Owing to the impact of Covid-19 and the subsequent physical distancing regulations, yearly mining conference the Joburg Indaba will be hosted as an online discussion on October 7 and 8.

Event organisers Resources 4 Africa CEO Paula Munsie states that this will enable industry players, who were previously unable to attend the actual event in person, to participate in the online event.

This will also increase the event’s participant and speaker engagement, and this increased global presence can result in many benefits, she emphasises.

“We are excited to link up with investors and mining professionals across the globe. New methods and technologies always throw unexpected challenges our way, but we have streamlined the process to ensure that the Joburg Indaba will be an engrossing two days,” enthuses Munsie.

The event primarily focuses on the local mining and resources sector, which, she points out, holds significant relevance to international mining professionals and investors too.

The Joburg Indaba has been advertised through various online platforms to all major mining economies outside South Africa, including the rest of Africa, Australia and Canada, as well as the investment hubs of the US, Asia and Europe, from which Munsie expects a noteworthy attendance.

She explains that, as part of the online format, participants will receive links to presentations and discussion panels, which participants would be able to revisit or re-examine at their leisure.

Participants will also be able to directly interact with any of the speakers or other participants in realtime through the event’s online platform. Questions can also be directed to speakers or panellists, with the answers also being provided in real time.

Munsie states that this format allows for effortless interactive engagement and networking, which will help participants to establish new business connections online.

She explains that while the company does wish to return to the event’s original format as soon as it is feasible – as an in-person experience adds value to the networking aspect of these events – Resources 4 Africa has had many learning experiences in hosting this inaugural online event.

“We realise there is a demand for our offering in many countries, where logistics may have prevented attendance in the past. Going forward, we would consider a livestream option to complement our physical event and seek to retain the international interest generated through the online platform.”

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic is the primary cause for the event’s being hosted online, and Munsie emphasises that the overall impact of the pandemic on global economies and livelihoods will be a substantial topic during the Joburg Indaba.

She adds that many of the event’s presentations, panels and discussions will focus on how the mining industry can be revitalised after the pandemic.

“The conversation will include the ways in which we can stimulate recovery and position the industry as modern, diverse and inclusive. We will also identify new opportunities and what government, industry and other stakeholders can do to unlock the industry’s potential and provide incentives for future growth and investment.”

The event will also cover a range of other issues affecting stakeholders in mining such as accelerating growth in mining, increasing the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product and employment and how “to make mining work for the benefit of all”, adds Munsie.

“The Indaba will be a platform for vibrant views and insights, delivered by diverse speakers, with tons of media coverage and great participation over the two days,” she concludes.