Full Name: Dr Thuthula Balfour

Position and Company Name: Head of health, Minerals Council South Africa

Main Activity of the Company: Minerals Council South Africa represents the mining industry on various matters and advocates for improvements in the industry

Date and Place of Birth: August 21, 1963, Mthatha, Eastern Cape

Education: MBChB, Fellow of the College of Public Health Medicine, MBA

First Job: After serving as an intern and medical officer at Mthatha hospital, I had the opportunity to serve as medical officer of health for the City of Mthatha. This was one of my best jobs. It was managerial and I was very young but, with health education and mentoring by colleagues, I did well and learned a lot. Notable colleagues were Mzimkhulu Msiwa, who was the municipal engineer and went on to be the CEO of Umgeni Water. This job led to my love of management and my interest in public health – I ultimately specialised in public health medicine

Size of First Pay Packet: I cannot remember but have never complained about my salary, as I compare it with other, lower-paid people in South Africa. I am passionate about reducing the pay gap across our society

Value of Assets under Your Control: Minerals Council South Africa is not a commercial organisation and our value is, thus, not monetary

Number of People under Your Leadership: I work with a small team of four people

Management Style: I believe everyone must be a leader with a conscience as he or she does his or her work. I thus lead in terms of setting targets and monitoring performance

Personal Best Achievement: Being the chairperson of the Mining Lekgotla and leading the successful hosting of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Mining Lekgotlas

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

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Barack Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Patrice Motsepe

Philosophy of Life: Live and let live – be the best you can be

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The level of corruption in the new South Africa

Hope for the Future: An inclusive, more prosperous South Africa where we all work towards nationhood

Favourite Reading: Anything about evolution and human behaviour. I was blown away by Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

Favourite TV Programme: The news, Date My Family and Somizi’s show

Favourite Food/Drink: Mngqusho (samp and beans) and stew

Favourite Music: I wish I could appreciate jazz, but, no, I love pop music. Brenda Fassie is a favourite

Favourite Sport: Tennis, especially watching Serena Williams

Hobbies: Reading, watching TV and cooking

Car: I am a BMW person – it makes me feel young, fast and hip

Clubs: A book club and a savings club