Full Name: Alex John Grose
Position: MD of Investing in African Mining Indaba
Main Activity of the Company: Organising the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town every year, as well as other similar events
Date and Place of Birth: January 21, 1977, Tokyo, Japan
Education: BA (business administration), French, Aston University, UK
First Job: Advertising sales executive, Sterling Publishing, London
Size of First Pay Packet: £16 000 a year
Number of People under Your Leadership: 18 full-time staff and numerous temporary staff during the Mining Indaba
Management Style: Empowering a superb leadership team
Personal Best Achievement: Hopefully, the February 6 to 9 Mining Indaba. Before that, launching the first telecoms conference in Burma/Myanmar, before the country had telecoms
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My parents, who believed in me and supported me in every choice I have made
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My first boss, Richard Crosby, who showed me the importance of hard work and integrity
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Tiger Woods, for inspiring a generation of people around the world. Perhaps I should say Ernie Els!
Philosophy of Life: Better to regret the things you have done than the things you have not done
Biggest Ever Opportunity: My new role as MD of Mining Indaba
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Never having a hole-in-one – hopefully, that can still change
Hope for the Future: Rebalancing the world away from the current wave of parochialism
Favourite Reading: Nonfiction novels (do they exist?) – something like Into Thin Air, by John Krakauer
Favourite TV Programme: The Wire or Engrenages
Favourite Food/Drink: Traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and a good red wine
Favourite Music: Very varied. I collect a lot of vinyl – the most recent purchase was Johnny Cash
Favourite Sport: To watch: football; to play: golf
Hobbies: Travelling the world, golf, snowboarding and buying and listening to music
Car: BMW, but, in reality, these days, Uber
Pets: None
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Being bored; racism; people driving in the wrong lane on a motorway
Married: Engaged
Clubs: None