Mayer Ngomesia

Mayer Ngomesia is a former United Nations official and adviser on political economy/geopolitical issues in mineral resource governance. Previously, he provided technical advisory expertise in multilateral processes to mitigate conflict diamonds. He is currently involved in political engagement, to help governments, businesses and CSOs navigate Extractives sector politics/geopolitics.

Since 2008, working in the roles highlighted above, Mayer has helped address political economy challenges in mineral resource governance, including cross-cutting Peace & Security issues. His main career contributions include fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to mitigate the spectre of conflict diamonds; serving on international advisory bodies for Environmental, Social & corporate Governance (ESG) initiatives in the mining sector; and putting strategic resource development frameworks into operation.

In the early to mid-2000s, while working in Africa, Middle East and Europe, Mayer’s interest in Peace & Conflict was deepened by exposure to the Security-Development nexus. This exposure included early career experience analyzing political factors in community-based conflict resolution; records and information management for socioeconomic development projects; and supporting public sector agencies in social research/policy implementation.

Mayer’s background underscores deep interest in the political dynamics of mineral resources, particularly considering that mineral resources are essential in everyday living and political realities permeate daily life. In addition, reflecting fond memories from the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Centre, Mayer stays engaged with Duke University, as an alumni volunteer. He has participated in the Duke Reader Project and Hacking for Defense (H4D) program. Mayer also spends some time enjoying the delightfully humbling experience of trying but failing, to convince tween and teenage family members that he’s cool.