Board of Directors

Mark Johnson

Non-Executive Chairman
LLB MBA (Harvard), AO

Mr Johnson has worked in banking and corporate finance for more than 50 years. He retired as Deputy Chairman of Macquarie Bank in 2007 and as Chairman of Macquarie Infrastructure Group in 2010. He has been a director of several companies, including AGL Energy, Alinta Energy and Westfield International.

Mr Johnson is now a senior adviser to Gresham Partners. From 2002 to 2013, he was one of three Australian members of the APEC Business Advisory Council ( ABAC ) and he now chairs Asia Pacific Infrastructure Partners ( APIP ), a support group to ABAC.

Stephen Baghdadi

Managing Director and CEO

Since 1993, Mr Baghdadi has acted as an executive director for numerous ASX-listed companies, including the Horizon group of companies, Afro-West, Alamain Investments, and Marino, and privately held controlling interests in manufacturing, software development and property concerns.

Mr Baghdadi has completed several transactions in Australia, South East Asia, Europe and North America. He brings to the table the ability to identify an undervalued asset or opportunity that has the potential to yield high returns.

George Brack

Non-Executive Director
MBA, B.A.Sc, CFA

Mr Brack is a mining executive and finance professional with over 30 years of experience in the North American mining sector. He is currently the Chair of the Board of Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE: WPM), where he has served for the past 16 years.

Mr Brack’s previous directorships include serving as Chair or director of multiple successful mining companies – including Capstone Copper (TSX: CS) (Lead Independent Director until 2023) and Red Back Mining amongst others.

Mr Brack’s career has included senior positions in mining investment banking and corporate development, including as Vice President of Corporate Development at Placer Dome, with a focus on strategic mergers and acquisitions and project financing.

Phillips Baker Jr

Non-Executive Director
JD, MBA, BBA Accounting

Mr Baker Jr is a mining finance and operations executive. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Hecla Mining Company (NYSE: HL) for 23 years (2001–2024) and served on Hecla’s Board during that period. Under his leadership, Hecla grew into the largest primary silver producer in the United States and expanded its portfolio with long-life gold assets, including the Casa Berardi mine in Quebec.

In 2017, he received the William Lawrence Saunders Gold Medal from AIME (American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers). In 2023, he received the Selwyn G. Blaylock – Mining Excellence Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)

Tony Ferguson

Non-Executive Director
MBA (Dist), B.Sc, B.E (Hons)

Mr Ferguson is an investor, entrepreneur and investment banker. Most of Mr Ferguson’s career was with Macquarie Group, where he established and led the natural resources team advising on many major mining industry transactions. He established Macquarie’s presence in Canada, headed Macquarie’s Asian investment banking operations, and established and led the Asia Resources Fund.

Mr Ferguson’s career included three years as Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking at Rothschild Australia and a Global Partner of Rothschild Investment Bank. Before commencing his investment banking career, Tony practiced as an engineer and worked at Rio Tinto’s Woodlawn Mine.

Greg Hall

Non-Executive Director
Applied Geology (1st Class Honours)

Mr Hall is an exploration geologist with over 40 years of international experience. From 1988-2005, he was employed by the Placer Dome group of companies, serving as Chief Geologist -World Wide during his last five years there. Placer Dome was later acquired by Barrick Gold Corporation in early 2006.

Throughout his career, Mr Hall had a senior role in the discoveries of Gold Field’s Granny Smith mine and Rio Tinto’s Yandi iron ore mine. In addition, he took part in the discoveries of Keringal and Wallaby in Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, as well as the definition of AngloGold Ashanti’s Sunrise gold mine.

Management

Simon Slesarewich

Chief Operating Officer
B.E (Mining)

Mr Slesarewich has over 25 years’ experience in the delivery of large-scale mining projects globally and is responsible for the delivery of the Colosseum Project. Mr Slesarewich has held senior roles delivering large-scale mining projects, including the Olive Downs Complex in Queensland (pioneering autonomous mining operations) and the Middlemount Coal Mine in Queensland (developed into a major producing mine).

John Smith

CFO/Company Secretary
B.Com (Hons) MBA

John is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Chartered Secretary with over 30 years of experience in management of both private and public companies.

Andrew Rowell

Corporate and Investor Affairs Manager
B.Sc (Hons), M.Sc (Mineral Economics)

Mr Rowell is an experienced geologist, corporate financier and strategic communications specialist with over 30 years’ mining sector experience. He has both in house and external advisory experience with junior, mid-cap and large-scale mining companies having advised over 60 M&A transactions. Mr Rowell is responsible for all investor, shareholder and media enquiries.