FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To: ALL Media
Media Statement
31 August 2023
The Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Courtnage as its new Director, effective from 1 September 2023. With an extensive background in the minerals sector spanning over three decades, Julie brings a wealth of experience and a robust network that positions the precinct for strategic growth and innovation.
A seasoned environmental scientist, Julie’s journey in the minerals sector commenced in the late 1980s during her tenure as a geology student. Her hands-on operational experience, coupled with her advocacy work with the former Chamber of Mines of South Africa, has uniquely equipped her to lead the MMP toward new horizons. Notably, Julie’s most recent corporate role was as the Sustainable Development Operations Manager for Anglo American plc.
In addition to engaging at regional and international levels within policy structures such as the Southern Africa Development Community and the United Nations, Julie has also served as an independent consultant, qualified coach, adult learning facilitator, and researcher for the past 16 years. Her extensive expertise spans various domains, including risk management, communication, ethics, governance, project management, leadership, and personal development. Focusing on the role of self-awareness, values, and identity in intricate decision-making for sustainable well-being, she has authored 21 publications, both in popular and academic spheres.
She has also worked with non-profit organisations, with the Institute of Directors in South Africa NPC, and has served clients in the financial, secondary and tertiary education, government and automotive sectors. In 2018, Julie served as the MMP Successful Application of Technologies Centred Around People Programme Manager and was also more recently involved in the establishment of the South African Mining Extraction Research, Development and Innovation Research Centres at the Universities of Witwatersrand and Johannesburg. Connecting with the humanity in everyone is one of Julie’s deepest drivers. “I subscribe deeply to the saying that if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. I look forward to working with the MMP team and stakeholders, as we collaboratively co-author the future history of the minerals sector in the country and globally. And, not least, to have fun while we do this,” she says.
While we embrace this new chapter in the history of the Precinct, we would also like to thank Johan le Roux for his exemplary and professional leadership of the MMP. “Johan’s dedication and unique execution abilities have laid a strong foundation for the future, while establishing deep stakeholder confidence in the MMP as a vehicle for change in South Africa,” says CSIR Group Executive: Business Excellence & Integration, Dr Kaven Naidoo.
Johan will continue to support Julie in her role as Director and ensure that there is an effective transition and handover in the coming months as well as lead some important strategic initiatives of the Precinct.
For media queries:
Ntombenkosi Dyosop
MMP Communications Manager
Email: ndyosop@csir.co.za
Mobile: 078 174 8518
About the MMP
The Mandela Mining Precinct is the largest Public-Private Partnership of its kind in South Africa. It is a partnership between the Department of Science and Innovation, and the Minerals Council South Africa. The initiative is jointly hosted and managed by the Minerals Council and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. For more information visit www.mandelaminingprecinct.org.za
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