Full Name: Frank Henry Gregory

Position: MD of The Mineral Corporation

Main Activity of the Company: The Mineral Corporation is an independent and privately owned firm providing ‘one-stop’ technical advisory services to the mining industry across the globe, with particular emphasis on geology and mineral resources, mining engineering, process engineering and technoeconomic modelling. Services range from drilling rig management to boardroom strategic planning

Date and Place of Birth: January 16, 1950, Johannesburg

Education: St Alban’s College, Pretoria; Corona de Mar High School, California; University of the Witwatersrand, BSc (Hons)

First Job: Texas Gulf Exploration, Namibia

Size of First Pay Packet: R400 a month

Number of People under Your Leadership: 30 full-time employees

Management Style: Open, participative and informal, but I do not compromise standards (ethical or professional) in the delivery of product

Professional Best Achievement: Being a founding party to the establishment of The Mineral Corporation and experiencing its growth over 17 years

Personal Best Achievements: Finding the best life partner and our three unique children; the sharing of wonderful adventures – climbing active volcanoes in Guatemala, hikes in the impenetrable forests of Uganda to see the gorillas and the Serengeti migration, clambering through the Angkor Wat temples, exploring glaciers of Alaska, marvelling at the stromatolites in Shark Bay, Australia, leatherback turtles in Pondoland, the imperial jewel collection in the Kremlin and many other thrills

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: Apart from my wife, it would be Dean Acheson, former US Secretary of State

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: There are many – Professor Des Pretorius, Gordon Waddell, Bill Nairn and Derek Kyle, besides others

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Flavour of the day and defender of democratic rights Thuli Madonsela

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Richard Branson

Philosophy of Life: There is nothing that cannot be achieved with commitment and perseverance

Biggest Ever Opportunity: An award from AFS to study in the US for a year at a formative time of my life

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The demise of JCI, a previously great institution, after 24 years’ service

Hope for the Future: That the captain of South Africa Inc build the nation and capitalise on the goodwill of all our people

Favourite Reading: Mining history, African interest

Favourite TV Programme: Who wants to be a millionaire?

Favourite Food/Drink: Spicy – Mexican, Indian, Thai/a good whiskey

Favourite Music: Most music, except modern rock

Favourite Sport: I am an incompetent golfer and I also watch rugby, tennis, cricket and athletics

Hobbies: Family (especially grandchildren), travel (with the emphasis on Africa), gardening, photography and working out in the gym

Car: Mercedes-Benz

Pets: One lonesome mongrel

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Corruption, fraud and baked deserts

Married: To Kay Margaret Gregory (née Dummett)

Children: Mark, 45; Justin, 34; Philippa, 32

Clubs: Bryanston Country Club