Inside season 4 of acQuire Connected: A deep dive into mining, data and technology.

Season 4 of acQuire Connected took listeners deep into the world of mining, data and technology, revealing not just where the industry is heading, but how people, processes, and technology shape the journey. Across five episodes, our guests shared their perspectives on the challenges companies face today and the opportunities that come from rethinking how we manage data, connect systems, and engage people. Here’s what we uncovered.

Episode 1 – Data: The hidden engine in mining and its ripple effect

This season opened with a powerful reminder: data can no longer be an afterthought, it’s the engine behind efficient, safe and sustainable operations. Steve Mundell, Chief Technical Officer, and Stuart van de Water, Sustainability Portfolio Leader from acQuire, unpacked how inconsistencies, data silos and manual workflows can slow decisions across geology, operations and ESG reporting. They highlighted an important shift underway; organisations are moving from reactive data clean‑ups to proactive, strategic data management that supports better forecasting and smarter resource development.

Episode 2 – Beyond big data: why master data matters more

Host Jaimee Nobbs sat down with Jared Armstrong, Managing Director at wHole Solutions, to challenge the “more data = more value” myth. Mining organisations are discovering that without structured, and governed master data, AI and automation simply can’t deliver value. The episode made one thing clear: companies investing in master data today are positioning themselves for a more automated, more connected future.

Episode 3 – Social performance by design: From frameworks to better futures

Mining’s social licence is built on transparency, credibility and strong relationships. This episode explored how companies can shift from reactive community engagement to designed-from-the-start social performance, supported by frameworks, technology and intentional data collection. In South Africa’s highly regulated context, Carinka van der Watt, IM Governance, Risk & Compliance Specialist at Thungela, and Maritha Erasmus discussed how trusted data can ultimately building long‑term community trust and resilience.

Episode 4 – How interoperability is shaping the future of mining

As mining systems grow and diversify, interoperability has become a strategic imperative. Warren Carvey, acQuire’s Partnerships Leader, explained why leading organisations are pursuing open standards, integrated workflows and seamless data movement across geology, operations, processing and ESG systems. The takeaway? Interoperability isn’t just a technical requirement, it’s a way to break bottlenecks, reduce risk and ensure people can access the right information at the right time.

Episode 5 – Empowering communities through localised procurement

Season 4 closed with a people-first lens, highlighting local procurement as a catalyst for long‑term community resilience. Our guests, Dr. Poobie Pillay, Head of Transformation & Sustainability at Ivanplats and Maritha Erasmus showcased how mining companies can strengthen local economies by building supplier capability, ensuring transparent procurement processes, and tracking local participation data to demonstrate real impact. When done well, local procurement becomes more than compliance, it becomes a shared pathway to growth.

The core themes shaping better decisions in mining

Across each episode our guests pointed to the same foundations: invest in data quality early, connect your technology systems to remove friction, and use transparent metrics to build credibility with regulators, executives and communities alike. When these elements come together, teams make faster, more confident decisions, and stakeholders see tangible, trusted results.

Catch up on the episodes:

• Episode 1 – Data: The hidden engine in mining and its ripple effect
• Episode 2 – Beyond big data: why master data matters more
• Episode 3 – Social performance by design: From frameworks to better futures
• Episode 4 – How interoperability is shaping the future of mining
• Episode 5 – Empowering communities through localised procurement