Conference Presenters

Carsten Laukamp

Principal Research Geoscientist, CSIRO

Carsten Laukamp is a principal research geoscientist at CSIRO Mineral Resources, based in Perth, Australia, and leads the National Virtual Core Library project, which is one of AuScope’s research infrastructure programs. Carsten has 15 years’ experience in applying a combination of mineralogy, geochemistry, geophysics and remote sensing to mineral resources exploration and mining. Carsten’s research comprises a wide range of hydrothermal mineral deposits in Australia, Southern Africa, and South America. Cost-effective and low footprint exploration for critical metals through cover is Carsten’s current focus.

Mark Thompson

Managing Director, Talga Group Ltd

Mr Thompson has over 25 years’ experience in the mineral industry, and is the founder and Managing Director of ASX-listed Talga Resources Ltd. Talga is building a vertically integrated battery anode and graphene additives business with wholly-owned product technology, processing innovations and world class mineral resources.

He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Society of Economic Geologists, and Guest Professor of Mineral Exploration Technology at Chengdu University of Technology and Southwest University of Science and Technology in China.

Allan Mulligan

Chief Operating Officer, Walkabout Resources Ltd

Allan Mulligan is a mining engineer with 30 years of mine management and production experience.

Allan has specialised in technical assessment and production economics, feasibilities, project design and costing of underground mines and prospects. He has worked extensively in exploration, mine development and operations across Africa and Australia and understands the value of Australian expertise and African opportunity.

Allan was a founding director of Walkabout Resources Pty Ltd. He has previously been on the board of several West Australian explorers.

Peter Harrington

Head of Economic Diplomacy, British High Commission Canberra

For the past three years Peter has been the head of the Economic Diplomacy team at the High Commission in Canberra, with responsibilities for transition of commercial arrangements arising from the UK’s EU Exit, the bilateral FTA, development of new trade policy initiatives between UK and Australia. Peter is a career diplomat and has spent much of his working career in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Mark Aylmore

Research Program Lead, Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre; Associate Professor, Curtin University

Mark Aylmore is an Associate professor at Curtin University. He is currently a Program lead in the Future Battery industries CRC and Project leader of the Cathode Precursor pilot plant flagship project. Mark has over 27 years’ experience working in roles as an extractive metallurgist, process mineralogist and process engineer. He has held senior roles in developing, implementing, and managing projects associated with refractory gold ores, base metal, PGMs, manganese, rare earths, uranium, and lithium. His early work established him internationally as a leading authority in the fundamentals and practical use of alternative leachates to cyanide in the gold industry. He has worked for various international mining companies and consultancy firms and research institutions. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Russell Barnett

Partner, Australian Venture Consultants

Russell Barnett is a partner with Australian Venture Consultants where he leads the firm’s policy and strategy practice. Russell’s focus is the primary and extractive industries and their allied sectors whereby he has led engagements with multinational companies, industry peak bodies and governments. Russell has an extensive background in the critical and battery minerals sector. He has been the lead author on several industry commissioned studies demonstrating Australia’s competitiveness in global supply chains, provided recommendations as to competitive policy frameworks for the sector and was the lead proponent for establishing a Standards Australia committee to represent Australia’s interests in proposed changes to ISO rare earth product standards.

Allan Pedersen

Principal Analyst, Roskill

Allan Pedersen is Roskill’s principal analyst for lithium, based in Perth, and has indispensable commercial lithium experience, having led market intelligence with focus on supply, demand, and technological developments across the entire lithium value chain for Tianqi Lithium since 2017. Allan brings over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, industry analysis roles and corporate development roles in chemicals, minerals, diamonds and iron ore in Denmark, England, Belgium, and Australia.

Kirsty Packer

Head of Office and Head of Investment, British Consulate Perth

Kirsty Packer is the Head of the British Consulate Perth, representing the UK Government in WA. She also supports Western Australian companies with their international expansion strategies into the UK.

Her previous career was in corporate finance and private equity with over 10 years of experience raising capital for global companies in Perth and in London. This included five years in the Corporate Finance team at Patersons Securities (now Canaccord Genuity), raising equity capital for mining companies listed on the ASX.

Kirsty holds an MBA from the London Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia.

Doug Sonnek

Economic Counselor, US Embassy Canberra

A career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, Doug Sonnek began his assignment as Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra July 2019. He most recently served as Director of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau’s Office of Economic Policy from July 2017 to 2019. As Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Suva from 2014 to 2017, he advanced U.S. economic, political and security interests in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu. He led the Political and Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon, Burma from 2011 to 2014, advising Embassy leadership on political and economic issues affecting U.S.-Burma relations during a period of rapid change in bilateral relations.

From 2005 to 2010, Doug focused on Vietnam – first as the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affair’s Vietnam Desk Economics Officer then as Economic Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City – during which time U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade and investment increased dramatically. His career in the Department of State has also taken Doug to the U.S. embassies in Ljubljana, Slovenia and Beijing, China, where he specialized in trade and investment issues, and the U.S. consulate in Shenyang, China.

Before joining the State Department, Doug spent three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer, first in the Central African Republic then on the South Pacific island nation Niue. He is accompanied in Australia by his wife Winnie and their two children.

Cameron Scadding

Managing Director, Source Certain International

Cameron is a Forensic and Analytical Chemist and a globally recognised expert in his discipline. He has specific experience and expertise in supply chain integrity, security, and managing supply chain risks in both food and non-food sectors. He is recognised as a thought leader on trends in supply chain integrity, trust, provenance, and traceability.

Cameron founded Source Certain International (SCI) in 2016 and is the current Managing Director. SCI is a global science technology company and leading provider of supply chain integrity services, specifically in scientific provenance verification. Currently, SCI delivers its services to globally recognised brands, retailers, regulators, law enforcement organisations, and private companies. Cameron founded his first service and technology business in 2006. He is a respected science communicator and is regularly invited to contribute to conferences and speak at events. Cameron previously held senior research positions in academia and industry.

Trevor Beardsmore

Manager-New Energy Systems, Geological Survey of Western Australia

Trevor has worked at the GSWA for nine and a half years. This has mostly been as Manager of the Minerals Geoscience Branch, leading a team studying the Mineral Systems of Western Australia. Currently, he is Manager of the New Energy Systems branch, which is coordinating the GSWA’s contribution to Western Australia’s green energy transformation and integrated battery industry development. Trevor has a PhD in Geology from James Cook University, taught aspects of Earth Science at the University of Papua New Guinea and spend seventeen years as a Technical Specialist in the Mineral Exploration Industry.

Keith Coughlan

Executive Chairman, European Metals Holdings Ltd

Keith has almost 30 years’ experience in stockbroking and funds management. He has been largely involved in the funding and promoting of resource companies listed on the ASX, AIM and TSX. He has advised various companies on the identification and acquisition of resource projects and was previously employed by one of Australia’s then largest funds.

Keith was previously the Non–Executive Chairman of ASX listed Talga Resources Limited. He is currently the Non-Executive Chair of Doriemus PLC and a Non-Executive Director of Calidus Resources Limited.

Keith is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.

Stephen Biggins

Managing Director, Core Lithium Ltd

Mr Biggins has over 25 years’ experience as a geologist and as an executive in the mining industry in Australia and internationally.

He has applied his Honours Degree in Geology and MBA as the founding Managing Director of ASX-listed Companies.

As MD of Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO), Stephen led Core to the acquisition, discovery and definition of the first lithium Resources in the NT which is one of the highest-grade lithium Resources in Australia.

Previously as founding director of Southern Gold (ASX: SAU) 2005-2010 Stephen led the acquisition and discovery of the Cannon Gold Mine that is currently in gold production in Western Australia. Stephen was also a founding Director of Investigator Resources Ltd (ASX: IVR) which has discovered a high-grade Paris Silver Resource in South Australia on its founding projects.

Mr Biggins has built prospective portfolios of lithium, gold, uranium and base metal exploration projects in Australia, Asia and Africa.

Timothy Spencer

Managing Director, Essential Metals Ltd

Mr Spencer has over 25 years’ experience in the resources sector and precious metals markets, working in various executive, accounting, treasury and finance roles including with three mining companies as an executive director and/or Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary as well as with a large gold refining and trading enterprise. Mr Spencer joined the Company in October 2017, and prior to his appointment as Managing Director has served in the roles of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary.

Victor Rajasooriar

Managing Director and CEO, Panoramic Resources Ltd

Victor is a Mining Engineer with more than 20 years’ operational and technical experience in multiple disciplines across both underground and open pit operations. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from the WA School of Mines, a WA First Class Mine Managers Certificate and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Victor was most recently the Managing Director and CEO of Echo Resources Limited (ASX: EAR) a Company that is focused on gold in the Yandal Belt region of Western Australia. Echo is currently the target of a takeover by Northern Star Resources Limited. Prior to joining Echo, Victor held the role of Chief Operating Officer for leading underground mining contractor, Barminco Mining. In that role, Victor had responsibility for the tendering and execution of contracts and for overseeing the achievement of strict safety, cost and production targets. He was also the Managing Director of Breakaway Resources Limited and held senior operational positions for a range of mining companies including Newmont, Grange Resources and Bass Metals.

Jamie Wright

Managing Director, Global Lithium Resources

Mr Wright is an accomplished executive with over 20 years’ experience across a variety of management and advisory roles. Most recently, Mr Wright served as Managing Director of RJW Capital where he assisted clients in the industrials and resources sectors by providing strategic and corporate advice. Prior to this Mr. Wright held C-suite and General Manger roles with ASX listed mining companies.

Mr Wright holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining), Bachelor of Applied Science (Geology) (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.

David Christensen

Managing Director, Renascor Resources Ltd

David Christensen is an experienced mining executive, with recent successful experience managing exploration, mining and marketing operations. Prior to founding the Company, David served as Chief Executive Officer of Adelaide based companies, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd and Quasar Resource Pty Ltd. While at Heathgate and Quasar, his responsibilities included overseeing Australian operations, including the Beverley uranium mine, as well as the expansion into new projects with the discovery and development of the Four Mile deposit and numerous joint ventures. David’s experience also includes serving as President of Nuclear Fuels Corporation, a trading and marketing company, where he managed a multi million-dollar uranium portfolio and was responsible for developing sales strategy, executing trades and swaps and negotiating all contracts. David commenced his career as an attorney in California and London offices of international law firm Latham & Watkins, where he advised on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. David was educated at Cornell University (BA, Economics and Classical Civilizations), the University of California, Los Angeles (JD) and the Universitá di Bologna (Fulbright Fellow).

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Matt Dusci

Chief Operating Officer, IGO Limited

Matt joined IGO in 2014 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in early 2018, and prior to that was Chief Growth Officer. Matt has 25 years’ experience in all facets of the industry including; exploration, resource development, technical studies, corporate development, public markets, operations, and executive leadership. Matt has previously held senior management positions within PMI Gold, Gold Fields and WMC Resources. Matt has extensive global experience, having worked extensively in Australia, South America, Africa and Asia.

Tim Harrison

Managing Director, Ionic Rare Earths Ltd

Mr. Tim Harrison initially joined the Company in the role of Project Manager of Makuutu Rare Earths Project at the start of 2020. Since then, he has been driving development and value creation, and was appointed CEO in June 2020 and was appointed Managing Director in December 2020.

Mr. Harrison holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and has over 20 years of experience and an extensive and successful track record in the fields of both mineral processing and hydrometallurgy across multiple commodities.

Mr. Harrison has been involved in project development, process and flowsheet development, studies, test work planning and supervision, engineering, construction, commissioning, operations, and project management.

Francis Wedin

Managing Director, Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd

Francis Wedin BSc (Hons), MBA, PhD, FGS, MAusIMM

Dr Wedin is a battery materials and renewable energy industry executive, focused on developing global scale decarbonisation opportunities. Dr. Wedin founded Vulcan Energy and the Zero Carbon Lithium Project in Germany, a dual renewables and lithium chemicals project.

Dr Wedin was previously Executive Director of ASX-listed Exore Resources, where he developed two new lithium resources, on two continents. He is bilingual, has a PhD and BSc (Hons) in geology, an MBA in renewables, is a Fellow of the Geological Society, London, and a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Peter Harold

Managing Director and CEO, Poseidon Nickel Ltd

Peter Harold is the CEO and Managing Director of Poseidon Nickel. Peter is a process chemist with over 30 years corporate experience in the minerals industry, specifically in base metals with a focus on nickel. Prior to joining Poseidon, Peter was the Managing Director of Panoramic Resource for 18 years, funding and developing two underground nickel sulphide mines producing 20,000tpa Ni in aggregate and achieving a market capitalisation of $1.2B.

Peter has extensive experience with mining and processing feasibility studies, financings, mine and processing plant developments, operations, M&A and corporate management.

Peter has previous experience with Poseidon’s flag ship asset, Black Swan, having worked for MPI Mines during the 1990s when the high-grade Silver Swan orebody was discovered and the then mined from underground and processed on site.

Chris Reed

Managing Director and CEO, Neometals Ltd

Chris has over 25 years’ experience in the resource industry including more than 15 years in corporate administration and management. Chris co-founded Reed Resources (now Neometals Ltd) in 2001 and is Managing Director/CEO. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Notre Dame and a Graduate Certificate in Mineral Economics from WA School of Mines. He is a Member of the AusIMM and is a past Vice-President of AMEC.

Ken Brinsden

Managing Director and CEO, Pilbara Minerals Ltd

Mr Brinsden is a mining engineer with over 25 years’ experience in surface and underground mining operations, including roles in mine management, production, and brown-fields and green-fields development roles across a range of commodities. Mr Brinsden joined Pilbara Minerals as Chief Executive Officer in January 2016 and was appointed Managing Director and CEO in May 2016.

Mr Brinsden has led the development of the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum project, which has progressed from first drill hole to concentrate exports in under four years. This exponential growth has resulted in Pilbara Minerals now being one of the world’s leading lithium raw materials suppliers with a portfolio of growth options to execute, as the demand for battery raw materials increases.

Vincent Algar

Managing Director, Australian Vanadium Ltd

Mr Vincent Algar is a geologist by profession with over 27 years’ experience in the mining industry, spanning underground and open cut mining operations, greenfields exploration, project development and mining services in both Western Australia and Southern Africa. Since 2015 Mr Algar has been Managing Director of Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX: AVL) and is responsible for advancing the company’s high-grade Australian Vanadium Project in Western Australia with its mine site south of Meekatharra and processing plant location between Mullewa and Geraldton.

Mr Algar was instrumental in the launch of AVL’s subsidiary VSUN Energy with its focus on developing the vanadium redox flow battery market for energy storage.

Mr Algar represents both AVL and VSUN Energy to the mining, financial and energy markets within Australia and overseas and has a strong understanding of the technical and financial aspects of these markets.

JP Vargas de la Vega

Managing Director, Galan Lithium Ltd

JP is a Chilean/Australian mineral industry professional with 18 years’ broad experience in ASX mining companies, stockbroking and private equity firms. JP has been a specialist lithium analyst in Australia, has also operated a private copper business in Chile, and has also worked for BHP, Rio Tinto and Codelco. JP will deliver a general update on the company’s activities including the recently announced PEA results and its 80% stake in the Greenbushes South lithium project.

Andrew Radonjic

Managing Director, Venture Minerals Ltd

Mr Radonjic is a geologist and mineral economist with over 30 years of experience in mining and exploration, with an initial focus on gold and nickel in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Andrew has fulfilled a variety of senior roles which gave rise to three gold discoveries, totalling in excess of 3 million ounces in resources and resulting in 1.5 million ounces being produced. Since 2006 Andrew has been an executive director with Venture Minerals, which he co-lead during the discovery of the Mount Lindsay Tin-Tungsten deposit.

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Andrew Spinks

Managing Director, EcoGraf Ltd

Andrew Spinks is a geologist with over 25 years of professional experience in a range of commodities in Australia and Africa. Andrew has worked with a number of mining companies including Resolute Mining, Plutonic Resources, Dominion Mining and Whim Creek Resources. He is a co-founder of TanzGraphite and was responsible for the strategy, target generation and acquisitions of that company. Andrew lived and worked in Tanzania at Resolute’s Golden Pride project for several years and was a key member of the management team that won the inaugural Presidential Award for Environmental Excellence and Leadership.

Mike Rosentreich

Managing Director, Hexagon Energy Materials Ltd

Mike Rosenstreich has a unique technical and commercial background gained over 30+ years in the resources sector, which includes;13 years as an exploration and mine geologist with Homestake Gold and Dominion Mining; 6 years banking with Rothschild Australia; 9 years as founding Managing Director of ASX listed Bass Metals from pre IPO stage, exploration success and over 5 years of base and precious metals production; and 3 years at Keystone Resource Development focused on a variety of work-outs for gold, tantalum and other projects. During this time, he has been involved in a wide range of commodities from gold and base metals to industrials such as tantalum, feldspar and mineral sands across the globe.

Since joining Hexagon in March 2017, Mike has been instrumental in charting Hexagon’s path to focus on the commercialisation of a revolutionary new rare earth element (REEs) separation processing technology, called RapidSX™, which aims to disrupt Chinese dominance in the global rare earth processing market. This broadens and complements Hexagon’s high-purity battery graphite business – with both being vital components of the e-mobility and renewable energy generation and storage revolution sweeping global economies.

Mike is a Fellow of the AusIMM and a member of the AICD. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology and Masters in Mineral and Energy Economics.

Joe Belladonna

CFO and Company Secretary, Western Areas Ltd

Mr Belladonna has been in the resources industry for 20 years including roles at both listed base metal and gold mining companies. He has been employed by Western Areas Limited since 2005, currently holding the role of Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. Mr Belladonna holds a Bachelors Degree in Business and is a Certified Practicing Accountant. In his time at the Company he has been continually involved in the Company’s growth from start up explorer through to becoming one of Australia’s largest nickel sulphide concentrate producers.

Dr Xiao Lin

Associate Professor - Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences

John Prineas

Executive Chairman, St George Mining Ltd

John is a founding shareholder of St George with over 30 years’ experience in the resources, banking and legal sectors. Prior to establishing St George in 2010, John was Country Head for Commerzbank in Sydney overseeing numerous loans to resources companies.

At St George, he has positioned the company for significant growth in the era of the electric battery revolution with Australia’s latest nickel-copper sulphide discovery at Mt Alexander.

Dan Lougher

Managing Director and CEO, Western Areas Ltd

Dan Lougher is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Western Areas, a nickel mining and exploration company which listed on the Australia Stock Exchange in July 2000.
Dan is a qualified Mining Engineer with over 35 years’ experience in all aspects of resource and mining project exploration, feasibility, development and operations.
Mr Lougher is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy.

Damian Connelly

Director/Principal Consulting Engineer Midas Engineering Group (METS Engineering)

Damian is a Consulting Engineer with extensive experience in the gold, copper, lead, zinc, uranium and iron ore industries with particular emphasis on gold. Experience has been gained in plant operations feasibility studies, detailed design, construction and commissioning, and all unit operations. He is an internationally recognised specialist in Mineral Processing having worked in north and South America, South East Asia, Africa and Europe.A wealth of hands-on operating experience as a Foreman, Plant Metallurgist, Plant Superintendent, Chief Metallurgist and Project Manager, which has provided a solid base to mix with engineering and construction management.
The last 28 years working as a Consultant Metallurgist for mining, banking and engineering companies has provided a broad range of experience in many varied and some unusual situations. Damian’s industry based training courses (50) have been run on a regular basis, both in Australia and overseas, and are highly regarded and have been well attended. Damian is a Registered Expert Witness and has been engaged on many cases.

Steve Rosewell

Executive Chairman, MakCorp

Steve Rosewell has over 25 Years’ ICT Software Executive Sales and Product Development Steve Rosewell, CEO of MakCorp Data Resources has extensive experience in the Software industry, spanning over 25 years. This includes over 10 years assisting the mining industry with ICT consulting, marketing and reviews.

Steve has worked with quite a number of the most recognised ERP vendors in the mining industry including Classic Software, Greentree, SAP, Microsoft and Pronto software. This experience has given him the experience to recommend the right solution to meet the customer’s needs.

In 2017 Steve began developing MakCorp. He foresaw a gaping hole in the market with the lack of affordable market intelligence solutions. MakCorp has developed into a global player in market intelligence for ASX & TSX/TSXV Resource companies and projects. Steve continues to lead MakCorp with development in the MakCorp platform in projects, people, shareholders, financials and other helpful insights.

Steve has developed strong relationships in the Resources industry; with mining executives, investor groups and mining services companies with a view to continually develop MakCorp into a leading market intelligence platform.

Adrian Griffin

Managing Director, Lithium Australia NL

Having spent more than 40 years in mining, Mr Griffin’s expertise ranges from project identification, development and financing to overseeing the operation of integrated mining and processing facilities. Mr Griffin was a founding director of Northern Minerals and Parkway Minerals (developer of the K-Max™ process to recover potassium and other metals from glauconite) and is a non-executive director of Reedy Lagoon Corporation.

Mr Griffin has strong experience in the development of processing technology and is presently working on the unconventional lithium sources, improvements to recovery of lithium from more conventional feed stocks such as spodumene, the battery recycling sector and lithium-ion battery cathode manufacture, thus positioning LIT to be Australia’s first vertically integrated lithium producer and technology developer accessing all parts of the lithium value chain.

Scott Williamson

Managing Director, Blackstone Minerals Ltd

Scott Williamson is a Mining Engineer with a Commerce degree from the West Australian School of Mines and Curtin University. Mr Williamson started his career as an underground mining engineer in the goldfields of Western Australia. Mr Williamson has recent experience in equity capital markets with previous roles as a Resources Analyst at Hartleys and Investor Relations Manager at Resolute Mining. Mr Williamson has a unique blend of experience in mining and finance with both corporate and technical capabilities.

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Warren Pearce

Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC)

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC), Warren is working to increase mineral exploration and mining activity in Australia, and to ensure Australia remains a highly attractive place for resource investment.

Before joining AMEC, he has worked for significant advocacy and membership organisations, including the Chamber of Minerals of Energy of WA (CME), and the WA Local Government Association (WALGA).

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Bert Witkamp

Operating Agent - Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology Collaboration Programme, International Energy Association

Bert Witkamp is owner of Valuad Ltd, a Belgium consultancy specialising in Sustainable Transport. Bert is also Operating Agent for the IEA HEV Task 40 “CRM4EV” (Critical Raw Materials for Electric Vehicles). He is also involved in the EU Commission project EAFO (European Alternative Fuels Observatory) and REE4EU (H2020), a rare earth recycle project. Bert was until recently Secretary General of AVERE, The European Association for Electromobility. As CEO, he has previously run businesses in wind energy, biomass, solar energy, sustainable housing and sustainable waste management. Bert has worked 20 years in multinational companies as senior supply chain executive.

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Andrew Scogings

Andrew Scogings graduated as a geologist in the late 1970’s and started his career on underground copper mines, followed by a stint on Witwatersrand gold mines and general exploration for Ni, Sn and REE in eastern South Africa. He was introduced to industrial minerals while completing post-graduate MSc and PhD research on alkaline granitoid / nepheline syenite complexes in Natal, South Africa.

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Trevor Benson

Executive Director, Walkabout Resources Ltd

30 years’ experience within investment banking, stockbroking, large Australian corporates and the resources, oil and gas industry, including directorships of ASX listed companies.

Prior to joining Walkabout as Executive Chairman he held the position of Executive Director with Strategic Capital Management and Executive Director of the ARIE FUND, an absolute return International Equity Fund.

Previous roles included directorships at boutique investment banking organisations PCF Capital and Argonaut Capital, both based in Perth, Western Australia.

Mr Benson has cross border experience on Aim in UK and has listed numerous ASX companies including resources companies with assets in Africa, Europe and SE Asia; resources and oil and gas service companies; and managed and funded a private copper operation in Zambia. In addition, he spent 2 years with a division of The Wood Group; a London based engineering oil services Company. Trevor holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Western Australia.

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John de Vries

CEO and Managing Director, Black Rock Mining Ltd

John de Vries is Chief Executive Officer of Black Rock Mining, a Tanzanian graphite development company developing the Mahenge project in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. John is a Mining Engineer with over 35 years-experience in business development, project development and operations. Previously, John was General Manager Technical Services with St Barbara and integral in the 2014 turnaround. John has held positions at BHP Ni West, and was Global Business Manager, Advanced Mining Solutions with Orica Mining Services. John’s geographic experience includes Africa, the Pacific, the FSU, North America and South America.

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Hon. Bill Johnston MLA

Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Government of Western Australia

Bill Johnston was sworn in as the Mines and Petroleum, Commerce and Industrial Relations, Electoral Affairs, and our State’s first Asian Engagement Minister in March 2017.

Bill is also the Member for Cannington, having held this position since September 2008.

Prior to entering Parliament, he spent seven years as the State Secretary of WA Labor, four years as Shadow Minister for Mines and Petroleum, and five years as Shadow Energy and State Development Minister.

He was also a former senior official of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, where he fought for fairness for low-paid workers in industrial rights, workers compensation and working conditions.

David Flanagan

Managing Director, Battery Minerals Limited

David Flanagan is a geologist with more than 25 years’ experience in the multi commodity mining and mineral exploration industry in Australia, Indonesia and Africa.

David has a BSc Mining & Minerals Exploration Geology, undertaken at Curtin University, School of Mines in Western Australia. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

David was appointed as Chancellor of Murdoch University in 2013.

During 2014, David was named the Western Australian of the Year and Western Australian Business Leader of the Year. He was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship in 2013 and remains active in the not for profit sector.

In January 2018, David was awarded the prestigious Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia Award.

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