Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guinea Chamber of Mines, Mr. Ismael Diakité is the High Representative of the SMB-Winning Consortium. He is responsible for business development, compliance, stakeholder management, and corporate image management. His contribution to the recent negotiations and approvals of three (3) Conventions for the Consortium’s latest projects concerning the northern iron ore blocks of Simandou was essential.

Mr. Diakité is the Deputy CEO of the Consortium’s new $3 billion “Boffa-Boké” project, part of the SMB-Winning operations, which export over 40 million tons of bauxite annually.

Previously, Mr. Diakité worked for 10 years at Rio Tinto as the CEO for Guinea, Chairman of the Board of the $20 billion Simandou Iron Ore Major Exploitation and Infrastructure Project, and also oversaw Rio Tinto’s interests in the Bauxite Operation and exports through CBG (Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée).

He spent five (5) years as a member of the Executive Committee of Rio Tinto Diamonds & Minerals, serving as the CEO and Country Manager for Rio Tinto in Guinea.

From 2014 to 2016, he chaired the Private Sector Forum in Guinea and the Guinea Chamber of Mines.

Mr. Ismael Diakité holds a BSc in Mining Planning, an MBA, and a degree in Economics from the University of Wales. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy and Development Organization from the University of Paris XI. Additionally, he studied Business Management at the Paris Institute of Business Administration, and Industrial Manufacturing Techniques at the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines of Douai (France).

He is very familiar with the rules and programs of Development Partners and is also involved in mobilizing substantial funds with banks in capital markets.

Mr. Diakité has extensive experience in the leadership, evaluation, and implementation of mining, infrastructure, and integrated energy projects across Africa.