Veronica Bolton Smith

Veronica is Founder and CEO of The Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) a platform committed to  giving Africa and the companies operating within the African critical minerals ecosystem a seat at the  table when it comes to discussions around value chains and shaping policy. 

Veronica holds a solid background of 20 years of Africa-focused trade and investment experience.  She brings extensive knowledge of African trade relations and has advised African heads of state on  their foreign direct investment approach to create and broaden opportunities for investment in  Africa. Veronica has advised and led Africa investment strategies for several FTSE 100 companies,  including De Beers, Anglo-American and Vodafone, among others. 

Most recently, Veronica has been consulting for several corporate clients as well as  African governments seeking to create robust beneficiation strategies. Veronica recently supported  the Government of Ghana in attracting industrial investors into key sectors of growth, including the  Automotive, Pharmaceutical and Textile and Garments industries. 

Veronica’s passion is to foster growth through trade and investment in Sub-Saharan African nations  and sees no better opportunity for Africa’s economic advancement than the development of strong  and sustainable critical minerals value chains. Veronica has been recognised by the United Nations as  a Top 100 Most Influential Person of African Descent in Business. In 2025, Veronica was also  recognised with an award by the Africa Business Chamber for ‘Excellence in International Trade’. Veronica is an advisory board member of Akojo Market, an Ambassador for the Halo Trust, a Trustee  of Camara International, a Non-Executive Director of ThirdwayCapital and CEO and Founder of The  Critical Minerals Africa Group.