9 - 10 June 2026
Country Club Johannesburg, Auckland Park
Country Club Johannesburg
Auckland Park
9 - 10 June 2026
Conference Draft Programme
The organisers reserve the right to amend the programme and timings of the agenda at their discretion.
09:00
09:15
Chairman’s Welcome and Introduction
Presenter:
Bernard Swanepoel
09:15
09:35
Session One
Global commodities outlook – trends, risks and opportunities
Presenter:
Peter Schmitz
, Research Director – M&M Demand, Wood Mackenzie
09:35
09:45
Audience Q&A led by the Chair
09:45
10:20
Session Two
How can junior miners take advantage of the growing demand for critical minerals and metals?
Presenter:
Yamin Yakoob
, Executive Advisor, McKinsey & Company
10:20
10:30
Audience Q&A led by the Chair
10:30
11:00
Morning refreshments and networking
11:00
12:15
Session Three
Showcasing junior mining companies, projects and investment opportunities
11:00
11:15
Unlocking long-life gold production in the Witwatersrand Basin
Presenter:
Simon Whyte
, CFO, West Wits Mining
11:15
11:30
Integrating Longonjo into the western rare earth value chain
Presenter:
Tim George
, CEO, Pensana
11:30
11:45
Zandkopsdrift: the lowest cost new source for magnet rare earths and battery grade manganese sulphate
Presenter:
James Kenny
, CEO & Co-Founder, Frontier Rare Earths
11:45
12:05
Not every rock is a mine
In conversation with:
James Campbell
, Managing Director, Botswana Minerals plc
12:05
12:15
Audience Q&A led by the Chair
12:15
12:50
Session Four
Technology and digital transformation in junior mining and exploration
How are technology developments, e.g. AI, remote sensing, data analytics, changing the junior mining and exploration space?
How do these new technologies help to decrease risk, increase productivity and safety and reduce costs?
Are they financially feasible? Is the lack of legacy systems and equipment an advantage for juniors?
What new skills are going to be needed? Are junior miners better placed than majors to retrain/upskill mineworkers? Does this enable juniors to attract more young people and women into the sector?
How do these new technologies help to decrease risk, increase productivity and safety and reduce costs?
Are they financially feasible? Is the lack of legacy systems and equipment an advantage for juniors?
What new skills are going to be needed? Are junior miners better placed than majors to retrain/upskill mineworkers? Does this enable juniors to attract more young people and women into the sector?
Chair:
Prof. Glen Nwaila
, Director of the African Research Centre for Ore Systems Science (CORES), University of the Witwatersrand
12:50
13:00
Audience Q&A led by the Chair
13:00
14:00
Lunch and networking
14:00
15:15
Session Five
Showcasing junior mining companies, projects and investment opportunities
14:00
14:15
Discovering gold in Namibia
Presenter:
Carl Joone
, President & Co-Founder, Ongwe Minerals
14:15
14:30
Benoni’s backyard bullion – dividends in the dirt
Presenter:
Sean Meadon
, Technical Director, Gold Ore (Pty) Limited
14:30
14:45
Lexington Gold – unlocking the next phase of South African gold
Presenter:
Bernard Olivier
, CEO, Lexington Gold
14:45
15:05
A Conversation with…
In conversation with:
Jason Brewer
, CEO, Marula Mining plc
15:05
15:15
Audience Q&A led by the Chair
15:15
15:45
Afternoon refreshments and networking
15:45
16:30
Session Six
Showcasing junior mining companies, projects and investment opportunities
15:45
16:00
Motjoli Iron Ore: Unlocking value in the iron ore industry
Presenter:
Nchakha Moloi
, Chairman, Motjoli Resources
16:00
16:15
Metals in demand: Angola
Presenter:
David Crook
, Managing Director, Tyranna Resources (Angola)
16:15
16:30
From beneath the surface of global supply chains: Tanzania’s critical minerals rise – with graphite in the mix
Presenter:
Christer Mhingo
, Executive Director, Azurite Management and Consultancy Ltd
16:30
16:35
Chairman’s Closing Remarks and end of conference
16:35
18:00
Networking Drinks
18:00
End of Conference
The organisers reserve the right to amend the programme and timings of the agenda at their discretion.