Patience Mpofu

Dr. Patience Mpofu is the CEO of Insight Mining Experts, a consulting firm that specializes in ESG and Sustainability in the mining industry. She also advises mining companies and governments on critical minerals to support the transition to a more sustainable and circular mining industry. Her commitment to sustainability in the mining industry is exemplified by her role as a Global Mining Sustainability Thought Leader (ESG) and Circularity Strategist. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades in senior leadership roles across the mining value chain has solidified her expertise and understanding of critical minerals. Starting her career as a metallurgist, and then held senior leadership positions in strategy and business development, mergers and acquisitions, and sustainability. She served as a Vice President of an Australian listed mining company, where she made significant contributions to the company’s sustainability and success.

Dr Mpofu has earned numerous awards, including Pan African Most influential women in Mining in South Africa, Southern Africa and Africa. She is one of the 36 Women leaders selected from around the world to take part in the 2018-2019 International Women Forum Fellows Program.

With over ten published international peer-reviewed journals on sustainability in the mining industry, her research and thought leadership has enhanced the understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding critical minerals, sustainability, and circularity in the mining sector. She is a prominent figure in various international conferences with notable speaking engagements as an opening Plenary Speaker at the World Circular Economy Forum in Finland in 2023, Futures Mineral Forum in Saudi Arabia (2023), Inaugural Responsible Investment Forum in London (2022), International Mining and Resources Conference in Australia (2022) and the Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

Patience holds a PhD in sustainability from UNISA Australia, and an Advanced Management Program from INSEAD, France.