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