CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Celebrating Excellence in African Mining
Honoring the visionaries, innovators, and leaders shaping Africa’s mining future. The Mine, Wine & Dine Awards debut at the Gala Dinner as a premier platform celebrating achievement across the continent’s mining value chain.
Nomination Deadline: 30 December, 2025
Eligible Nominators and Nominees:
Mining companies and industry associations, government agencies and regulatory bodies’, academics, researchers, professional mining societies and trade organizations, funding institutions and financial advisors, community, organizations and NGOs, mining industry consulting companies
Eligibility Requirements:
The awards are limited to individuals and organizations that operate within Africa. Multinational companies with operations in Africa are eligible for nomination. Individuals who reside in Africa and are actively advancing the African mining industry are also eligible for consideration.
Key Dates:
- Nominations Open: 03 October, 2025
- Nomination Deadline: 30 December, 2025
- Awards Ceremony: Mine, Wine and Dine Gala Event, 07 February, 2026
The Award Categories
Deal Maker of the Year
The Deal Maker of the Year Award honours excellence in structuring, financing, and executing transactions that propel Africa’s mining industry forward — deals that create opportunity, unlock capital, and build the foundations for growth across the continent.
Mining Company of the Year
The Mining Company (Operator) of the Year Award recognizes an operator that exemplifies excellence in every dimension of the business—from strategic vision and shareholder value creation to safe, efficient operations that drive sustainability and positive community impact.
Explorer and Developer of the Year
The Explorer and Developer of the Year Award celebrates bold discovery, technical excellence, and the determination to turn potential resources into tomorrow’s mines. It honors companies that push the frontiers of geology, technology, and value creation.
CEO of the Year - Operating Miner
This award recognizes the exceptional leadership that defines the heart of our industry — the kind of leadership that turns vision into reality, challenges into opportunity, and teams into families striving toward a common purpose.
CEO of the Year - Explorer and Developer
This award celebrates a leader whose entrepreneurial spirit and relentless commitment to excellence have created extraordinary value—time and again.
Innovation and Technology Excellence
The breakthrough that fundamentally changed how mining gets done in Africa – whether through revolutionary technology, transformative processes, or disruptive business models that enhance efficiency, safety, sustainability, and value creation through pioneering digital transformation, innovative business models, value chain optimization, groundbreaking metallurgical or processing innovations
Lifetime Achievement Award
A distinguished career spanning 25+ years with transformational impact on the African mining landscape, demonstrating sustained excellence, visionary leadership, innovation and lasting contribution to industry development.
Meet our Judges
Noleen Pauls
Noleen Pauls is a geoscientist and industry leader with over 20 years’ experience in exploration, mining, and applied geology across Africa. She is President of the Geological Society of South Africa and a member of the leadership team of Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA), where she champions scientific excellence, inclusivity, and mentorship. Her career combines strong technical expertise with a commitment to ethical practice, diversity, and sustainable development in the mining and natural-resources sectors.
Ian Benning
Ian Benning is a distinguished mining engineer, financier, and executive with over 40 years’ experience in the African mining sector. He is a registered Professional Engineer (Pr.Eng.) with ECSA, a SAIMM member, holds qualifications from the University of the Witwatersrand, and an MBA from Henley Business School. His career includes senior roles at Shaft Sinkers, ABSA Capital, and as CEO of ASX-listed ZYL Limited. From 2019 to 2024, he was Mining Lead and Associate Director at Deloitte’s Technical Mining Advisory practice, specialising in due diligence, mineral reporting, valuations, and M&A across Africa. He now operates as an independent consultant based in Cape Town.
Prof Hennie Grobler
Professor Grobler is a distinguished leader in mining engineering and mine surveying education in South Africa. As Associate Professor and Head of Mining Engineering and Mine Surveying at the University of Johannesburg, he leads the country’s only accredited mine surveying degree and drives strong industry alignment. He has advanced innovative training initiatives, including the Simulacrum Mining Facility with Sibanye-Stillwater, and champions the use of technologies such as drones, laser scanning, and simulation to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability in mining. He is the current President of the International Society for Mine Surveying.
Errol Smart
Errol Smart is a mining executive and geologist with over 30 years’ experience in exploration, mine development, and operations across Southern Africa. A Registered Professional Natural Scientist with a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of the Witwatersrand, he served as Managing Director and CEO of Orion Minerals Ltd, leading the advancement of the Prieska Copper-Zinc Mine and Okiep Copper District. He is currently an independent consultant and former Chairman of the Junior and Emerging Miners Leadership Forum at the Minerals Council South Africa, driving sustainable innovation and leadership in mining.
Dennis Tucker
Dennis Tucker is a South African mining financier and strategist with more than 40 years’ experience across capital markets, resource development, and project finance. As Chairman of Future Track, he drives investment in sustainable mining and emerging technologies. His career includes senior roles at Rand Merchant Bank, Quineselle, and Investec Bank, and he played a key strategic role in Sibanye-Stillwater’s evolution into a leading PGM and battery-metals producer. He is widely respected for his integrity, insight, and commitment to responsible value creation across the African resource sector.
Dr Clinton Birch
Dr Birch is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, holding a PhD in Mining Engineering with a focus on mineral resource management. With prior industry experience across gold and platinum operations, his expertise includes mine financial valuation, resource optimisation, cut-off grade determination, and fiscal regime analysis. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Mine Financial Valuation and Mineral Resource Management and is actively involved in industry-focused research at Wits.
Bruce Williamson
Bruce Williamson is a South African investment professional and mining analyst with over a decade of experience across asset management and equity research. He is Chief Investment Officer at Integral Asset Management, where he leads investment strategy, stock selection, and portfolio performance, while also serving as the firm’s Mining Analyst. Previously, he held senior roles at Imara Asset Management and managed the Imara African Resources Fund. A University of Cape Town graduate, Bruce is widely respected for his rigorous, research-driven analysis and market insight.
Alex Bals
Alex Bals is a seasoned mining professional with 48 years’ experience across operations, surveying, mine planning, and MRM. He built his career within Anglo, De Beers, and AngloGold before founding Aether Mine Surveying, specialising in surveying, geotech automation, and mass and ore flow reconciliation. He is also a founding partner of Elvire Pty Ltd in Botswana, supporting skills development and in-country mining initiatives. Alex remains active in consulting, lecturing, and advancing applied technology and innovation across the mining sector.
The Benefits of Entering
By entering the Mine, Wine & Dine Awards positions your brand and leadership as a credible force in advancing Africa’s mining industry. Recognition on this stage elevates your reputation with peers, investors, and decision-makers across the continent.
Finalists benefit from extensive media exposure and association with one of Africa’s most exclusive industry gatherings, amplifying visibility to key stakeholders and global partners. The entry process itself provides valuable benchmarking against industry leaders, sparking internal motivation.
Most importantly, the awards connect you with an influential network of executives, financiers, policymakers, and innovators—unlocking opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and growth. It’s recognition that drives impact, fuels innovation, and celebrates the achievements shaping Africa’s mining future.
Submit your Nomination
If you wish to nominate someone for one of the awards listed, please fill in and select the Applicable Award(s)| of the nominated individual/company below.