Bio:
Zak is a father to two young children, Colin and Ivy. Outside of that he is a senior advisor and strategist working primarily in extractives, conflict, development, and societal trust.
Zak is the founder of Thoreau Consulting and IMGNRM, platforms that support innovative thinking and collaborative action on issues ranging from responsible sourcing to stakeholder dialogue. He advises c-suites and boards on ethical leadership and approaches to long-term whole value, particularly in complex environments.
Zak is one half of the secretariat that coordinates Courageous Conversations in South Africa, a multiyear programme that convenes mining executives, faith leaders, labour, and civil society in pursuit of greater co-accountability and shared vision. He is also the co-chair of the Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030’s workstream on the Legacy of Mining.
Zak believes that a more holistic and engaged approach to investment value in the raw materials value chain is a part of incentivising better behaviour among all players, in ways that will lead to a more stable, more humanely prosperous society.
Abstract:
The Institute for Committed Action (IFCA) has pioneered a unique approach to multilateral dialogue and social transformation through its Courageous Conversations programme. Rooted in the belief that trust is foundational to societal repair, IFCA convenes safe, neutral, and purpose-driven spaces where stakeholders with divergent views—ranging from mining executives and faith leaders to civil society and local communities—can engage constructively.
This presentation outlines three core insights from IFCA’s work: first, the necessity of guiding principles that affirm dignity, shared accountability, and the common good as the foundation for a collective vision; second, the irreplaceable role of a neutral interlocutor in ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and sensitivity within conflicted or mistrustful settings; and third, a series of grounded case studies from South Africa and other countries that demonstrate how dialogue—when sustained and structured—can reduce social harms and build long-term cohesion, even after the programme has ended.
As the mining sector and broader society confront the challenges of legacy harm, technological disruption, and fragile social compacts, IFCA’s model offers a hopeful pathway—anchored in dialogue, driven by collaboration, and committed to action.
