DIMI

Zohreh Fakhraei - DIMI Committee

Full name(s) and surname:
Zohreh Fakhraei

• Company:        Sound Mining
• Designation:     Principal Consultant: Mining
• Qualifications: M.Sc. Eng. (Mining Engineer - Rock Mechanics), B.Sc. Eng. (Mining Engineer),

Short professional biography

Zohreh is a Mining and Geotechnical Engineer with 24 years’ experience in the mining industry, working on various commodities worldwide. She is a Principal Consultant with Sound Mining and have been involved with multiple Conceptual and Feasibility Studies including mine planning, mine design and scheduling of underground and open pit mines.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) in Mining Engineering and a Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Rock Mechanics that she obtained in Iran. She is a registered Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.) with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and a recognised Project Management Professional (PMP).

She left Iran nearly 10 years ago to work at Sound Mining on a three-year contract. She has been fortunate to have been able to continue her career here and now call South Africa her home.

She is also a member of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) and serves on the Institute’s Council, “ESGS” and “DIMI” Committees.

She is one of the first female Mining Engineers to graduates after the Iranian revolution, so she feels proud and passionate to be part of the “DIMI” Committee. Her current contributions as a DIMI committee member focuses on GBV matters.

Kabelo Rathobei - DIMI Committee

Full name(s) and surname:
Kabelo Rathobei

Position:
PhD Candidate Quality Technology and Logistics (Environmental management specialisation)

What contribution do you see yourself making to the DIMI Committee?
I will contribute to the committee with a new and different perspective on issues related to diversity and inclusion in the minerals industry. Having had the opportunity to come into proximity with international culture on diversity and inclusion in the minerals industry, I hope to promote and play an active role in achieving this goal in Southern Africa.

Interactions/activities that you currently participate in within the SAIMM (if applicable):
SAIMM podcast and DIMI Committee

Qualifications:
M.Sc. Sustainable Mining and Remediation Management
BA Geography and Environmental Management

Brief career history:
Currently pursuing a PhD with a research focus on corporate sustainability for social acceptance in the mining context at the Luleå University of Technology, Sweden.
Worked briefly at Mintek, South Africa on mine water treatment technologies.
During my M.Sc. studies in Sustainable Mining and Remediation and Management at the Freiberg University of mining and technology, Germany, I participated in several programmes aimed at responsible production and consumption with a focus on circular economy in the metal and minerals industry, environmental management and recycling, EU legislation and regulation for metal recycling, responsible mining approaches and corporate social responsibility in the minerals industry.

Other industry body affiliations?
EIT RawMaterials Alumni

Social media links or information
 Kabelo Rathobei | LinkedIn

Mark Craig Munroe - DIMI Committee

Full name(s) and surname:
Mark Craig Munroe

Position:
CE: Impala, Rustenburg

What contribution do you see yourself making to the DIMI Committee?
Bringing a perspective on how to leverage Diversity into a competitive operational environment, turning it into a business strength.
Insights into overcoming practical hurdles to improving diversity and inclusivity and ultimately strengthening your workforce.

Interactions/activities that you currently participate in within the SAIMM (if applicable):
Serving on SAIMM council.

Qualifications:
Mark is an ECSA registered mining engineer with a BCom major in Economics and Business Economics as major. He completed the IMDP through Stellenbosch University, did a PMD with GIBS, University of Pretoria and the Young HPM with INSEAD.

Brief career history:
Prior to joining Impala as Chief Executive, Mark was COO for Vedanta and was fortunate to have been responsible for zinc, lead and copper operations in Zambia, Northern Cape, Namibia and Ireland. Prior to this he was EVP for Lonmin responsible for all mining operations. During this period, he also served on the board of the Mine Health and Safety Council. His career started in the goldmines of AngloGold Ashanti where he was a management trainee and later DRDGOLD where he gained experience in a wide variety of areas ranging from processing, tailing retreatment, deep level mining, marginal mines and was fortunate to have also spent a brief stint in Papua New Guinea.

Other industry body affiliations?
Apart from being a Member of the SAIMM serving on Council, Mark is registered with ECSA and a member of AMMSA.

Social media links or information
LinkedIn

Kondwani Banda - DIMI Committee

Full name(s) and surname:
Kondwani Banda

Position:
Project Manager

What contribution do you see yourself making to the DIMI Committee?
Representing the views of the young professionals and youth in mining to address age related challenges and opportunities.

Interactions/activities that you currently participate in within the SAIMM (if applicable):
I am the vice-chairperson of the SAIMM-YPC. I also participate in the TPC committee.

Qualifications:

BSc Chemical Engineering
MSc. Metallurgical Engineering
Project Management Professional (PMP)

Brief career history:

Currently a project manager in the Hatch technologies business unit that services Africa, Europe and the Middle East (AEM). My current focus is on supporting existing clients in the PGM and ferroalloys industry, including implementing solutions for new clients related to Hatch proprietary furnace electrode technologies

I am a professionally registered chemical engineer (ECSA) and a certified project management professional (PMP®) with experience in all stages of the project management life cycle. I am an internationally published researcher, with 8 years’ worth of pyrometallurgy experience and a strong background in plant operations, commissioning, leadership, and customer relations. I have experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and managing more than five projects simultaneously and ensuring timely project delivery.

In addition to my technical experience, I also have operational excellence experience through the execution of operational business improvement projects that contributed to the strategic and business improvement directives of one of the major platinum producers in SA.

Other industry body affiliations?
ECSA

Social media links or information
Kondwani W. (Wesley) Banda (Pr. Eng., PMP®) | LinkedIn