Influential leaders to attend Mining Indaba

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"This reflects accelerated mining interest around the African continent and underlines the essence of the Mining Indaba - this is where the world really connects with African mining," says MD of the Indaba, Jonathan Moore.

These global game-changers will focus attention on critical mining issues, offering macro-economic and policy insights to enhance delegates' deal-making and take-home strategising. Launching the series of keynotes strategically positioned throughout the conference is Canadian consultant Phil Newman, CEO of CRU Strategies. With a background in mining engineering, he will discuss the changing face of world mineral supply on the preliminary day of Mining Indaba 2014.

Welcome address

Setting the scene with her official welcome address is South African Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu. Following her is Eleni Gabre-Madhin, recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Africans. As founder of the acclaimed Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, she successfully managed to achieve trading of $1.2bn in three years.

Focusing on win-win mining scenarios for investors, mining companies and governments and bringing a wealth of practical parliamentary experience to the podium is Colin Barnett, who served as Western Australia's premier, Minister for State Development and Minister of Science. Mining and sustainable development will be discussed by Professor Paul Collier, director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at the University of Oxford and adviser to the International Monetary Fund's Strategy and Policy Department.

Makhtar Diop's keynote address will be informed by World Bank experience, currently as VP for the Africa Region and previously in Brazil in particular and South America and the Caribbean in general.

Outlook for Africa

Keynote panels will allow stimulating discussion on themes such as the current status and future outlook for African mining and the impact of Asian growth on African mining. Participating in both topics will be Frank Holmes, advisor on sustainable development to the William J. Clinton Foundation and to the International Crisis Group. CEO and Chief Investment Officer of US Global Investors, Inc, he manages award winning mutual funds and hedge funds in natural resources, emerging markets and infrastructure sectors.

Engaging with him is David Hale of David Hale Associates, the Chicago-based economist renowned for his global market research and insights. As well as writing for major publications, he is also currently co-authoring a book on the Chinese economy.