Full Name: Abiel Mngomezulu

Position: President and CEO of Mintek since September 1, 2007

Main Activity of the Organisation: Research and development in all aspects of mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and related technology

Date and Place of Birth: November 15, 1953, on a small farm near Standerton, in Mpumalanga

Education: Lower primary at a farm school; Dlangweza High School, near Empangeni, KwaZulu Natal, matric, 1972; BSc (geology, University of the North (Turfloop), 1980

First Job: Exploration geologist, 1979, for Mining Corporation, a now-defunct State-owned company

Size of First Pay Packet: R4 500 a month

Career Path: Exploration geologist, Mining Corporation, for seven years; Anglo American gold and uranium division, for 13 years; Department of Minerals and Energy, as director: mineral economics, for nine years

Value of Assets under Your Control: The sum total of the intellectual assets of Mintek’s employee complement

Number of People under Your Leadership: 700

Management Style: Participative, with mild dictatorship

Personal Best Achievement: Discovery of a coal deposit as an extension of the known Somkhele deposit, in northern Kwazulu-Natal, which is being mined currently by JSE-listed Petmin

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My father, Jesaja

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: The late Gerhard Kennedy, former production manager at the former Western Deep Levels gold mine

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I have met them – Presidents of many countries, brilliant people

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson, of Virgin Group

Philosophy of Life: Be patient but always have a goal in sight

Biggest Ever Opportunity: The opportunity I had to work for my country when I was at the Department of Minerals and Energy

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The loss of my daughter, Tumi, in a car accident in Carletonville on her way to write her exams

Hope For the Future: That we see research being recognised worldwide as the best thing that can ever happen

Favourite Reading: Biographies

Favourite TV Programme: Sport and news

Favourite Food/Drink: Seafood/anything that has alcohol in it

Favourite Music: Mood dependent but generally jazzy

Favourite Sport: Soccer, rugby and cricket

Hobbies: Working

Car: Quite a few BMWs

Pets: I do not keep any pets

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Snobs

Married: To Ntsoaki, nee Mahlaba

Children: Two beautiful daughters, Lebo, 29, now married, and Tiisetso, 26

Clubs: I do not belong to any clubs – I prefer to be an individual