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JAMES PALMER

CEO, 29Metals

James has more than 25 years’ experience across operational, technical, strategy and business development roles, in a career that spans multiple commodities. James was previously with BHP where he has spent two decades in various leadership roles, most recently as BHP’s Group Performance & Improvement Officer.

TIM DUFFY

CEO, Lubambe Copper Mine

B Commerce (James Cook), Fellow CPA, Fellow AusIMM

Tim is an international mining executive with almost 30 years experience in the mining industry. He has an outstanding track record of achievements in relation to delivering outcomes surrounding competitiveness, profitability and growth.

In addition to his executive experience, working at an international level has enabled Tim to have a detailed understanding of broader corporate challenges such as the impact on environmental, social and governance factors.

Prior to joining Lubambe, Tim was Vice President Director and CEO of PT Agincourt Resources in Indonesia. During this time, he was part of a team which developed a green fields gold project into the highly successful Martabe Gold Mine.

BRETT FLETCHER

CEO, Ravenswood Gold

B Eng (Mining) (NSW)

Brett is a qualified Mining Engineer (University of NSW) and brings more than 30 years’ experience in the metals and mining industry to Ravenswood Gold.

His experience within the Australian and International base metal mining and smelting sector is significant and he has held multiple executive and senior management roles in Australia as well as PNG, Indonesia and Laos.

Prior to Ravenswood Gold, Brett has been CEO of Capricorn Copper, a portfolio company of EMR Fund 1 from 2018 to 2020. During the period Brett has made a significant contribution to the successful restart of Capricorn Copper.

Before Capricorn Copper, Brett has been Executive General Manager PNG Operations at Newcrest where he was responsible for the Morobe Mining JV, Gosowong and Lihir Operations, Chief Operating Officer of MMG, Chief Operating Officer Zinifex/OZ Minerals, General Manager Hobart Zinc Smelter, General Manager Century Zinc Mine, General Manager Rosebery Copper Lead Zinc Mine and Manager UG Operations Broken Hill Zinc Mine. Brett is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of Red River Resources Ltd.

SHANE HANSEN

CEO, Kestrel Coal Resources

M Business Administration (CQU), BEng (Mechanical)

Shane is a highly skilled mining professional with over 30 years’ experience in the mining resources sector, 20 years directly involved in longwall mining operations, and extensive experience in open cut and underground coal and metalliferous mining operations.

Shane has a unique skill set in all aspects of coal and metalliferous mining, from mining, processing, planning, to ESG and performance management, with particular expertise in business excellence, growth and long-term business strategy.

Prior to his most recent role with EMR Capital, Shane has 20 years’ experience in C suite roles including Chief Operating Officer of Mitsui Coal Global, President of Cannington (Lead Zinc Silver, BHP Billiton), Vice President of Energy Coal Resource Development (BHP Billiton), and Regional General Manager of Oaky Creek Coal (Glencore, formally Xstrata Coal). He also has 15 years Board participation experience including Queensland Resources Council, Mitsui Coal Holdings, numerous Advisory and Steering committee roles including coal assets in Mozambique.

MARK KIRKBRIDE

CEO, West Cumbria Mining

B Eng (Mining) (Exeter), M Philosophy in Geomechanics

Mark has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining and civil engineering industries, primarily in underground construction and operations and has worked on a wide range of mine developments, operational mines, tunnelling and heavy civil engineering construction projects. His mining expertise includes deep shaft sinking, hard and soft rock tunnel developments and production operations.

Mark has also held a series of leadership roles within a wide range of specialist businesses. These roles have incorporated strategic development, project financing, mergers/acquisitions and divestments.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining Engineering and a Master of Philosophy in Geomechanics, both from Camborne School of Mines. He is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Chartered Engineer.

DEAN PEKESKI

CEO, Peak Minerals

B Earth Sciences (University of Western Ontario)

Dean has more than 20 years’ experience in mineral exploration and project development. From 1996 to 2008, Dean was an exploration geologist and project manager with Rio Tinto where he explored for base metal and diamond deposits across Canada, Southern Africa, and India. He led the Rio Tinto exploration team that discovered and evaluated the diamondiferous Bunder kimberlites. After leaving Rio Tinto, Dean joined Western Potash Corporation where, as Executive Vice President, he successfully managed the Milestone Potash Project in Saskatchewan from discovery, through pre-feasibility, feasibility, environmental permitting, and project financing.

Dean holds a degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. He is a registered Professional Geologist and a Qualified Person in the field of potash geology as defined by NI 43-101 Standards, and is also an active member of the Solution Mining Research Institute.

IGNACIO SALAZAR

CEO, Highfield Resources

Ignacio Salazar is an international executive with more than 30 years of experience in the natural resources industry. He has lived and worked in various countries in Europe and South America. Ignacio assumed the position of CEO of Highfield in July 2020, after coming from Orosur Mining, a Canadian gold mining company with operations in Colombia, Uruguay and Chile, which is listed in the London and Toronto stock markets, and in which he worked as CEO and CFO for 12 years.

Salazar had previously pursued an 18-year international career in oil and gas exploration and production with Royal Dutch Shell, where he led new business development and finance teams in countries such as the UK, Germany, Denmark and Argentina, as well as working in headquarters in London and The Hague. Following his tenure at Shell, in 2008 he joined Orosur Mining, where he was appointed CEO in 2013, until joining Highfield.

Ignacio has extensive experience in the exploration, development, construction and operation of open pit and underground mines, as well as in the development of local relations with communities and governments, and international relations within the industry and in the capital markets from London, Europe and North America, both raising capital and in mergers and acquisitions.
Educated at the University of Deusto (Bilbao) where he completed his master’s degrees in Economics and Business and Law, Salazar initially worked in companies such as Hidrola (now Iberdrola) in Madrid, and Management Horizons in London.

ED COONEY

COO, 29Metals

BEng (Mining) (Hons) (UNSW) MBA (UCLA) MBA (NUS)

Ed is a mining engineer with 20 years’ mining industry experience across all facets of mining including underground and open pit, technical, operational and leadership roles in Australia and SE Asia. He has experience across gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper and coal. His most recent role was Operations Director at the Martabe Gold Mine in North Sumatra, Indonesia where he led a 2,600 strong workforce over the past 7 years to deliver consistently strong operational and financial performance from the asset.

Ed is well known to EMR Capital, having been involved with PT Agincourt Resources (owner of the Martabe asset) during G-Resources’ ownership and the subsequent acquisition then divestment by EMR Capital in late 2018.

For the five years prior to Martabe, Ed held various senior operational and technical leadership roles at BHP’s Cannington underground silver, lead and zinc mine in North West Queensland, Australia. Prior to this, Ed held a broad range of operational and technical roles with Mount Isa Mines, Barrick Gold, Xstrata Zinc and an Indonesian based mining/construction contractor owned by Clough Engineering.

Ed’s educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering/Mining (Honours) from the University of New South Wales and dual MBAs from the University of California Los Angeles and the National University of Singapore. His professional qualifications include First Class Mine Managers Certificates of Competency from both Queensland and Western Australia and Site Senior Executive (Kepala Teknik Tambang) designation, Indonesia.