Executive
Mr. Jean-Paul LK Nkulu
With a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Economics with Financial Management from the University of Pretoria (Pta.), a business accountant with the Southern African Institute of Business Accountants (SAIBA) and a certified business advisor with the Institute of Business Advisors Southern Africa (IBASA) , Jean-Paul is a multilingual Business Executive and Financial Management expert with extensive strategic relations experience across Africa. He has expertise in developing and implementing corporate and operational strategy, leadership, performance improvement and capacity building. He is a corporate governance specialist with a purposeful approach towards diverse situational challenges during periods of both recession and growth. As a highly effective business leader, he has pioneered the conceptualisation and implementation of solutions, while always ensuring operational excellence.
Mr. Francis K Kaputo
Francis is a versatile professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)and he is an accredited Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) with the registration number 2018201047. He is a solution-oriented engineer and incessant learner applying critical thinking to prepare effective proposals, presentations and demonstrations of business developments opportunities. He has experience in project management and business development which he acquired over the past five years. He created a work environment that contributed to teamwork and strong professional development. He is in charge of the company’s research & development portfolio.
Senior Management
Dr. Frank NM Banze
Frank is a Master of Science degree holder in Development Planning from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He also holds an LLB degree from the University of Lubumbashi (UNILU). Mr. Frank is currently finishing his PhD in Environmental Management and Sustainability at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa. He has extensive exposure in legal and environmental matters in different sectors such as mining, local government and non-government organisations. He has accumulated vast practical and theoretical experience to efficiently attend to issues related to his fields and contribute to sustainable development. His core expertise lies in local economic development planning, projects assessment including providing support to clients (public & private) toward the coordination of planning, funding, implementation and monitoring of development projects. He further focuses on:
- Identifying specific needs for the municipalities so as to coordinate and manage technical assistance to accelerate, support and strengthen service delivery, management capacity and systems;
- Plan and supervise socio-economic interventions for local community development;
- To identify opportunities for investment facilitation;
- Data collection of relevant development projects;
- Make recommendations for suitable infrastructure development plan for local communities in the case of settlement/resettlement.
Dr. Franck IB Makobo
Franck is medical doctor with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He is a registered medical doctor with the Health Council of the DRC (MP11276) and with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (MP0809950). He is a highly motivated doctor with seasoned experience, aspiring to a master in Health & Human Resources Management, family medicine as well as emergency medicine; with the ultimate objective to make Palme Africaine Group a pioneer in providing optimal healthcare solutions, training and policies implementation to public or private institutions.
Mr. Eloge Kalubi
Eloge studied industrial engineering at the university of Johannesburg and he is currently completing his diploma in mechanical engineering at the Northern institute of technology in Edmonton, Canada. He has more than 8 years of experience in project management, heading supply of equipment on some of African largest mining projects such as Moatize coal, Kibali gold, Bisha gold, Katanga mining, Tenke Fungurume, Mutanda mining, Twangiza & Namoya, to name a few. He also has technical expertise as he held the position of key account manager in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, being the first point of contact for any technical issues that may have arisen.
Mr. Yann M Lwambiyi Kalenga
Yann is a graduate in Architecture and Interior Design from the University of Johannesburg, in South Africa. With his university background and his managerial abilities, Yann represents the company in the DRC and deals with all matters related to the company in relation with the government institutions.
Mr. Thed WK Ilunga
Thed is a graduate in marketing management from the Higher Institute of Social studies in Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has been working in the marketing industry for the past 7 years at two different companies where he was mainly in charge of commercial activities. He therefore brings a wealth of marketing and public relations experience to the Company.
Mr. Toty K Sangwa
Toty is a graduate agronomist (engineer) from the University of Lubumbashi (UNILU), in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has been involved and in charge of many agribusiness activities in the DRC for over 10 years ranging from private owned entities to government and NGO run agricultural projects. He brings a wealth of agribusiness experience and knowledge to the company in the DRC.
Experts Team
Prof. Francois K Mulenga
François is an Associate Professor with the Department of Mining Engineering, University of South Africa (UNISA). He holds a BEng in Mining Engineering from the University of Lubumbashi. He also holds an MSc (Eng.) and a PhD in Minerals Engineering, both from the University of the Witwatersrand. François is a well-regarded researcher in engineering sciences with the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. He has published more than 20 scientific articles covering various aspects of comminution operations, and supervises postgraduate students at Master’s and Doctoral levels with research projects. His core expertise lies in what he refers to as ‘integrated comminution’: a holistic modelling, simulation and optimisation of the blasting, crushing and milling chain. He also has an interest in engineering simulations (discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics) as well as surface mine design and planning.
Prof. Danny M Simatele
Danny’s research interests straddle human processes, the built-up environment and the physical environment. He is particularly interested in understanding how human and physical environmental processes interlink within different ecosystems and how the outcomes of these relationships influence policy outcomes. In pursuing his research, he has developed strong international links with a wide range of institutions in Africa and Europe. Much of his research focus and expertise have revolved within the following broad areas:
- Climate change adaptation in urban areas of the developing South;
- Urban and peri-urban transformations;
- Rural and urban agriculture;
- Mining and natural resources management;
- Water resources management;
- Environmental management and migration;
- Community-based development and institution building in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Caribbean and the pacific regions;
- Sustainable management of marine and coastal regions.