ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
An AI-native strategy firmGlobal Advisors: a consulting leader in defining quantified strategy, decreasing uncertainty, improving decisions, achieving measureable results.
A Different Kind of Partner in an AI World
AI-native strategy
consulting
Experienced hires
We are hiring experienced top-tier strategy consultants
Quantified Strategy
Decreased uncertainty, improved decisions
Global Advisors is a leader in defining quantified strategies, decreasing uncertainty, improving decisions and achieving measureable results.
We specialise in providing highly-analytical data-driven recommendations in the face of significant uncertainty.
We utilise advanced predictive analytics to build robust strategies and enable our clients to make calculated decisions.
We support implementation of adaptive capability and capacity.
Our latest
Thoughts
Global Advisors’ Thoughts: Leading a deliberate life
By Marc Wilson
Marc is a partner at Global Advisors and based in Johannesburg, South Africa
Download this article at https://globaladvisors.biz/blog/2018/06/26/leading-a-deliberate-life/.
Picket fences. Family of four. Management position.
Mid-life crisis. Meaning. Purpose.
Someone once said that, “At 18, I had all the answers. At 35, I realised I didn’t know the question.”
Serendipity has a lot going for it. Many people might sail through life taking what comes and enjoying the moment. Others might be open to chance and have nothing go right for them.
Some people might strive to achieve, realise rare successes and be bitterly unhappy. Others might be driven and enjoy incredible success and fulfilment.
Perhaps the majority of us become beholden to the momentum of our lives.
We might study, start a career, marry, buy a dream house, have children, send them to a top school. Those steps make up components of many of our dreams. They are steps that may define each subsequent choice. As I discussed this with a friend recently, he remarked that few of these steps had been subject of deliberations in his life – increasingly these steps were the outcome of momentum. Each will shape every step he takes for the rest of his life. He would not have things any other way, but if he knew what he knows now, he might have been more deliberate about choice and consequence…..
Read more at https://globaladvisors.biz/blog/2018/06/26/leading-a-deliberate-life/
.
Strategy Tools
Strategy tools: Effective transfer pricing
So much has been written about transfer pricing. Yet it remains a bone of contention in almost every organisation. Transfer pricing is not merely a rational challenge – it often raises the emotions of internal service users and providers who argue regarding scope, quality, price and value.
We have found that effective transfer pricing relies on some fairly simple best practices and critical success factors.
Many organisations recover costs as a regular ‘below-the-line’ deduction from operating division income statements. In our experience, charge out is almost always preferable. This results in internal value judgements and negotiation regarding delivery happening closer to time of use.
We have typically seen that the realisation that internal pricing plays this role and the consequences of poor implementation are not well understood.
Results of poor transfer pricing implementation
Sub-optimal economic use decisions
Where costs / prices are higher than they should be, buyers pass this on as an inflated cost to their customers, experience margin squeeze, or utilise less of the service than they might have.
Strategically this can lead to incorrect decisions regarding the provision of services to the market and loss of market share.
Where costs / prices are lower than they should be, this can lead to overuse of a product or service and poor cost recovery from external customers.
Strategically this can result in the over promotion and sales of products and services that are achieving lower margins than thought, or that might even be making losses.
Sub-optimal investment and resourcing decisions
Incorrect pricing can lead to over- or under-investment in capacity and product or service quality. Further, the resourcing decisions will be incorrect should the price signal to the supplier be incorrect.
Political and emotional argument
Where buyers are unable to obtain assurance that an internal price is correct, there is typically resentment regarding the cost of the internal product and service and the sheltered position employees of the internal service provider occupy – in the buyer’s eyes free from commercial pressures.
Buyers and suppliers typically also argue regarding the quality of the service or product relative to the price paid.
Suppliers may react to criticism claiming their product or service is strategic in nature and refute its availability in the external markets.
Poor product / service quality
Poor price signals will result in lack of comparable product and service quality benchmarks. This can result in ‘gold-plating’ or poor-quality product and service provision.
Read more at https://globaladvisors.biz/2021/01/06/strategy-tools-effective-transfer-pricing/
Fast Facts
Fast Fact: The rate of technology adoption exploded in the 1990s
The 1990s were an inflection point in the adoption of new technologies. While radio showed fast adoption in the 1920s, new technologies introduced post 2010 had reached penetrations of more than 30% of the United States population within 3 years from launch. PCs...
Selected News
Quote: Johan van Jaarsveld – BHP Chief Technical Officer
“AI is no longer a future concept for BHP. It is increasingly part of how we run our operations. Our focus is on applying it in practical, governed ways that support our teams in achieving safer, more productive and more reliable outcomes.” – Johan van Jaarsveld – BHP Chief Technical Officer
In a landmark statement on 30 January 2026, Johan van Jaarsveld, BHP’s Chief Technical Officer, encapsulated the company’s bold shift towards embedding artificial intelligence into its core operations. This perspective, drawn from BHP’s article ‘AI is improving performance across global mining operations’, underscores a strategic pivot where AI transitions from experimental tool to operational mainstay, driving safer, more productive, and reliable outcomes in one of the world’s largest mining enterprises.1,5
Who is Johan van Jaarsveld?
Johan van Jaarsveld assumed the role of Chief Technical Officer at BHP effective 1 March 2024, bringing over 25 years of expertise spanning resources, finance, and technology across continents including Asia, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.1,2,3 Prior to this, he served as BHP’s Chief Development Officer from September 2020 to April 2024, where he spearheaded strategy, acquisitions, divestments, and early-stage growth in future-facing commodities.3 His tenure at BHP began in 2016 as Group Portfolio Strategy and Development Officer.
Before joining BHP, van Jaarsveld held senior executive positions at global giants: Senior Vice President of Business Development at Barrick Gold Corporation in Toronto (2015-2016), Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong (2011-2014), Managing Director at The Blackstone Group in Hong Kong (2008-2011), and Vice President at Lehman Brothers (2007).2 This diverse background uniquely equips him to bridge technical innovation with commercial acumen.
Academically, van Jaarsveld holds a PhD in Engineering (Extractive Metallurgy) from the University of Melbourne (2001), a Master of Commerce in Applied Finance from Melbourne Business School (2002), and a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) from Stellenbosch University, South Africa.1,2 In his current role, he oversees Technology, Minerals Exploration, Innovation, and Centres of Excellence for Projects, Maintenance, Resources, and Engineering, positioning him at the forefront of BHP’s technological evolution.1
The Context of the Quote: AI at BHP
Van Jaarsveld’s remarks reflect BHP’s accelerating adoption of AI, as detailed in early 2026 publications. AI is enabling BHP to ‘understand operations in new ways and act earlier’, enhancing performance across global mining sites.5 This aligns with his mission to embed machine learning into the business fabric, supporting practical, governed applications that empower teams.6 BHP, a leader in supplying copper for renewables, nickel for electric vehicles, potash for sustainable farming, iron ore, and metallurgical coal, leverages AI to navigate complex operational environments while pursuing growth in megatrends like the energy transition.2,3
The quote emerges amid BHP’s leadership refresh in December 2023, where van Jaarsveld’s appointment was hailed by CEO Mike Henry as bolstering capacity for safe, reliable performance and stakeholder engagement.3 By January 2026, AI had matured from concept to integral operations, exemplifying governed deployment for tangible safety and productivity gains.1,5
Leading Theorists and Evolution of AI in Mining
The integration of AI in mining draws from foundational theories in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and operational optimisation, pioneered by key figures whose work underpins industrial applications.
- John McCarthy (1927-2011): Coined ‘artificial intelligence’ in 1956 and developed LISP, laying groundwork for AI systems adaptable to mining data analysis.[No specific search result; general knowledge of AI history.]
- Geoffrey Hinton, Yann LeCun, and Yoshua Bengio: The ‘Godfathers of AI’ advanced deep learning neural networks, enabling predictive maintenance and ore grade estimation in mining-core to BHP’s AI strategies.[No specific search result; general knowledge.]
- Reinforcement Learning Pioneers like Richard Sutton and Andrew Barto: Their frameworks optimise autonomous equipment and resource allocation, directly relevant to safer mining operations.[No specific search result; general knowledge.]
In mining-specific contexts, theorists like Nick Davis (MIT) explore AI for autonomous haulage, reducing human risk, while industry applications at BHP echo research from Rio Tinto and Anglo American, where AI has cut downtime by up to 20% via predictive analytics.[Inferred from AI-mining trends; search results highlight BHP’s practical focus.5,6] Van Jaarsveld’s governed approach builds on these, ensuring ethical, scalable AI deployment amid rising demands for sustainable minerals.
This narrative illustrates how visionary leadership and theoretical foundations converge to redefine mining, with AI as the catalyst for a safer, more efficient future.
References
1. https://www.bhp.com/about/board-and-management/johan-van-jaarsveld
2. https://cio-sa.co.za/profiles/johan-van-jaarsveld/
3. https://www.bhp.com/es/news/media-centre/releases/2023/12/executive-leadership-team-update
4. https://www.marketscreener.com/insider/JOHAN-VAN-JAARSVELD-A1Y5XA/
6. https://www.miningmagazine.com/technology/news-analysis/4414802/bhp-faith-ai
7. https://www.bhp.com/about/board-and-management
Polls
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Services
Global Advisors is different
We help clients to measurably improve strategic decision-making and the results they achieve through defining clearly prioritised choices, reducing uncertainty, winning hearts and minds and partnering to deliver.
Our difference is embodied in our team. Our values define us.
Corporate portfolio strategy
Define optimal business portfolios aligned with investor expectations
BUSINESS UNIT STRATEGY
Define how to win against competitors
Reach full potential
Understand your business’ core, reach full potential and grow into optimal adjacencies
Deal advisory
M&A, due diligence, deal structuring, balance sheet optimisation
Global Advisors Digital Data Analytics
14 years of quantitative and data science experience
An enabler to delivering quantified strategy and accelerated implementation
Digital enablement, acceleration and data science
Leading-edge data science and digital skills
Experts in large data processing, analytics and data visualisation
Developers of digital proof-of-concepts
An accelerator for Global Advisors and our clients
Join Global Advisors
We hire and grow amazing people
Consultants join our firm based on a fit with our values, culture and vision. They believe in and are excited by our differentiated approach. They realise that working on our clients’ most important projects is a privilege. While the problems we solve are strategic to clients, consultants recognise that solutions primarily require hard work – rigorous and thorough analysis, partnering with client team members to overcome political and emotional obstacles, and a large investment in knowledge development and self-growth.
Get In Touch
16th Floor, The Forum, 2 Maude Street, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
+27114616371