Kim Warren McGrath, Non-executive Chairman
BEc(Hons) LLB FAICD FTIA CPA, Age 52
Mr McGrath is an internationally experienced resources finance and investment banking executive. He is the Managing Director of Delta Corporate Finance Pty Limited, a specialist advisory group based in Sydney with active business interests in Australia and the UK.
His positions in Australia have included senior roles with Comalco and ICL, General Counsel and Company Secretary of Bank of America Australia, General Counsel with Bell Resources responsible for negotiating international lines of finance, business acquisitions and strategy and development and General Manager Strategy and Planning with Industrial Equity Limited.
During the 1990’s Mr McGrath worked in London on the restructure of companies in Eastern Europe and particularly on major operations in CIS metals and oil trading, and associated financing in London and Geneva. Prior to this he was recruited by a major corporate group as Executive Director and CEO to implement an international scheme of arrangement involving a large scale debt to equity conversion, major asset dispositions and the introduction of appropriate management planning and control measures for over 350 subsidiaries worldwide.
In addition to his business and legal qualifications Mr McGrath has completed the Advanced Management Programme at Oxford University, is a CPA and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His other directorships include Oil Basins Ltd and Taragon Management Limited, the manager and responsible entity of the listed Taragon Property Fund.
Jerome Gino Vitale, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
B Comm ACA FSIA FAICD, Age 50
Mr Vitale has over 20 years experience working in various facets of the mineral resources industry, with particular emphasis on mine development and project financing. Mr Vitale is a Chartered Accountant, a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Between 1994 and 2000 Mr Vitale led a team responsible for the mine development and operation of the Company’s successful McKinnons gold project, located in Cobar New South Wales. Between 1998 and 1999 he was responsible for the acquisition of an interest in, and later a merger with Pacific Islands Gold NL (now 100% subsidiary Audesso Limited), resulting in the company now owning a 100% interest in the Mt Kasi gold project. Mr Vitale was a senior executive with the Normandy Mining group during its formative years between 1989 and 1992, prior to which he was associate director with Standard Chartered Australia Limited where he specialised in mineral project finance and mergers and acquisitions finance in the mining and resources sector.
Donald James Searle, Executive Director
B. Sc., PhD, MAusIMM, MAICD, Age 53
Dr Searle has been in the exploration and mining industry for over 25 years, during which time he has contributed to several major gold discoveries and been involved in the management of exploration and mining development in Australia and overseas, most recently as Managing Director of ASX listed company Dragon Mining NL. He holds bachelor and doctoral degrees in geology and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Searle brings to the Company extensive practical experience in all aspects of project development. As executive Director he has particular responsibility for the management of the Company’s copper exploration activities and development programme at the Redbank Copper Project.
Michael John Kitney, Non Executive Director
Ass Met (WAIT), Post Grad Dip WA School of Mines (Extractive Metallurgy), M. Sc. (Mineral Economics) Curtin, MAusIMM, Age 55
Mr Kitney is an experienced process engineer with over 30 years experience in senior technical and project management roles in Australia and internationally. These have included senior management and line positions with Minproc Engineers Limited, Alcoa Australia, Property Company of London, British Phosphate Commissioners, Nelson Gold Gorporation Limited and Avocet Mining plc.
Mr Kitney's particular strengths are in production and mineral processing management, all aspects of environmental management, project evaluation and assessment management of interdisciplinary project teams. He brings to the Company vast project development expertise and practical experience in commissioning new projects.
Mr Kitney has also been appointed as chairman of the Company’s audit committee.
Susan Jane Field, Executive Director and Company Secretary
BBus ACA MAICD CD, Age 45
Ms Field is a Chartered Accountant with senior management experience in the corporate sector and in public practice. Prior to joining the Company in 1999, she spent a number of years with Ernst & Young, in the firm’s Advisory & Assurance Services Division, including a period as Manager with responsibilities including technical and accounting standards advisory and compliance programmes.
Prior to entering public practice, Ms Field gained over 11 years experience in the financial services and retail banking industry with Bankwest. During this period she held various positions in a number of operational management roles. Ms Field is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Craig Hall
B. Sc (Hons), Maus IMM, MAIG, MGSA
Mr Hall is a geologist with over 17 years exploration, development and production experience. He completed his degree at the University of Western Australia, after which he gained hands on exploration programme planning and execution experience with a number of major mining and exploration companies including CRA and Dominion Mining.
Mr Hall has worked in senior roles at a number of gold mines around Australia, and brings extensive exploration, resource development, mining and production experience to his role as project manager at the Company’s Mt Kasi gold project. In addition to his exploration programme responsibilities, Mr Hall has been instrumental in fostering good relations with local landowner groups, government authorities and other significant stakeholders in the Mt Kasi gold project.