I am a registered Industrial Psychologist with 24 years’ experience in the mining industry. I am currently Head of HR at Exxaro Resources and have been awarded as Top Employer for 2021. I am a conceptual, strategic thinker, with the focus on implementation and delivery of HR solutions for the benefit of the organization and industry.

My current role is shaped very much around business strategy and the alignment of the human capital value chain. Business transformation, diversity and inclusion and disruption in the world of work, through redesigning organizational principles, employment, and reward models, rethinking the workforce of the future and crafting an employee value proposition that is employee centric and impactful.

I also serve and have served on various forums as a trustee; these include the Exxaro Pension fund, Exxaro Foundation and Chairman’s fund mainly focusing on social and labour plan projects across the organisation, Exxaro people development (Chairperson), which focuses on our education programmes and partnerships in the various communities across our operations. I am a member of the Ethics committee, chairperson of the Exxaro Women in mining (WIM) committee, which enables the women forums across the organization to have a voice, action women initiatives, and empower women to enhance their careers within the mining industry. I am also leading the Women agenda on behalf of Exxaro through the Minerals Council of SA. I am a prescribed officer of the executive committee and a standing invitee to both the Remuneration and nomination committee of the board (Remco/Nomco) and Social and Ethics committee of the Board. I also serve as a member of the Remco of the FSCA in an independent capacity.

Zain is a respected, dynamic and innovative business professional with excellent executive level strategic management, human resources, transformation and leadership skills. He is a rare profile; a seasoned Global HR Practitioner with multinational business experience across the African and Middle Eastern continents. Zain’s experience spans multiple geographies, and he has successfully navigated a multitude of cultures. His pragmatic approach and love for people and learning has earned him multiple awards, ranking him amongst the top HR thought leaders, but the title he values most is “King of Hearts” resonating his commitment to the upliftment of others.

As a transformation expert, Zain’s experience has seen him engage a number of greenfield projects and has realized a number of startups. He was recently at the helm of one of the biggest HR back office transformations within the telco space touching 22 countries. As a transition coach, Zain helps individuals bridge the gap of uncertainty, bringing conscious awareness to strategies and individual competence and potential and so allowing the individual to transition with confidence.

Zain has chaired Ethics, Diversity and Risk committees and has been at the forefront of business continuity threats such s the Ebola outbreak, civil and political unrest in emerging markets, earthquakes, floods and the current Covid-19 pandemic. As a policy maker, Zain has ensured nondiscrimination, diversity and inclusion of underrepresented and marginalized groups, protecting the rights of workers, and so, creating a safe and equitable workplace for all.

Zain is a sought-after speaker and an avid participant on international roundtables.

Zain is currently the HR Director – Africa with Samsung Electronics. He is registered as a Master HR Practitioner both in South Africa and the USA and holds a Doctorate in the Management of Innovation and Technology.

Herman Warren is The Economist Corporate Network’s Network Director for Africa. Herman works with corporate clients to provide insight and analysis on a range of topics related to the broad and specific African context, helping clients to prosper in one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic economic zones. He regularly chairs and moderates events and delivers custom briefings to senior executives. Herman is the author of a number of white papers on infrastructure, financial and commercial developments in the region. Herman has previously worked as a management consultant with Bain & Company, started and run a successful mobile technology company and has held senior posts in both public- and private-sector corporations. Herman holds a BBA degree in Finance from Howard University.