Rusiano Tsoka
Senior Mining Executive
Krugersdorp
Summary
Board-calibre mining leader with more than 40 years of experience across mine ventilation, occupational hygiene, safety, health, environment, emergency preparedness, operational risk, technical governance and culture transformation in underground and multi-site mining environments. Brings deep executive and operational leadership gained in coal, gold, nickel and metallurgical operations across Southern Africa. Recognised for aligning technical assurance, regulatory compliance, ventilation performance and health risk control with business delivery, workforce safety and long-term operational resilience. Positioned strongly for the Senior Superintendent I, Ventilation Engineer role through a combination of advanced ventilation credentials, underground operational depth, enterprise leadership exposure and proven capability in building and leading technical teams, driving risk-based controls, improving reporting systems and shaping ventilation and occupational hygiene strategy across complex mining portfolios.
Overview
45
45
years of professional experience
Work History
Mine Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene Consultant
Occupational ESH Services Pty Ltd
01.2023 - Current
- Advises mining clients on ventilation system design, optimisation, occupational hygiene compliance and exposure control across underground and metallurgical operations. Conducts technical audits, risk assessments and strategic reviews to identify system vulnerabilities and improvement opportunities. Supports leadership teams through technical reporting, presentations, remediation planning and specialist capability development.
Group Safety, Health and Environmental Manager
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Provides group-level SHE leadership, technical governance, and strategic risk direction, with a strong emphasis on executive reporting, operational excellence, and critical control effectiveness. Oversees ventilation, occupational hygiene and thermal stress strategy, including reviews, survey planning, baseline assessments and support for deepening operations. Leads enterprise and operational risk profiling, emergency preparedness initiatives and board-facing technical reporting on strategic risk exposure and improvement priorities.
Group Occupational Hygiene Manager
Harmony Gold Mining Company
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Led occupational hygiene strategy across medium- to deep-level mines and major metallurgical facilities. Managed a large specialist team and strengthened technical assurance, environmental monitoring, exposure management and programme delivery across multiple operations. Drove audits, risk reviews, control improvements and technology-enabled monitoring initiatives focused on silica dust, noise, heat stress and broader occupational exposure risks.
Occupational Environment, Safety and Health Manager
Harmony Gold Mining Company
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Directed integrated health, safety and occupational environment systems across multiple underground operations. Led audits, incident investigations, emergency preparedness programmes, training systems and assurance processes to improve compliance and reduce health and safety risk. Worked closely with operational leadership to strengthen accountability, workforce readiness and system discipline.
Health, Safety and Environmental Superintendent
BHP Billiton
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Managed mine ventilation and SHE systems in coal mining operations to maintain safe atmospheric conditions, statutory compliance and emergency readiness. Oversaw ventilation performance, air quality monitoring and risk controls in a high-consequence underground mining environment. Built strong practical capability in coal mine ventilation, exposure control and operational response planning.
Manager, Technical Services
Multi-digit Consulting
01.2006 - 01.2006
- Led planning, resource coordination, project execution and risk management for ventilation and safety consulting assignments. Managed delivery against technical, schedule and budget expectations while coordinating stakeholders and project teams.
Unit Manager, Occupational Environment
Gold Fields
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Managed occupational environment programmes for mine shafts, with emphasis on airflow control, exposure prevention and worker protection in underground settings. Supported operational compliance and environmental control through practical ventilation-focused interventions.
Group Safety and Ventilation Manager
Bindura Nickel Corporation
01.1997 - 01.2002
- Provided multi-site leadership for safety procedures, ventilation systems and continuous improvement of operational standards. Held broad responsibility for safe working environments, technical oversight and operational discipline across multiple mining areas.
Earlier Career Progression
Bindura Nickel Corporation
01.1981 - 01.1997
- Progressed through Environmental Superintendent, Chief Surveyor and Shaft Surveyor roles. Built a strong technical foundation in underground mining operations, environmental control, mine planning support, compliance and spatial governance.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Occupational Health and Safety
University of Southern Queensland
AustraliaPostgraduate Diploma - Business Management
University of Southern Queensland
AustraliaManagement Advancement Programme - undefined
University of the Witwatersrand Business School
South AfricaMine Environmental Control Certificate - Advanced Ventilation
Chamber of Mines of South Africa
South AfricaMine Surveyors Certificate - Competency
Assessors Certificate - undefined
SAMTRAC - undefined
NOSA
Training Development Diploma - undefined
Skills
Ventilation engineering strategy and optimisation
Occupational hygiene systems and exposure control
Emergency preparedness and crisis readiness
HSEQ governance and compliance assurance
Data analysis, reporting and dashboard development
Budget-linked project planning and execution
Contractor management and stakeholder coordination
Team leadership, mentoring and succession development
Risk assessment, audit leadership and continuous improvement
Cross-functional influence in operational and technical environments
Timeline
Group Safety, Health and Environmental Manager
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
01.2024 - 01.2025
Mine Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene Consultant
Occupational ESH Services Pty Ltd
01.2023 - Current
Group Occupational Hygiene Manager
Harmony Gold Mining Company
01.2018 - 01.2023
Occupational Environment, Safety and Health Manager
Harmony Gold Mining Company
01.2012 - 01.2018
Health, Safety and Environmental Superintendent
BHP Billiton
01.2007 - 01.2011
Manager, Technical Services
Multi-digit Consulting
01.2006 - 01.2006
Unit Manager, Occupational Environment
Gold Fields
01.2002 - 01.2005
Group Safety and Ventilation Manager
Bindura Nickel Corporation
01.1997 - 01.2002
Earlier Career Progression
Bindura Nickel Corporation
01.1981 - 01.1997
Training Development Diploma - undefined
SAMTRAC - undefined
NOSA
Assessors Certificate - undefined
Mine Surveyors Certificate - Competency
Mine Environmental Control Certificate - Advanced Ventilation
Chamber of Mines of South Africa
Management Advancement Programme - undefined
University of the Witwatersrand Business School
Postgraduate Diploma - Business Management
University of Southern Queensland
Master of Business Administration - Occupational Health and Safety
University of Southern Queensland
EXECUTIVE VALUE PROPOSITION
- Leadership Area: Ventilation Engineering Leadership
- Contribution: Design, optimisation and oversight of ventilation and cooling systems across underground operations
- Leadership Area: Occupational Hygiene
- Contribution: Baseline risk assessment, exposure monitoring, control strategy and medical surveillance alignment
- Leadership Area: Emergency Preparedness
- Contribution: Refuge bay readiness, drill planning, crisis response systems and business continuity support
- Leadership Area: Governance and Compliance
- Contribution: Standards, audits, statutory compliance, critical controls and management system assurance
- Leadership Area: Business Performance
- Contribution: Technical planning, project execution, cost awareness, operational efficiency and risk-informed decision-making
- Leadership Area: Reporting and Analytics
- Contribution: Executive dashboards, technical reports, trend analysis, audit follow-up and management presentations
- Leadership Area: People Leadership
- Contribution: Leadership of multi-disciplinary technical teams, mentoring, succession support and capability building
- Leadership Area: Stakeholder Engagement
- Contribution: Collaboration with mining, technical services, SHEQ teams, contractors, executives, regulators and board structures
CORE ALIGNMENT TO THE ROLE
- More than 15 years of ventilation engineering experience with well over 10 years in senior managerial and executive roles.
- Advanced Mine Environmental Control qualification with ventilation specialisation, supported by business and leadership qualifications.
- Extensive underground mining experience in high-risk and production-critical environments.
- Strong background in ventilation engineering, occupational hygiene, emergency preparedness, governance and operational risk.
- Demonstrated success in leading specialist teams, contractors, technical improvement programmes and cross-functional operational interfaces.
- Deep experience in reporting, audits, risk assessments, compliance assurance and strategic planning.
PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS
A calm, credible and highly experienced mining leader with strong problem-solving ability, mature judgement and the capacity to influence across technical and operational structures. Combines strategic thinking with practical underground mining experience, detailed risk awareness and a disciplined approach to governance, standards and service delivery. Well suited to senior roles requiring technical authority, cross-functional leadership, operational resilience and high-impact contribution to employee wellbeing and business continuity.