Full Name: Albertus Abraham van den Berg

Position and Company Name: Group mining engineer, Pan African Resources

Main Activity of the Company: Gold mining

Date and Place of Birth: February 13, 1984, Sannieshof, North West

Education: BSc (mining engineering)

First Job: Learner official

Size of First Pay Packet: R2 300 a month

Career Path to Date: Learner official; miner; shift boss; mine captain; mining engineer: strategic and long-term planning; mine manager (3.1); GM (4.1); group mining engineer (2A – 2)

Value of Assets under Your Control: R4-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: 3 500

Management Style: I influence and motivate, and make the tough calls, where required

Personal Best Achievement: I built an extremely successful team as a mine manager, which achieved production and safety records

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents and family

People Who Have Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Jaco Combrink, Jan Thirion, Mark Munroe, Charl Viljoen, Mike da Costa, Jonathan Hudson, Ben Moolman, Cobus Loots, Andre van den Bergh (I have been privileged to have worked with and to have been mentored by many great mining professionals at various stages in my career)

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Sir David Attenborough – he must have some amazing stories to tell

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Johann Rupert – an inspirational businessperson and great South African who has been successful over many years

Philosophy of Life: Get up, show up, give your best

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being awarded a bursary to study mining after school and leaving a career in line management to join Pan African Resources in a more executive role

Biggest Ever Disappointment: When my father’s bone marrow transplant was not successful

Hope for the Future: Good health and happiness

Favourite Reading: Daily newspaper

Favourite TV Programme: Anything on Supersport or Discovery Channel

Favourite Food/Drink: Lamb tjops on the braai with a good red wine

Favourite Music: It depends on my mood

Favourite Sport: Golf (to play) and rugby (to watch)

Hobbies: Golf

Car: BMW 5.30d

Pets: Three Yorkshire terriers

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Arrogance and dishonesty

Married: To Meagan

Children: None

Clubs: Parkview Golf Club, Parkhurst Tennis Club