial Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand and completed the New Managers Program from Wits Business School focused on Business Management

Lindi has been married for thirteen years and is a mother of three and this role she considers her most important role over any other as family is the reason for all her pursuits. She believes her purpose is to leave a legacy and give back to the next generation the resources and skills to take them to the next level of achievements possible.

Megan Becker

Megan Becker is a Senior Research Officer leading the process mineralogy initiative in the Centre for Minerals Research in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. She has a background in geology (BSc Hons, MSc – University of Cape Town) and a PhD in process mineralogy from the University of Pretoria (2009). Her research interests focus on understanding both the effect mineralogy has on the beneficiation process and the effect of the beneficiation process on the mineralogy, and how one can best use mineralogy information. She has a keen interest in teaching mineralogy and in mineralogical analysis techniques, and currently manages the QEMSCAN facility in the CMR. She has supervised close to 20 postgraduate students and has over 50 peer reviewed publications in international journals and conference proceedings in the area of minerals beneficiation (including comminution, flotation, hydrometallurgy and environmental aspects such as acid rock drainage).

Olebogeng Sentsho

Olebogeng Sentsho is a serial entrepreneur with interests in mining and energy. She is currently the Founder and Head of Operations at Yeabo Mining, a strategic waste management company with plants in and around Limpopo.
Olebogeng studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Business Administration.

Mrs Sentsho is also the Founding Chief Executive officer of the Mining Innovation Initiative of South Africa: a non-profit organisation of businesses and individuals in mining and mining services. MIISA works to promote, enhance, innovate and improve the mining climate in South Africa by catalysing innovation and promoting thought leadership and mining development to the general public, protecting the rights of mining businesses, and assisting these businesses to improve their sales and profits while actively enhancing their contribution to the communities in which they exist.

A recipient of the inaugural “Outstanding Woman in Mining Award” at the Youth in Mining Business awards, The Head of the Mining and Technical Engineering Services Sector at the Progressive Youth in Business Organisation and a panelist at the recently held “Youth in Mining Procurement Transformation Summit”, Olebogeng is passionate about investment, the African economy, mining and socially responsible business practices. She believes that a more structured and Afro-centric approach to mining will grow the African economy and enable Africa to benefit from the minerals it rightfully owns.

Olebogeng’s short term career objective is to catalyse the creation of South Africa’s ter-tiary mining industry: where the industry will interact directly with raw minerals and benefiate them. To this end, she wants to establish a steel foundry that interacts with iron ore throughout its extensive value chain. Olebogeng is of the opinion that this will create jobs and empower those employed with skills to expand on this value chain and become their own bosses, running businesses that work in tandem with the steel factory.

Her long term career objective is to create other industrialists throughout Africa who share the vision of a prosperous and economically active continent driven by Africans for Afri-cans. Olebogeng believes it is incumbent on the youth to take advantage of its opportuni-ties and replicate them for others on the continent. Mrs Sentsho believes in the dawn of Africa’s secondary economy driven by industry and the green economy.

Zenzi Natasha Awases

Zenzi Natasha Awases is a geologist with 13 years experience in diamond exploration and mining. She started her career as a graduate geologist at Namdeb in 2005 where she was employed as a field geologist for 2 years before progressing to a Senior Geologist role in both the exploration and production departments.

In 2012, she was transferred to Debmarine Namibia where she is currently employed in the exploration section as a Senior Project geologist. In April 2017, she was chosen as the president for the first ever Women in Mining Association of Namibia (WiMAN).

She has a particular interest in seeing more women in this previously male dominated industry. Zenzi immensely enjoys training and mentoring young geologists. She is a motivational leader and has a contagious enthusiasm and passionate belief in people that inspires them to become prouder, stronger and more valuable contributors to their organization.

She holds B.Tech (Geology) from the Tshwane University of Technology and a B.Sci (Honors) in Geology from the University of Stellenbosch. She is currently a candidate for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.

Clare Appleyard

Clare Appleyard is the co-founder and Diamond Specialist at Katannuta Diamonds. A recipient of a De Beers bursary, Clare studied geology at the University of Cape Town, graduating with a Masters Degree in 2000.

As part of the De Beers “Geologist in Training” programme, she was exposed to all aspects of diamond mining and diamond exploration and in 2001 started work at the De Beers Geoscience Centre in Crown Mines, Johannesburg. Over the course of 6 years she was involved in both diamond research and geochronology, assisting in the on-going hunt for new kimberlites.

After a brief detour as a Mineralogist at Anglo American Research Laboratories, Clare was introduced to the world of cut and polished diamonds and resigned from her corporate life in 2007, to start Katannuta Diamonds with her partner.

For the last 11 years, she has combined her love of science and diamonds with the challenging industry of retail diamonds, gemstones and jewellery. With a high focus on education, Katannuta Diamonds has established itself as one of South Africa’s leading bespoke jewellery manufacturers.

Her energetic enthusiasm, combined with knowledge and a passion for diamonds and gemstones has led to Clare being a sought-after speaker for those wanting to learn more about this fascinating, and often misunderstood, industry. As a current participant in the global Cherie Blair Foundation for Women Mentorship programme, Clare is committed to encouraging female entrepreneurship across Africa.”

Makhosazana (Khosi) Sibisi

Makhosazana (Khosi) Sibisi is the Chief Executive Officer of Khosi has BA (Social Science) from The City College of the City Universities of New York- USA, Diploma in Supply Chain Management from The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University-USA. Khosi has held executive and non-executive positions in some of the South African Blue-Chip companies like Young & Rubicam, Telkom SA, Harmony Gold, Peregrine Ltd. and Hyprop Ltd.

Khosi was a co-founder and CEO of WaterBearer Sustainable Development Khusela Women Investments, a company that started coal mining operations in the Mpumalanga area. She is currently a Board Member of HCI Coal and Ori Professionals.

Deshnee Naidoo

Deshnee Naidoo is the CEO of Africa Base Metals & Konkola Copper Mines,Vedanta Limited. Deshnee Naidoo has been the Chief Executive Officer of Konkola Copper Mines at Vedanta Resources Plc since July 2018 and was its Chief Executive Officer of Africa Base Metals since May 2018. Ms. Naidoo served as the Chief Executive Officer of Zinc International & Copper Mines Tasmania at Vedanta Resources from February 2015 to May 2018. Ms. Naidoo joined Vedanta Group in 2014. She has over 20 years of experience in the resources industry including platinum, thermal coal and manganese and zinc. Prior to joining the Group, she was with Anglo American as Chief Financial Officer – Thermal Coal in South Africa since 2011. She had previously held various technical and commercial positions across Anglo American. Ms. Naidoo joined Anglo American in 1998 as a trainee metallurgist at the Precious Metals Refinery and over a 15 year span she held various roles including Process Engineering (Corporate Office), Process Control, Strategic Long Term Planning, Corporate Finance, Chief Executive Officer’s Office and Chief Financial Officer – Thermal Coal at Anglo American in which her responsibilities entailed management of two commodity groupings (thermal coal and manganese) across three regions (South Africa, South America and Australia). She serves as a Director of THL Zinc Namibia Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Skorpion Zinc (Proprietary) Limited, Skorpion Mining Company (Proprietary) Limited and Black Mountain Mining Proprietary Limited. She has been a Director of Copper Mines of Tasmania Pty Ltd since April 17, 2015. She has been a Director of Thalanga Copper Mines Pty Ltd. since April 17, 2015. Ms. Naidoo was awarded the JCI/Anglo Platinum bursary in 1994 to study Bachelor of Science (Chemical Engineering) at University of Natal, Durban, South Africa and Certification in Finance and accounting from University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Mrs Farana Boodhram

Farana is the founder and CEO of Avita Mining and managing director of Forever Farana Coveralls with 18 years of executive leadership experience in the logistics and mining industry. She is responsible for the design and patenting of a world-first protective garment that women can wear underground, securing their dignity and safety whilst giving them the freedom to perform their tasks unhindered. These overalls are proudly South African manufactured by people with a disability- supporting her mission to make a difference by creating opportunity for the less fortunate while eradicating poverty.

Her hands-on management approach and experience in both the boardroom and the mineshaft has contributed to her forging strategic alliances with numerous corporate leaders.

Farana is passionate about expanding opportunities for women in business and is actively involved in numerous projects designed to empower women through entrepreneurship, motivation and mentoring by sharing her own personal advice and challenges as a leader in a male-dominated industry.

Farana has received numerous professional and entrepreneur awards including the GROW Fellowship Award through Vital Voices Grow founded by Hilary Clinton, World Women Super Achiever Award presented at the Femina World Women Leadership Congress in Mumbai & Standard Bank Women’s High Growth Accelerator, amongst others. She graduated from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business with an MBA Executive and is the Vice Chairperson of the Graduate School of Business Alumni Board.

Dr Gargi Mishra

Entrepreneurial thought leader with demonstrated hands-on experience in engaging mining and metals clients over technology, digitalisation and innovation. Passionate about creating an enabling environment for Mining Innovation in Africa.

Gargi has worked in mining and exploration sector for about sixteen years, her work took her to remote exploration camps and mine sites in Canada, Angola, DR Congo, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Australia, and India. She has successfully managed, mentor and trained cross-cultural team across the globe.

She holds a Ph.D. in Geometallurgy from the University of Johannesburg. Her Research involved geometallurgical characterization of Ni Ore at Nkomati Mine and influence of mineralogy on ore recovery. Findings of this study are published in Mineral Engineering, a well reckoned International Scientific Journal and were also presented in several National-International conferences.

She is the recipient of “FEMINA WOMEN SUPER ACHIEVER AWARD 2017” issued by 4th WORLD WOMEN LEADERSHIP CONGRESS (WWLC). This award celebrates the role played by women as leaders, executioners, and decision makers in various fields. The World Women Leadership Congress & Awards were launched in 2013 in Mauritius, at Africa India Partnership Summit.

She is one of the women in tech entrepreneurs selected for Standard Bank Incubator “First Women InTech Accelerator programme”. This programme is aimed at building the women in technology entrepreneurs pipeline across Africa.

She is nominee for #InspiringFiftySA 2018, Inspiring Fifty is a Dutch based non-profit organization that showcases inspiring female role models in the technology industry in the Netherlands, France, Europe and the Nordics, and South Africa. Built on the core philosophy ”If she can see it, she can be it”, Inspiring Fifty annually awards the 50 most inspiring women in the technology sector.

She is no stranger to the public podium and has been invited on numerous occasions to share her industry insight and achievements as speaker and panelist at various national and global conferences.