Mike Scott started his career with Anglo in Zambia, moving on to operating a small mine in Zimbabwe. He obtained an Honours in Geology from Cape Town, later adding an MSc in Mining Engineering from London. He was part of the team which discovered Otjihase Cu-Mine in Namibia, Shangani Ni-Mine in Zimbabwe and developed Potgietersrus Pt-Mine in South Africa. He started on his own in 1983 and played a part in establishing two open pit gold mines, the diamond mines Marsfontein and Klipspringer and Messina Platinum Mine.