Board of Directors

Dr Mike Etheridge - PhD, FTSE, FAIG, FAICD
Non-Executive Chairman 

Status:  Independent

Dr Mike Etheridge is a geologist with over 40 years’ experience in exploration, mining, consulting and research. Until 2004 he was Chairman of the consulting firm SRK Consulting (Australia), having co-founded its predecessor, Etheridge Henley Williams in 1990. Dr Etheridge is an Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University, where he led an industry collaborative research project into improving the management of risk and value in mineral exploration. He has been a Non-Executive Director of Lihir Gold Ltd (ASX, POMSoX, NASDAQ, TSX), Consolidated Minerals Ltd (ASX, AIM), Ariana Resources Ltd (AIM), Ballarat Goldfields NL (ASX) and Geoinformatics Exploration Inc (TSX-V), among others. He also chaired the boards of the Predictive Mineral Discovery Cooperative Research Centre and AuScope Ltd, two major government and industry-funded research bodies. He is currently a Director of the Deep Exploration Technologies CRC, Chairman of ASX-listed Clancy Exploration Ltd and Chairman of unlisted Zeus Uranium Ltd.

Dr Etheridge is Chairman of the Group’s Remuneration and Nomination Committee, a member of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Safety, Technical and Sustainability Committee.

Mr Darren Holden - BSc Hons, MAusIMM 
Managing Director

Status:  Not independent

Mr Holden is a geologist with 17 years’ experience in mining and exploration. He is a graduate of the University of Otago (NZ) and The University of Western Australia and is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Holden has previously held the role of Senior Consultant at Fractal Geoscience and was involved in geophysical and geological modelling and targeting on a wide range of deposit styles. Mr Holden also held the roles of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Geoinformatics Exploration Inc for the period from 2001 to 2009. Under Mr Holden’s exploration tutelage Geoinformatics successfully delineated several new discoveries including a multimillion ounce gold-copper project in Alaska and other base and precious metal discoveries in British Columbia, Nevada and Mexico. Mr Holden returned to Perth in November 2009 to take up the position of Managing Director at ABM Resources NL. 

Mr Holden is a member of the Group’s Safety, Technical and Sustainability Committee.

Mr I. Kins - BEc.MA
Non-Executive Director

Status:  Not independent

Mr Kins is currently Non-Executive Director of ABM Resources NL. Mr Kins is an Economist with over 25 years’ experience specialising in the resource sector. He has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of WA and a Master of Arts (Futures studies) degree from the Curtin University of Technology. Mr Kins has worked in the State Government (including industrial and resource development) and then mainly the private sector in regards to the resource sector. Since 1987 he has mainly worked as a consultant to the resource sector undertaking projects with exploration and mining companies, investors and brokers. Mr Kins brings extensive resource sector based strategic planning, macroeconomic and corporate governance experience to the Board. He is currently Executive Chairman of Rico Resources Ltd (ASX: RRI) and Director of Ochre Management Limited. 

Mr Kins is a member of the Group’s Remuneration and Nomination Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.

Mr Graeme Sloan - BAppSc, MAusIMM
Non-Executive Director

Status:  Independent

Graeme Sloan is a Mining Engineer with extensive corporate and operational experience both within Australia and overseas. He is currently Managing Director of Herencia Resources PLC and Non-Executive Director of Orion Gold NL. Mr Sloan has held senior roles with several ASX listed companies including of Tanami Gold NL and has been responsible for the successful development, implementation and commissioning of various projects over a range of different commodity types. 

Mr Sloan is a member of the Group’s Remuneration and Nomination Committee, Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Safety, Technical and Sustainability Committee.

 Mr Andrew Ferguson - BSc
Non-Executive Director

Not independent

Mr Ferguson is an Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of APAC Resources Limited, which is a natural resources investment company listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Mr Ferguson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resource Development and was a mining engineer in Western Australia in the late 90's. In 2003, Mr Ferguson co-founded New City Investment Managers in England. He has a proven track record in fund management and was the former co-fund manager of City Natural Resources High Yield Trust, which was awarded best UK Investment Trust in 2006. He has also worked for CQS LLP (CQS) in Hong Kong as the Chief Investment Officer for New City Investment Managers CQS and a Senior Portfolio Manager for CQS.