Full Name: Matthew (Matt) Mullins

Positions and Organisations: Director of Tecoma Strategies and chairperson of the SAMCODES Standards Committee

Main Activity of the Company: Consultancy to the mining industry in orebody optimisation, resource evaluation and project development

Date and Place of Birth: November 9, 1957, East London, South Africa

Education: BSc (Hons) Geology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown

First Job: Relieving mine geologist, Union Tin Mine, Naboomspruit

Size of First Pay Packet: R600 a month

Value of Assets under Your Control: None

Number of People under Your Leadership: Five

Management Style: Collaborative, with a touch of discipline

Personal Best Achievement: Designing and implementing the productivity improvement programme at BHP Billiton, which, to date, has yielded an additional $15-billion yearly free cash flow for the company

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, Thomas Mitchell Mullins

Persons Who Have Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Ted Grobicki, Ian Preston and Marius Kloppers

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Madeleine Albright

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Jacko Maree

Philosophy of Life: See the positive opportunity in every situation; rewards only come through hard work and dedication

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Being part of the London listing of Randgold Resources

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Not enough industry focus on long-term people development through the cycles

Hope for the Future: That South Africa, in time, reaps the benefits of the optimism and resilience of its people

Favourite Reading: Western civilisation, popular science and biographies

Favourite TV Programme: Any good streaming movie/series

Favourite Food/Drink: Fresh Kabeljou/wine from Rustenberg

Favourite Music: Latin American, especially bossa nova

Favourite Sport: Cycling

Hobbies: Family, cycling, travelling and golf

Car: Mitsubishi Pajero

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Racism, bigotry, dishonesty and prima donnas

Married: Single

Children: Tamlyn, 30; Kirsten, 28; Jessica, 23 – based in Stellenbosch, London and Brisbane respectively

Clubs: Country Club Johannesburg; the University Club of Western Australia