Full Name: Dr John William Bristow

Position: COO of Incubex Minerals

Main Activity of the Company: Multicommodity mineral exploration and development

Date and Place of Birth: July 19, 1952, Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal

Education: Matric, Estcourt High School; BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees in geology, University of Natal; PhD, University of Cape Town

First Job: Geologist with De Beers

Size of First Pay Packet: About R5 000 a month

Value of Company Assets: R100-million

Number of People under Your Leadership: Five, plus contractors, as needed

Management Style: I set goals, lead by example and allow and encourage self-expression and development

Personal Best Achievements: Developing two successful alluvial diamond mining companies, Gem Diamonds, in 1998, and Rockwell, in 2006

Persons Who Have Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My parents

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: US President Barack Obama

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Steve Jobs

Philosophy of Life: Work hard, look forward and stay humble

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Developing a unique micromineral (perovskite) age-dating technique at the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES), Australian National University, Canberra, with Hugh Allsopp (Bernard Price Institute, University of the Witwatersrand) and Bill Compston (RSES) in the 1980s, courtesy of De Beers

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Playing cricket in the 1970s with world-class players who would never have the opportunity to take on and beat the world’s best players

Hope for the Future: A prosperous and dynamic South Africa

Favourite Reading: Old books about Southern African pioneers, particularly early prospectors and miners

Favourite TV Programme: National Geographic

Favourite Food/Drink: Curry, dorado (fish)/red wine

Favourite Music: Classic rock, classical music

Favourite Sport: Kayaking, following cricket

Hobbies: Fly-fishing, walking in the outdoors, cycling, travelling, reading, music

Car: Audi A4 Quattro

Pets: German short-haired pointer cross Labrador

Dislikes: Arrogance, entitlement and the litter that spoils our exceptional country

Clubs: Kimberley Club