Keep up with the latest executive movements across the mining sector, featuring Core Lithium, Sandfire Resources, Newcrest Mining and more.
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Core Lithium founding managing director Stephen Biggins has resigned due to personal reasons and will step down from the role before the end of 2022.
“After nearly 12 years with Core, I am proud of the contribution I have made to the discovery and development of the Finniss Lithium Project and growing the company to become Australia’s next lithium producer,” Biggins said.
“Core is in perfect position to reach its next stage of growth as a lithium producer, and I feel it is the right time to step down as managing director and pass the torch on to the right person to lead Core in this next stage.”
Core Lithium is currently developing its Finniss lithium project just south of Darwin in Northern Territory. A 2021 definitive feasibility study suggested Finniss will average 173,000 tonnes per annum of lithium concentrate once is up and running.
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Sandfire Resources has appointed independent non-executive director John Richards to the role of non-executive chair, succeeding the long-standing Derek La Ferla who had held the position since May 2020.
During La Ferla’s time, Sandfire achieved the discovery, development and successful operation of its DeGrussa copper-gold mine in Western Australia. La Ferla was also influential in the company’s international growth into North America, southern Africa and Europe.
An economist with more than 35 years’ experience in the resources industry, Richards has held strategy and business development positions across several mining companies, and is also a non-executive director of Northern Star Resources and Sheffield Resources.
“It is an honour to succeed Derek as Sandfire’s chair. Under Karl’s leadership and Derek’s guidance, Sandfire is emerging as a globally significant producer of future-facing metals,” Richards said.
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Philip Bainbridge has joined Newcrest Mining as an independent non-executive director and a member of the Safety and Sustainability Committee.
With extensive senior executive experience in the oil and gas sector across exploration, development and production, Bainbridge has held senior positions at the likes of Pacific National and BP Group. His most recent executive role was as Oil Search’s executive general manager of LNG.
Bainbridge is currently a non-executive director of Beach Energy, and a chairman at both the Global Capture and Storage Institute, and Sino Gas and Energy.
Newcrest chairman Peter Tomsett welcomed Bainbridge to the board.
“With his extensive senior executive and board experience, and his experience in implementing major projects and working in Papua New Guinea, Philip will make a tremendous contribution to the Newcrest board,” Tomsett said.
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Westgold Resources founder and non-executive chair Peter Cook has retired from the company’s board, with Cheryl Edwardes to take over as independent non-executive chair.
Edwardes has extensive experience and knowledge of Western Australia’s legal and regulatory framework relating to mining projects, environmental, native title, heritage, and land access.
During her political career, she has held positions such as WA Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Labour Relations.
Westgold executive director Wayne Bramwell commended Cook on his achievements.
“Peter (‘Cooky’) Cook’s vision created Westgold, and with his sharp commercial acumen and drive built the asset base we operate upon today,” he said.
“Cooky has led the company with unique style and established the business to a point where he can now confidently pass the baton to Cheryl to drive the next stage of corporate development.”
Westgold has also appointed Julius Matthys as independent non-executive director, bringing with him 36 years’ experience in the resources sector.
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Gascoyne Resources has appointed Rowan Johnston as non-executive chair, who has been a non-executive director of the company since August 2020 and was appointed interim chair in January.
Johnston is a mining engineer with more than 40 years’ experience in the resources sector. He has held various senior executive roles in Australia and internationally, with his expertise primarily focused on the gold sector.
Johnston said he was excited to take up the non-executive chair position full time.
“I am absolutely delighted to accept the role of chairman of Gascoyne on a permanent basis, at what is a hugely exciting time in the company’s evolution,” he said “Our re-focused exploration strategy at the Dalgaranga gold project is yielding very encouraging results, with new high-grade discoveries in the region surrounding the processing plant.”