Deon du Plessis, CEO and principal geologist at Earthlab
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