Anja Esterhuizen

Background

About Anja Esterhuizen

Anja is a SACNASP-registered Professional Natural Scientist (Registration No. 121093) with a robust academic record and over a decade of industry experience. She earned her undergraduate degree majoring in Geology, Soil Science, and Botany and subsequently advanced her studies by obtaining a B.Sc. Hons.(with distinction and academic colors) and an M.Sc. with a focus on Ecological Remediation and Sustainable Development. All obtained from the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. Throughout her career, Anja has collaborated with diverse mining operations—including those in gold, diamonds, platinum, coal, chrome, and limestone sectors—with a dedicated focus on mine closure planning. Her commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship is evident in her extensive work in mine closure and rehabilitation. Anja has also provided consultancy for mining projects in South Africa, West Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, East Africa, and Zimbabwe, specialising in closure planning processes, rehabilitation strategies, environmental management, and comprehensive closure and rehabilitation audits. Currently, as the Environmental Officer at Far West Gold Recoveries, she ensures strict environmental compliance and oversees the execution of environmental licenses, environmental authorisation processes, stakeholder engagement, rehabilitation, financial provisioning, and mine closure planning activities. In addition, Anja is privileged to contribute her expertise as part of a professional team working on one of the world’s largest projects—the Regional Tailings Storage Facility (RTSF).