SMI-JKMRC Seminar: MINING IS ON THE CUSP OF GAME-CHANGING INNOVATION

NATASCHA VILJOEN, GROUP HEAD PROCESSING, ANGLO AMERICAN

Anglo American has consistently invested in the development of technology over the years in order to exploit new orebodies, improve metal recovery and to stay ahead of its competitors. From the 1970’s the focus was on building substantial in-house expertise through building research and technology Centre’s, supplemented by academic research at Universities. Although this produced notable outcomes essential to the development of the company, it was concluded in the early part of this century that the considerable costs could not be justified in a tighter financial climate.

Anglo American has since shifted to a more agile approach to technical development that aims to draw upon a greater breadth of capability across all industries.

Through FutureSmart Mining™ we are redefining our mining innovation cycle. Our motivation is to search for opportunities where “step change” value can be realized quickly - through rapid adaptation and application of technology - at the same time as developing long term options. We do both while considering the issues and impacts across our whole mining value chain.

We fundamentally believe that broad collaboration is the best way to get to the best solutions. Broad collaboration in which Universities have an important role to play.

Bio

Natascha is responsible for Group Processing a function which provides specialist technical support and service for safe and sustained operational performance, optimises resource and capital utilisation through people, process, and plant enhancements, and realizes value from our endowment through implementation of step change technologies and processes. Natascha holds a Metallurgical Engineering degree from North West University (University of Potchefstroom) in South Africa and an Executive MBA from the University of Cape Town (Cum Laude). She serves on advisory boards at the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Pretoria and the JKMRC in Brisbane and has previously held a non-executive position on the Kumba Board. Her experience stretches globally across most commodities and disciplines in the mining industry including Sustainability, Mining, Processing, Marketing, Strategy Development and External Relations & Communications. Prior to her role at Anglo American her career developed through roles held at ISCOR, Anglo Gold, Anglo Platinum, Samancor Chrome, BHPBilliton and Lonmin. Most of these roles were in operations with the last 3 years being technically focused.