Chirag Sathe is a highly qualified professional with a PhD in Chemical Engineering and an MBA complemented by research, operations, project and risk management experience in various industries, including coal, nuclear, steel, mineral processing and iron ore mining. He has an in-depth knowledge and experience of mobile equipment automation in mining, including developing new automation technology for mine operations. Chirag also has experience in technology strategy development covering the entire mining value chain – from pit to port. He is a firm believer that sustainable mining is achievable through automation and electrification; two elements that will help with reducing the carbon footprint. As Chair of the Autonomous Mining Working Group for the Global Mining Guideline Group, he promotes interoperability for safe mobile equipment automation. This is complemented by his participation on the ISO committee for Mine Automation and an in-depth knowledge and experience of safety management across various industries.