Dr Francis Arthur-Holmes is a Senior Research Fellow in Sustainability at the Agile Centre for Equitable Sustainability (ACES) in the Faculty of Business and Law, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. He holds a PhD in Sociology and Social Policy from Lingnan University, Hong Kong. He was a visiting PhD scholar at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. He had a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Occupational and Environmental Health from Harvard University, United States, and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in Development Studies from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. His current research interests and expertise revolve around Safety and health in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM); sustainability innovations and mining practices; circular economy (CE) and tailings management; and gender dimensions, socioeconomic assessment, and futures of ASM in developing countries. According to the Stanford University and Elsevier rankings for 2025, Francis is ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in the fields of Public Health and Health Services, and Environmental Sciences. He has published over 75 articles in top-ranked journals across the development, public health, and environmental science/management fields, including Journal of Environmental Management, Environmental Science and Policy, World Development, Resources Policy, BMC Public Health, Journal of Public Health, Journal of Rural Studies and The Extractive Industries and Society, etc. He has engaged with international organisations, for example, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) on multidimensional poverty analysis.

Bright Bansah is a Ph.D. student at Kennesaw State University, USA. He holds master's degrees in Conflict, Peace, and Security (Ghana) and Sociology/Criminal Justice (USA), and several professional qualifications, including an International Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health (UK) and IRCA Lead Auditor certifications for ISO 14001 and ISO 9001.
Bright has diverse professional experience, having worked with prominent organizations in Ghana like Vodafone, Ghana Manganese Company, and Dizengoff, as well as Fortune 500 companies like Freeport-McMoRan and Sodexo in the USA. As an Adjunct Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Business School, Bright taught the Post-Graduate Diploma in Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Management (DOSHEM).
His research focuses on resource conflict-related issues, environmental justice, diplomacy, national security, safety, and sustainability. Bright is a certified member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (UK), an Affiliate Member of the World Safety Organization (USA), and a Student Member of the Alliance for Peacebuilding (USA)

Gloria serves as Secretary for Presbon Safe, bringing a vital economic and managerial lens to our mission of safeguarding artisanal mining communities. A Chartered Financial Economist and Chartered Energy Economist, Gloria ensures our fiscal and operational governance supports sustainable impact. With an MSc in Economics and Development Economics from the University of Nottingham and master’s degrees in Business Management from the Hong Kong Baptist University and HR and Organisational Behaviour from Lingnan University, Gloria possesses a deep understanding of the economic drivers and organizational behaviours within resource communities. Gloria’s current PhD research at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability focuses on energy transitions and the bioeconomy, providing a critical framework for Preston Safe’s work - guiding strategies that not only mitigate mining risks but also foster resilient, low-carbon livelihoods through clean technology adoption and sustainable land restoration, directly informing our strategies for promoting mercury-free technologies and resilient livelihoods. Gloria is dedicated to applying rigorous economic and management principles to create tangible improvements in miner health, safety, and environmental restoration.

Dr Shadrack Osei Frimpong is a global leader and academic whose work explores the science and practice of engagement in public health, medicine, and international development. Fueled by his background in rural Ghana, Frimpong is a triple threat to the problems his efforts address: he’s lived through them (from birth), studied them, and taken them on. A son of a peasant (cocoa farmer) and a charcoal seller, he grew up without running water and electricity in rural Ghana. As a child, his legs were nearly amputated after contracting a river infection. Yet he became the first person from his village to attend college in the US, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) with the $150,000 President’s Engagement Prize (PEP), one of Penn’s highest honors. With the PEP, he pioneered the trailblazing community engagement model, farm-for-impact. For his efforts, Frimpong has received many awards, including the prestigious Samuel Huntington Public Service Award, Forbes 30 under 30 list of top social entrepreneurs around the world, the Clinton Foundation’s CGIU Honour Roll, and the Muhammad Ali Award, which recognises six global activists who work towards social change under the age of thirty. HRM Queen Elizabeth II has also awarded him the Queen’s Young Leader Award at Buckingham Palace. Frimpong holds master's degrees from Penn (MS, Non-Profit Leadership) and Yale (Advanced MPH, Global Health). He graduated from both schools with top academic prizes. He also holds a Ph.D. in Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. Beyond his peer-reviewed publications, he has also provided expertise on community engagement in public health and medicine by working with UNICEF and WHO to co-author evidence-based frameworks on global health issues. In July 2023, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Royal Holloway, University of London – making him the youngest Ghanaian to receive an Honorary Doctorate. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Medicine Degree (M.D) from the Yale School of Medicine. Shadrack is a member of the Royal Society of Medicine and a 2025/26 Obama Foundation Africa Leader.

Dr Clement Kojo Acquah is a resident medical doctor at St. Rókus Hospital in Hungary, driven by a deep commitment to service, compassion, and social impact. His professional journey is uniquely interdisciplinary. He holds a degree in Geological Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, a foundation that sharpened his analytical thinking and problem-solving skills long before he entered medicine. Beyond clinical practice, Dr Acquah is the Chief Executive Officer of Section 20 Consult, a registered educational consultancy that has successfully supported numerous students in pursuing academic opportunities abroad. This work reflects his longstanding dedication to empowering young people and expanding access to opportunity. At the core of Dr Acquah’s career is a profound love for humanity and a strong advocacy for the vulnerable. He is committed to identifying, understanding, and addressing societal challenges by combining medical expertise with lived experience, empathy, and people-centered leadership.

Emmanuel K. Attiah is a distinguished Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) professional with over 15 years of experience in the extractive industry. Currently, he is the health and safety manager at Atlantic Lithium Ltd, Ghana. Renowned for his strategic insight, technical expertise and decisive leadership, he has consistently championed high standards of occupational health and safety across complex mining operations. Emmanuel is also currently a PhD candidate in Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Mines and Technology. He holds a Master’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety and Risk Management from the Open University, Malaysia. Professionally, he is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH), an IRCA Certified Lead Auditor in Occupational Health and Safety, a Certified Occupational Health & Safety Manager (COHSM), and a Certified Master Trainer with EOSH. He also holds the HSE Manager’s Certificate of Competency from the Minerals Commission of Ghana, alongside specialised certifications in Mining Engineering, Surface Mine Blasting, First Aid instruction, Radiation Protection, and Cyanide Management. Throughout his career, Emmanuel has held senior HSE positions with leading mining and exploration companies, Asante Gold (Bibiani Mine), Asanko Gold Mine, Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Ltd, and Golden Star (Wassa Mine). In these roles, he has led the development and implementation of robust HSE management systems, delivered targeted training programmes, and fostered a strong culture of safety excellence and continuous improvement. Emmanuel is an active member of several professional bodies, including SHEQ-PA and the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM). He also serves on the Central Planning Committee of the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission, Ghana, contributing his expertise to national-level discussions on mining safety and regulatory compliance.