Bertina Symonds Email & Phone Number

Mbombela Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa

South Africa

Technical and Management Activities:Responsible for setting the strategic direction for Vametco. The processes managed include Life of Mine Planning with MSA, budget setting, operational tactics and implementation, open pit contract management, operating in a highly technical and regulated environment, setting a constructive stakeholder engagement framework with Unions and Communities.The Transformation Program included a Culture Change Initiative called Ke Nako.Significant Achievements:Obtained permission to operate during Level 5 of the South African Lockdown.Relatively low number of employees tested positive for Covid-19 with no impact onoperations.Community and Employee Stakeholder relationships have been successfully managedwith no business disruptions since 2019.Achieved Market Guidance Production and Costs in 2019.Broadening and Diversification of Product Range to include Magnetite Concentrateand other Vanadium chemicals.Played a significant role as project sponsor in the redesign, construction andcommissioning of the biggest Kiln Off Gas System in Southern Africa.Achieved first quartile outcome in the international Organisational Health index.

South Africa

Technical and Management Activities:General Manager for a Base Metal Mining Complex consisting of an Open Pit Mine, Two Base MetalConcentrators, Two Chrome Concentrators and associated infrastructure.Have led Nkomati Mine as General Manager since May 2015 to February 2019. Nkomati Mine is situated in the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. Nkomati Mine, a 50:50 Joint Venture between African Rainbow Minerals and Norilsk Nickel Africa is a 30 million tonne per annum open pit contractor mining operation with three owner operated concentrators with a combined capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum. There are 600 employees and 1 600 contractors working at Nkomati. Nkomati is the biggest employer in the local area serving two Municipalities and three surrounding towns. The GM reports directly to the Joint Venture Steering Committee.Significant Achievements:Nkomati has had a marked improvement in Safety Performance and has won 4 industry Awards from 2012 to 2017.Nkomati achieved 6.6 Million Fatality Free Shifts.Community Stakeholder relationships have been successfully managed with no business disruptions. Social Labour Plan and Mining Charter requirements are met and entrenched in normal business processes.Played a significant role as project sponsor in keeping momentum and Go Live of a Enterprise Resource Management project.

South Africa

Technical and Management Activities:Led a team of Managers responsible for the Primary Crusher, MMZ Plant, PCMZ Plant, CWP Plant, Laboratory and Logistics.Under my leadership, a successful turnaround strategy was achieved through the implementation of Planned Maintenance Program with appropriate OEM involvement combined with appropriate sizing technology and short interval control. Also, through the appointment of the right management team, the implementation of a Planned Maintenance Program with appropriate OEM involvement combined with short interval control. The improved availability and operation Pebble Crushers were key to the turnaround of the MMZ Plant.450 employees reported to me in the Concentrate Production Team.Significant Achievements:Leading the Metso Gyratory Crusher Turnaround Program as HOD to exceed design capacity of 800ktpm.Turnaround of the Nkomati Laboratory from Write Off in July 2011 to SANAS 17025 Accredited Facility.Leading the MMZ Turnaround Program as HOD to achieve 10% beyond nameplate and +10% Recovery increase.Set up Metal Accounting and Final Sales Reconciliation Processes and clear historical three year back log.Residue Disposal Management aligned with global standards.Process Approach integrated with Intelligent Mineral Processing Systems – automated control and reporting systems including using Time in State model in optimizing plantsLost Time Strategic Initiative and Production Optimisation.

Mbombela, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Part-time Stretegic Management Lecturer

South Africa

Technical and Management Activities:Production Manager responsible for all aspects of Production to produce both Chrome and Nickel Concentrates.Significant Achievements:Leading the Commissioning and Start Up of PCMZ Plant with record Ramp Up in Tons Milled in 2010Operations/Client Representative of brownfields Project PCMZ with DRA as EPCM Contractor in 2010.Leading the Commissioning and Optimising of Chrome Washing Plant in 2008.Leading the Commissioning and Optimising of 100ktpm Nickel Concentrator in 2007.Running and optimizing MSB plant – 10ktpm design to 37ktpm max.

Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa

I was seconded to ETC for 2003Main Duties:Gold Lock Up InvestigationTransition to MetorexBIOX Optimisation - Throughput

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

Masters Of Business Leadership, Business/Managerial Economics

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc) Hons Chemistry, Engineering Science

Matric Nsc

Activities and Societies: Running Debate CSV