After qualifying with a BSc. In Electrical Engineering at UCT in 1996, Freddy commenced working as an engineer at Mondi Kraft, Sasol and then SA Breweries. He achieved registration as a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of SA in 2002; during this period he also established two hardware businesses.

In 2004 Freddy joined Fabchem Mining as Executive Director (Finance and Business Development), becoming a shareholder in 2007. From 2007 his role at Fabchem shifted to Non-Executive Director, while he moved into the banking sector holding managerial positions in business and public sector credit at Standard Bank and ABSA Capital, respectively. Freddy returned full-time to the Fabchem Group in 2015 as CEO.

In addition to his Board position at MEMSA, he is also a Board Member at SACEEC (SA Capital Equipment Export Council) and provides an interface between the two organisations.

Ulrich brings to MEMSA 30 years of professional experience in the Mining, Power and Engineering Industry. He has held executive positions in several multinational companies, and has extensive, multilingual international work experience across four continents. Ulrich’s specific expertise is in the fields of Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing. He has mining experience in Underground Production, Mineral Processing and Exploration Drilling. Ulrich’s current professional role is as the Director for Sales, Marketing and Business Development for HPE. He is a graduate of the Universities of Cape Town and Lausanne in Switzerland.

Anton is a seasoned miner with more than 35 years’ experience in the mining field. After qualifying as a mining engineer and registeringas a professional engineer with ECSA, Anton continued his practical training in soft rock and gold mining. Moving into platinum mining in the late 80s, he gained valuable experience in narrow reef mining. In early 2000 Anton was tasked by Impala to investigate and trial mechanised equipment. The first low and ultra-low profile equipment was introduced to Impala and extensively trialled. Impala further designed with Voestalphine (today part of Sandvik) the first hard rock continuous miner, the oscillator disc cutter that was also trialled at Impala. At Impala Anton developed the interest and saw the opportunity in mechanised mining as a future for mining in Southern Africa.

Anton was seconded in 2004 to Zimplats (Zimbabwe) as COO with a mandate to plan and develop the Ngezi underground bord and pillar mechanised mine. On his return to South Africa he joined the then Aquarius Platinum Mine (now Sibanye-Stillwater Platinum) as operations director and subsequently as MD. Aquarius developed under his leadership to the largest low profile underground mechanised mine, producing 1mt/mnth. This further strengthens Anton’s experience and interest in mechanised mining.

Anton joined AARD Mining Equipment as MD in 2011. AARD is the largest local designer and manufacturer of trackless mobile mining machinery and hydraulic rock drills in Africa. The company is also unique in that it is 90% black owned and its equipment has at least 60% local content.  During the last 6 years AARD designed and added more than 12 new vehicles to its product range.

In 2015 Anton was a founding member of MEMSA and was elected the first chairman of this exciting cluster initiated by the DTi.

Alastair is a Modernisation Advisor to the Chamber of Mines of South Africa. In this regard, he provides the linkage between the Chamber and the CSIR, the DST, MEMSA and the DTI respectively at the Mining Precinct, being a partner and co-director in the Mining Hub. In this capacity, Alastair liaises with the Chamber Members to constantly assess their R&D needs, and to represent the interests of MEMSA and its members.
In addition, Alastair is a founding member of Sebilo Resources, an operating BBBEE mining company, mining manganese in the Northern Cape. This allows him realistic insight into the emerging mining sector and its needs. At Implats he serves as a Non-Executive, Independent Director and Board Member, and chairs the Health, Safety, Environment and Risk Committee. Alastair is the Senior Vice President of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), a learned society that is becoming increasingly involved in the Phakisa initiatives.
From an education and training perspective, Alastair is associated with Wits University and its Mining School, through being a Visiting Lecturer.

Navin Singh is currently the Manager for Mining Research & Development at the CSIR, and Director of the Mining Precinct@Carlow Road.  He has over 20 years of working experience in the Mining, Minerals and Research sector, ranging from technical management at a mine operational level, to strategic executive management within a research organisation. His experience across the sector further includes research management; research publications; technology implementation; corporate management; and business improvement.

Navin has a strong background in Rock Engineering and Mining Engineering, having a Chamber of Mines Rock Engineering Certificate for Metalliferous Mines, and a Masters in Mining Engineering degree from the University of Witwatersrand. These skills are built on the foundation obtained in his undergraduate degree being a Bachelor of Science, from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, with majors in Physics and Applied Physics.

Paul Jourdan is a development expert specialising in resource-based and spatial development strategies. He spent 16 years in Mozambique and Zimbabwe working as a geologist, geophysicist and minerals economist. Subsequently, he worked for the ANC and SA government in positions including ANC Minerals & Energy Policy Coordinator, President of Mintek, and Deputy Director-General in the DTI. He was a major contributor to the AU “Africa Mining Vision” (2009) and “Country Mining Vision” (2014), each aimed at ensuring that African nations benefit from the extraction of their mineral resources. Much of his current work is as advisor to the SA and other African governments and organisations on resource-based equitable growth and mineral value-chains; in addition, he chairs or sits on the Boards of the GGDA, Gauteng IDZ and Coega Development Corporation. At the University of the Witwatersrand he provides supervision to Master’s students and occasionally lectures at the Centre for Sustainable Industrial Development. Since 2016 he has been helping establish and develop the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa cluster organisation (MEMSA).

See Dr Jourdan’s bio above. In his role as MEMSA Project Manager and CEO, he focuses on overseeing the implementation role of the CMO, advocacy, liaising with MEMSA’s partners and government stakeholders, in particular.

Elizabeth has a diverse professional background including education, tourism, research, administration, and a Master’s degree in Geography focused on local economic development.
She has provided administrative support to MEMSA since its inception. In addition to keeping MEMSA’s ‘behind the scenes’ processes on track, she enjoys interacting with member companies and ensuring MEMSA provides them with useful information and support.