Ben joined the global TZMI team on a full-time basis in May 2006 as the TiO₂ Pigment Specialist, working for TZPI. He is based in Durban, South Africa. He has a Bachelors degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Business Leadership.

Ben enjoyed an extensive career with Huntsman Tioxide spanning more than 12 years.

In 1992, he joined the Tioxide JV at its South African TiO₂ plant holding various operational positions including Engineering Manager, Works Manager and Business Development Manager, before becoming Capital Manager for Tioxide’s global TiO₂ business.

Gavin joined TZMI as a senior consultant in May 2008. Since graduating from the University of Natal with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering he has enjoyed a 16 year career in the Anglo American Group, working in mineral sands, gold and iron operations. He joined the Namakwa Sands project in 1993 and has been involved in both the smelting and minerals processing aspects of the business. His final position at Namakwa Sands was the Operations Manager responsible for the mineral separation business unit.

Gavin has technical, management and business skills gained through experience in plant operation, pilot plant test work, plant design, plant commissioning, process optimisation, business analysis, operations management and product development.

Steve has had a diverse career in the minerals processing industry which, in addition to the mineral sands industry, has included experience in copper smelting, lime and cement manufacturing industries. The emphasis in his career has been in mineral sands operations. Since his employment at Allied Eneabba Limited as a metallurgist in 1976, Steve has had senior roles including General Manager for RGC’s operations in Florida, General Manager of the Eneabba operations, and Group Operations Manager for RGC Mineral Sands Limited. Steve joined TZMI as a Principal Consultant and Director in 2000.

Machiel joined TZMI in November 2007 to build its global technical arm in the pigment sector and develop relationships with European clients. Machiel has a Masters of Science specialising in Raw Materials Engineering, from the Delft University of Technology and has worked in the TiO₂ pigment industry for Kemira, Kerr-McGee, Tronox and Tiwest. Machiel’s main responsibilities have been in plant production including output, quality, cost, safety and environmental performance. He is a key contributor to the TZMI’s pigment publications.

Galvin joined the TZMI team in 2010 after 5 ½ years with Deloitte Consulting, spending 2 of those years in the London practice. Galvin’s consulting experience spans a wide-range of projects including project management, business process re-engineering, system implementation, cost review, business case development, gap analysis and benchmarking.

David has been involved in the mineral sands and TiO₂ pigment industry since 1997 in Western Australia and the US.

He joined TZMI in June 2004 and uses his experience to manage and consult on a wide variety of pigment related projects and TZMI’s pigment publications. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering from Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia as well a Masters of Engineering Management, with a major of International Finance.

David has worked in the mineral sands industry for RGC (now Iluka Resources) and Tiwest in process engineering, technical and engineering services roles. He has also had experience working in business management and global supply chain functions as a Senior Business Analyst with Kerr-McGee Chemical LLC in Oklahoma City USA

Zayn joined TZMI in 2007 after starting his career in South Africa at Richards Bay Minerals. Zayn has extensive experience as a Process Metallurgist across smelter and iron processing plant operations with Richards Bay Minerals and is now a key contributer to TZMI as a Data Analyst and Metallurgical Consultant.

Philip has a background in economic geology and mineral economics. He was a highly regarded commodity/mining analyst based in Johannesburg, specialising in titanium minerals and other industrial minerals, before joining TZMI in March, 1999.

Philip graduated from the University of Natal in 1986 and spent five years working for Gencor and the South African Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs. His main areas of expertise are in studying trends in commodity markets using fundamental supply/demand analyses; preparing industry research reports on the titanium minerals sector; and the financial analysis of mining companies.

Grant is an experienced professional services director and executive manager who recently joined TZMI as our General Manager. He started his career in geology, working in gold and base metal mining and exploration and diamond exploration before discovering a passion for business leadership. Over the last decade, Grant has held various senior management and board positions in information technology and intellectual property professional services firms.

Gavin joined the TZMI team in August 2008 after a career spanning 16 years in the Pyrometallurgical and Heavy Minerals Processing Industry. After completing his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering at University of the Witwatersrand in 1991, Gavin joined the Pyrometallurgy Division at Mintek gaining considerable experience in the operation of both AC and DC electric arc furnaces. He then joined Richard Bay Minerals gaining both technical and operational experience in smelter furnaces and heavy minerals processing. Gavin was involved in overseeing operations activities at the smelter, services and molten products transfer areas before going on to manage metallurgical development work spanning from the mine through to final products.