Trailblazing Strategist Fatima Collins Empowering Communities and Women in Mining Across Africa in 2026
Raised during apartheid-era South Africa, Fatima experienced firsthand how systemic inequality restricts access, opportunity, and dignity. Those early lessons did not embitter her. They shaped her. “Having been a victim of an unjust social system, I understand what access and empowerment can do for the youth,” she reflects. That understanding has guided a 28-year journey spanning science, banking, development finance, and ultimately sustainable transformation across Africa’s extractive industries.
On Cover
Fatima Collins
Regional Head, Women in Mining, Sibanye Stillwater
In the unequal landscape of apartheid-era South Africa, a young Fatima Collins absorbed lessons that would take decades to crystallize into purpose. Growing up in a system designed to limit choices and access, she witnessed firsthand how inequality doesn’t just constrain individual lives but fractures entire communities. These early experiences planted seeds that would eventually bloom into a career dedicated to dismantling barriers and building pathways for those denied opportunity.
Karmini Pillay-Rangan
President | IMPACT Institute for the Digital Economy
In the heart of Sandton, South Africa, a powerful transformation is taking root—one that bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and cutting-edge innovation, between individual compassion and systemic change. At the center of this movement stands a woman whose journey from banking corridors to agricultural fields exemplifies the profound impact of purpose-driven leadership in Africa’s evolving food landscape.
Maha Jouini
Tech Policy Expert and VP of African and Francophone Agency for AI (AFRIA) | African and Francophone Agency for AI (AFRIA)
My journey into AI and digital governance is driven by a deep commitment to justice, inclusion, and African agency. As a Tunisian with a background in public communication, I was first exposed to the power of digital advocacy through my work on the African Union’s End Child Marriage Campaign, becoming the first North African woman to join the AU Youth Volunteer Program.
