Full Name: Gideon Petrus du Plessis

Position: CEO and principal geologist at Earthlab

Main Activity of Company: Mineral exploration, mineral resources and reserves, mining studies, and data analytics, as well as mineral resource management and technical due diligence

Date and Place of Birth: July 6, 1977, Griquatown, South Africa

Schools and Tertiary Education: Hoërskool Diamantveld; BSc, BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees in geology from the University of the Free State; South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions competent person for mineral resources since 2010 (PrSciNat from 2005); Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa from November 2019

First Job: Project geologist at De Beers Consolidated Mines’ Kimberley Mines

Career History Prior to Current Position: Senior geologist at De Beers, consulting geologist at Aquarius Platinum, senior exploration geologist at Caracle Creek International Consulting, and project geologist at Anglo Platinum

Size of First Pay Packet: R12 500 a month

First Job with Present Group: Founder and executive business development manager and project geologist, in January 2013

Value of Assets under Your Control: Not disclosed

Number of People under Your Leadership: More than 30 payroll employees, but up to 70 when including shareholders, consultants, engineers and contractors

Management Style: Paradoxical

Personal Best Achievement: Raising my autistic son and achieving my entrepreneurial, leadership and financial goals with my own startup company

Professional Best Achievement: Styldrift 1 feasibility study (geology and mineral resources) for Anglo Platinum, the discovery of near-surface T-Zone for Sylvania Platinum, the discovery of lithium brine deposits in South America, and growing Earthlab sevenfold in just over 11 years from inception

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My wife and the late Jim Dornan

Person Wo Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Graham Wheelock and Andy Grills

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Tom Cruise and Bono

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Mark Bristow

Philosophy of Life: Cement transcendent goals and never give up on them

Biggest Ever Opportunity: Turnkey exploration in multiple jurisdictions

Biggest Ever Disappointment: Redoing my MSc after my computer was stolen from my office

Hope for the Future: Embracing true leadership and adding value through innovation and hard work

Favourite Reading: Finance, business, management and leadership

Favourite TV Programme: Action movies and rugby

Favourite Food/Drink: Mexican and Argentinian

Favourite Music: U2

Favourite Sport: Long-distance running

Favourite Website: Mining Weekly

Hobbies: Recreational hunting, reading, cooking and road running

Car: Ford Raptor

Pets: Dogs and horses (if they qualify)

Favourite Other South African Company: Sibanye-Stillwater

Favourite Foreign Company: Barrick Gold

Married: To Lerika, a commercial property finance attorney

Children: Gian, 16; Leanè, 13

Clubs: I have no current club membership