Booms, Busts & Billion-Dollar Builds (Zimi Meka)

We’re thrilled to bring you a candid conversation with ZimiMeka — co-founder and CEO of Ausenco, one of the world’s top mining engineering firms.

From the soaring highs to unbearable lows, Zimi sharesstories of building mines in explosive-laden corners of Laos, hacking through Tanzanian & Zambian jungles, and navigating the temptations of debt and public markets.

Packed with timeless business lessons, investor insights,and a few cracking tales, we thoroughly enjoyed this is a masterclass.

This interview was recorded on 8 August 2025.

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TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction to the Guest and His Achievements
(02:04) The Commodity Supercycle and Ausenco’s Growth
(08:03) Founding Ausenco and Early Challenges
(12:25) Key Projects and Breakthroughs
(16:38) Navigating Difficult Projects and Locations
(21:13) Ausenco's History and Learnings
(31:56) The Impact of Market Downturns
(32:31) Strategic Shifts in Business Operations
(33:17) Challenges in Project Feasibility and Execution
(34:56) Cost-Effective Project Delivery
(38:17) Balance Sheet Reflections
(39:32) Navigating Financial Challenges and Private Equity Deals
(46:45) Technological Innovations in Mining
(47:52) The Essence of Engineering
(51:30) Overrated or Underrated

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PARTNERS

Thank you to the mining services businesses that make thiscontent possible:

·       Axis Mineral Services – Crushingservices for all requirements in mining, milling & civil applications | [email protected]

·       ⁠Sandvik Ground Support⁠ – The only ground supportyou’ll ever need

·       ⁠Cross Boundary Energy⁠– Independent power producer for the global mining industry | [email protected] +61 466 184 943

·       Focus by Marketech – All your mining news and market needs in one powerful platform | 10-day free trial

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