Kathryn C. Sole (Pr Eng, PhD, FSAIMM)

During a 30-year career in the resource industry, Kathy has gained extensive experience in most aspects of hydrometallurgical processing and exposure to a wide range of commodities, including copper, cobalt, zinc, nickel, uranium, titanium, vanadium, platinum-group metals (PGMs), and gold. She has been involved in flowsheet conceptualisation and development, feasibility studies, operational support, process troubleshooting audits, commissioning, and management of a variety of testwork and pilot-plant trials around the world, both at greenfield and brownfield operations.

Kathy has led teams in hydrometallurgical research and technology development, with some projects being taken from laboratory-scale, through on-site piloting, to successful full-scale commercialization. She has specialist expertise in the areas of solvent extraction, ion exchange, and electrowinning. Her skills lie in helping metallurgists and operators identify and focus on the key drivers of improved flowsheets and better operational performance.

After working in both state-owned enterprise and corporate environments in South Africa for many years, she has consulted independently since 2011. Her clients and professional assignments today include almost all of the major mining houses, as well as a range of small companies, and span six continents.