Out of Africa: An update from Roger Staley

It is with great pleasure I write to you from my new post at AAMEG. The transition has been swift and relatively seamless thanks to the support of the Board, Sarah Siva and broader team. Since the beginning of year, we have pressed ahead with numerous events that have enabled me to meet with a large portion of members and group affiliates. This was complemented by a trip to Canberra and Melbourne during the quarter to reaffirm and strengthen ties with government stakeholders.

These activities have been invaluable to me as I seek to develop fresh approaches to reinvigorate our strategy and relationships as we advance AAMEG’s profile as the peak body representing your operations in the development of Africa’s resource industry.

In Canberra, I was privileged to meet with 12 African Heads of Mission (HOMs) with colleagues from Paydirt Media. The main agenda was to promote AAMEG’s Africa Awards on the opening evening (31 August) of the forthcoming Africa Down Under (ADU) conference in Perth. As the premier event supporting Australia-Africa resources interests, government relations and sustainable practices in the development of Africa’s mining and energy industry, ADU and the associated ‘Africa Week’ are critical items in the AAMEG calendar. There are numerous new African HOMs in Canberra and it was pleasing to note their unanimous support for the event.

The trip formalised connections with the new Ambassadors of Egypt, Morocco and Sudan as well as the opportunity to meet with senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and National Threat Assessment Centre (NTAC). As AAMEG’s co-hosts for the successful West African security webinar held in March, DFAT and NATC are keen to replicate the event with an East African focus in June and Southern Africa in October.

Passing through Melbourne on the way back to Perth from Canberra, I met with Transparency International’s new Program Manager for Accountable Mining to get to know each other and discuss future joint initiatives. I also met with AAMEG member Business for Development to discuss key issues faced by the resources sector in Africa and our mutual plans for the forthcoming African Mining Indaba.

Overall, I am pleased with the outcomes that have been achieved over this busy period – and it does not look like the momentum will slow any time soon. In coming months, I hope to catch up with more of you at Cape Town Mining Indaba and at the parallel Austrade events that are taking place there.

Please keep an eye out for our upcoming sundowners and reach out at any time for a chat.

All the best,

Roger Staley
AAMEG CEO