Full Name: Declan Vogt

Position: Director of the Centre for Mechanised Mining Systems (CMMS) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)

Main Activity of the Company: Courses, research, development and consulting to support mechanisation in mines

Date and Place of Birth: October 15, 1968, Harare, Zimbabwe

Education: BSc and MSc (electrical engineering), University of the Witwatersrand; PhD (electronics), University of York, UK

First Job: Repairing cash registers after matric

Size of First Pay Packet: R50 a day

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not applicable

Number of People under Your Leadership: A small permanent staff and a larger group of associates who are experts in the various aspects of mechanised mining

Management Style: Keep calm and communicate

Personal Best Achievement: Introducing borehole radar to the South African mining industry – from idea to commercial service

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: John Powell

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: I have been lucky to have worked for three bosses who encouraged me to grow and to have faith in myself and who each pushed me out of a comfort zone

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: The comedian Eddie Izzard – he could make sense of living in South Africa

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Elon Musk – he has had an amazing series of successes based on basic delivery of good products

Philosophy of Life: Never stop learning

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Joining the CMMS. There is so much room for improvement in mechanised mining that the opportunity is almost overwhelming

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Watching the slow decline of mining research and development in South Africa over the past 25 years

Hope for the Future: That a change in mining culture restores dignity to mineworkers as part of a broader national movement towards valuing people

Favourite Reading: I read almost anything, but I particularly enjoy science fiction by authors like Iain M Banks or William Gibson; crime novels by authors like PD James or Ian Rankin; thrillers; spy novels; biography; and comedy

Favourite TV Programme: Voetspoere

Favourite Food/Drink: Beef espetada with a Windhoek Light

Favourite Music: 1980s electro-pop, toe-tapping jazz, anything with a beat

Favourite Sport: World Cup soccer

Hobbies: Photography and aviation

Car: A 2002 BMW (not a BMW 2002, unfortunately)

Pets: My son’s Cairn Terrier

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Closed minds, melon, hurry-up-and-wait

Married: To Fatima

Children: Luke, 14

Clubs: Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, South African Geophysical Association