Harry Chapman, recently appointed Director of Content for Mining Indaba says “we are taking the event back to its core focus on investment and significantly improving mining company and investor participation.

“I would also like to introduce myself. I’ve recently taken over the lead on content for Mining Indaba. Over the past weeks, I’ve been speaking to and meeting with investors, miners, governments and other stakeholders, including the likes of Appian Capital, Anglo American and RBC Capital Markets.

“I’ve seen an optimistic set of themes emerging including more appetite for exploration, renewed investor interest and improved sustainability strategies. For me, it’s about catching the next wave of growth in the mining sector. I’ve seen particular excitement around battery metals (nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium and cobalt) – in fact one of our internal divisions is getting plenty of requests for information from investors – and improved interest in other minerals.

“What will be different:

·         A much larger investor representation on the program with 40 speakers planned from the investment community (private equity, streaming firms, asset managers, VCs and hedge funds) – investor registrations have increased already thanks to our new investor program

·         A focus on battery metals and how Africa can ensure it takes advantage of buzz around these commodities

·         A significant involvement from Asian and Chinese SOEs, something we’ve been lacking at Indaba in the past.

“Who’s confirmed so far? Here’s a selection of our leading speakers and there are many more to come:

·         Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman and Founder, Ivanhoe Mines

·         Mark Bristow, CEO, Randgold Resources

·         Dambia Moyo, Macroeconomist

·         Rick Rule, President and CEO, Sprott US Holdings

·         Hon. Dan Kazungu, Mining Cabinet Secretary, Kenya

·         Nick Holland, CEO, Goldfields.