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.

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.

Ossie Carstens is a mechanical engineer with a history spanning more than 30 years steeped in the mining industry. He has worked in various roles in the base metal mines, gold mines, coal mines and platinum mines.

He then joined the supply chain in 2003 and worked for Sandvik in various roles and was also intensely involved in developing the local supply chain for Sandvik.

Subsequently he joined Deutz Dieselpower as Managing Director, served as EXCO member of Hudaco Industries and later on as Divisional CEO responsible for Deutz Dieselpower, Belting Supply Services, Deltec Power and Specialized Battery Services.

Ossie currently divides his time between his role as CEO of Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA), an industry cluster organisation, and his own businesses – Lightcycle Energy Management (renewable energy solutions), Induscon West (supplier of industrial goods and services) and Transital Engineering (manufacturer of buckets and frame components for capital mining machines).

He is also a non-executive director on the board of WESSA (Wildlife and Environmental Society of SA) and is the chairman of their Remcom.

Ossie has a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, GCC (Mech) and a MBA (NWU).

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.

Lufuno has a BSc Honor’s Degree in Geology from the University of the Free State. She is currently doing
a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) through the University of South Africa. She is an assistant
administrator at MEMSA. As part of her role at MEMSA, she enjoys working towards helping MEMSA
meet member companies’ needs and her other interest is to see the members companies to be at
the top of the ladder in the mining equipment manufacturing industry.