Brumilda Britz has been confirmed as the new Human Resources director at Dundee Precious Metals (DPM). The appointment, effective 01 June 2022, was recently confirmed by Zebra Kasete, DPM Tsumeb Vice President and Managing Director. DPM Tsumeb is one of the largest employers in the Oshikoto region, with a workforce of approximately 600 employees.
Britz joins Dundee from the Walvis Bay Salt Holdings, where she held the role of Senior Human Resources Manager for the past 11 years. She also held a position of State Prosecutor for two years at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Namibia.
She is described as a seasoned human resources professional, who has made a significant contribution to the mining industry. She is currently the chairperson for the Human Resources Committee of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, and serves as a trustee on the board of the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology.
Britz holds qualifications in law (LLB, BA Law), Human Resources (National Diploma: Human Resources) and is currently studying towards a Master of Business Administration (Psychology). When not working, she dedicates her time and expertise to the governance and management of several welfare organisations she is involved with.
“It is an extremely exciting time for DPM Tsumeb as it transitions towards a more sustainable future. I am fortunate in that I take over a very capable and settled team, and my focus will be concentrated around the identification of oppurtunities for improvement, improving eficiencies in the HR processes and creating a platform which enables value-creating interactions between the HR personnel and the people it serves, namely the employees and management,” she observed.
Meanwhile, Kasete expressed cofidence in Britz’s abilities to help transform the smelter into a sustainable and agile business. He further expressed that the company’s success depends on how well it creates a positive work experience for its employees. “Britz is uniquely qualified to transform employees and attract and maintain talent, amongst other attributes she is bringing to the team,” Kasete stated.
He also expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Human Resources Director, Linus Gwala, for creating sound labour relations at DPM Tsumeb and mentoring many human resources’ professionals and union leaders over the years in a long industrious career in Namibia. He is retiring at the end of June 2022. The DPM smelter in Tsumeb was constructed in 1963, and is one of only a few in the world that can treat complex copper concentrates. The smelter produces 98.5% pure copper blisters and with its ability to treat complex copper concentrates, is transitioning from a captive smelter, receiving mainly Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) concentrates into a toll treatment facility, with brown-fields expansion potential.