ROGER Baxter, the chief economist at the Chamber of Mines, has left to take up a position at Rio Tinto in November.

Baxter, who has been with the chamber for 19 years, wanted to opportunity to gain international experience.

He resigned in July, giving two months' notice.

Mr Baxter has been instrumental in the chamber and became one of the leading figures at seminars, conferences and discussions, outlining the benefits of the mining sector to the SA economy and the hurdles it faced in delivering more value and creating jobs.

He was an important figure in the Mining Industry Growth and Development Task Team, a body set up between the Department of Mineral Resources, labour and companies to unlock growth and transformation in mining. This body was critical in putting mining on the government's list of five sectors in its national growth path.