With a list of sponsors and speakers that understand the complex intersection of sustainability, geopolitics, regulation and capital flows, this year’s London Indaba “promises to be a deeply engaging event”, says event organiser Resources 4 Africa (R4A) CEO Paula Munsie.

The Indaba – to be held at the InterContinental London Park Lane hotel, in the UK, from June 24 to 25 – presents a platform for real-time intelligence and relationship building.

Sponsorship is as much about being part of the conversation as it is about brand exposure, with multinational mining companies Anglo American, BHP, Harmony Gold Mining Company, Sibanye-Stillwater and multinational professional services firm Accenture, as well as several other companies engaged in Africa’s mineral resources development, among this year’s sponsors.

The London Indaba highlights the plight of the African mining sector and the need for investment and collaboration to expand on exploration and the drive to attainable critical minerals globally, she adds.

This year’s central theme is the vital role African countries play in supplying essential minerals and metals to the global market.

“As the world moves rapidly towards decarbonisation, Africa’s copper, cobalt, platinum-group metals and other future-facing minerals have become indispensable for developed countries.”

The Indaba will be held at a time during which supply chains are tightening, geopolitical fault lines are shifting and environmental, social and governance (ESG) demands are intensifying, making it “more urgent than ever” to have an open, frank dialogue about risk, opportunities and investment strategies, Munsie adds.

What to Look Out For

R4A anticipates the attendance of over 400 senior-level delegates, including CEOs, board members, fund managers, policymakers and technical experts, enthuses Munsie, adding that interest in this year’s event has surpassed expectations, with interest extending beyond the mining sector.

The organiser has noted a high level of engagement from governments, multilateral investors and global financial institutions, with all these parties recognising that Africa’s resource narrative is now central to global supply chain resilience, clean energy goals and technological development, she says.

Opening sentiments and closing statements on both days will be shared by London Indaba chairperson Bernard Swanepoel, who hopes to frame the broader context of the Indaba and draw critical links between the sessions.

“Swanepoel is a vocal advocate for straight talk and will facilitate multiple sessions where tough questions are asked, from ESG performance and investor risk appetite to Africa’s readiness as a mineral powerhouse,” says Munsie.

This is why Swanepoel is unique in his presenting of R4A’s Indaba because he does not shy away from complexity, she adds.

“He’s known for calling out government and industry when necessary, making him the ideal chairperson to hold space for authentic, solutions-oriented dialogue,” says Munsie, noting that Swanepoel’s message is simple: Africa is no longer on the periphery – it is at the core of the global resource debate.

Segments on the Periphery

R4A has added several new segments to the event to reflect the evolving priorities of the sector, including an African Minister and Ambassador Round Table, which will provide much-needed geopolitical clarity for investors, reflecting its commitment to a multi-stakeholder dialogue.

A dedicated junior mining session will also be introduced; this will recognise the importance of early-stage explorers in unlocking new resource frontiers, and will focus on high-risk and -reward investment.

A Capital Allocation Panel has also been set up to address how to navigate trade-offs among growth, ESG compliance and capital discipline – a conversation which Munsie says “is long overdue” in this forum. The panel will feature speakers from mining companies AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold Mining Company and Newmont.

“These additions reflect the real-world concerns of our audience,” she says, adding that the London Indaba serves as a barometer of where the industry is headed, and with critical minerals now defining global alliances, “Africa is in the spotlight like never before”.

Munsie concludes by stating that the event will provide “a rare opportunity to cut through the noise, confront uncomfortable truths and forge strategies that are commercially viableand socially responsible”.