Dr. Patience Mpofu

Dr. Patience Mpofu is a globally recognised mining executive, director and critical minerals strategist with more than 25 years’ experience spanning metallurgy, mining operations, corporate strategy, capital markets, ESG and stakeholder engagement in the resources sector.

Dr Mpofu brings technical depth and strategic leadership experience across the mining value chain, including metallurgical optimisation, project evaluation, M&A, financing strategy, ESG integration and stakeholder engagement. She has deep technical expertise in clay-hosted mineral systems and rare earth metallurgy, having completed a PhD in Mineral Processing focused on clay mineralogy, interfacial chemistry and sustainable processing systems.

Her executive leadership experience includes senior roles with South32, Anglo American and Sibanye-Stillwater (formerly Lonmin Plc), where she led strategic, commercial and sustainability portfolios across multiple jurisdictions.

Dr Mpofu currently serves as a non-executive director of Orion Minerals Limited (ASX/JSE:ORN), where she has contributed to advancing the Prieska Copper-Zinc and Okiep Copper Projects through Bankable Feasibility Studies and supported strategic financing initiatives, including a binding US$250 million financing and offtake agreement with Glencore.

She is also the Founder and CEO of Insight Mining Experts, a specialist advisory firm focused on ESG, sustainability, circularity and critical minerals strategy. Through IME, she has advised governments, investors and mining companies on critical minerals strategy, ESG frameworks and investment positioning, and has contributed to global critical minerals policy initiatives including the European Union, World Economic Forum and B20/G20 Energy Transition Taskforce. Dr Mpofu has also been recognised with the CEO Global Award for Most Influential Woman in Business and Government – Mining across Africa.