BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DR JOHN CLARKE

Non-Executive Chairman (B.Sc, PhD, MBA)

Dr Clarke brings considerable experience in mine management, mineral exploration, corporate acquisition and mine development in the mining sector in Africa. He has worked both in Smelting and Mining operations during his career and has been a Director of several companies which have had exploration, development and mining activities in Africa. Having joined Ashanti Goldfields in 1982, Dr Clarke held a succession of mine management, strategic and corporate planning roles before becoming the Executive Director in charge of Business development. He contributed to establishing Ashanti's gold exploration program throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In 1997 Mr Clarke joined Nevsun Resources as President and CEO, taking the Company in to Eritrea and the discovery the Bisha Mine. Bisha started production as a high grade gold deposit overlaying a high grade copper supergene, and is now a substantial copper/zinc operation. Dr Clarke has been involved in acquisition, exploration, development and mine management in the DRC for 25 years.

Dr Clarke holds a B.Sc. in metallurgy from University College Cardiff, a Ph.D. in metallurgy from Cambridge University and an MBA from Middlesex Polytechnic.

Nigel Ferguson

Managing Director (BSc Geology, FAusIMM, MAIG)

Mr Ferguson is a geologist with over 32 years of experience who has worked in senior management positions for more than 20 years in a variety of locations. He has experience in the discovery and definition of precious and base metal mineral resources throughout the world, including DRC, Zambia, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, South East Asia and Central America. He has been active in the DRC since 2004 in gold and base metals exploration and resource development.

Mr Ferguson was founding director of Burey Gold Ltd, Ethan Minerals Ltd and has been associated with several other IPO’s on the ASX and TSXV exchanges.

SERGE NGANDU

Executive Director (Pr. Eng., MBA, M.Sc. Min.Proc. Eng., FSAIMM)

A metallurgist with over 40 years’ experience in the African mining industry covering various commodities including PGMs, uranium and base metals as well as in the design, commissioning and operation of mineral processing plants. Mr Ngandu previously held Senior Management and Board positions with several international mining and engineering companies including Hatch Africa (South Africa), Areva (France, Central African Republic, and South Africa), West African Minerals Corporation (Sierra Leone), Worley Parsons (South Africa) and Gecamines (DRC). From 2016 he was Partner focusing on business development and metallurgy for DRC at Madini Metals, a specialist African mine developer and operator. 

Mr Ngandu is currently the Director of Corporate Affairs for Dathcom Mining SA the company’s DRC subsidiary.

RHETT BRANS

Non-Executive Director (Dip. Engineering (Civil))

Mr Brans is an experienced director and civil engineer with over 45 years’ experience in project developments. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Australian Potash Limited and Carnavale Resources Ltd. Previously, Mr Brans was a founding director of Perseus Mining Limited and served on the boards of Syrah Resources Limited, Tiger Resources Limited and Monument Mining Limited.

Throughout his career, Mr Brans has been involved in the management of feasibility studies and the design and construction of mineral treatment plants across a range of commodities and geographies including for gold in Ghana, copper in the DRC and graphite in Mozambique. He has extensive experience as an owner’s representative for several successful mine feasibility studies and project developments.

DR CASTA TUNGARAZA

Non-Executive Director (Hons, PhD, MDS)

Dr Casta Tungaraza has over 40 years of domestic and international industry experience. Dr Tungaraza has managed multiple projects in Australia and Africa with extensive experience and knowledge of international trade between both countries, as the chair of the Australian Government’s Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations (AGAAR) advising the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Australia’s engagement with the countries of Africa to enhance commercial, investment and people-to-people relations for the mutual benefit of the two Continents. In 2012, she was inducted in the Western Australia Women’s Hall of Fame. Previously, Dr Tungaraza was a Director and co-founder of the East Africa Oil and Gas company promoting and facilitating Australia’s investment in Africa. She is the founding Director of Australia-Africa Trade and Cultural Expo having served on various Federal and State Ministerial Advisory Boards and is currently the Tanzania’s Tourism Goodwill Ambassador in Australia, appointed by the Tanzanian Government.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Jan de Jager

CFO & Joint Company Secretary

Mr de Jager is a Chartered Accountant in Australia with more than 25 years of experience who has worked in senior management positions for the past 20 years in a variety of locations.  His experience includes executive finance roles for listed companies and exposure to a variety of commodities (including Coal, Nickel, Gold, Iron Ore and Lithium) in South Africa and Australia.

 Mr de Jager joins AVZ Minerals with a wide range of prior experience in corporate finance, treasury, ERP system implementation, risk management, project controls, new business development and commercial. His previous positions include CFO for Covalent Lithium (Joint Venture company of Kidman Resources), prior to it being bought out by Wesfarmers; General Manager, Treasury and Reporting for Roy Hill Australia and General Manager, Finance for Xstrata Nickel Australia.  

BEN COHEN

Commercial Manager & Joint Company Secretary

Mr Cohen is a commercially focused CPA with more than 20 years’ experience in the bulk commodity, shipping, mining and corporate sectors. He joins AVZ with an intimate knowledge of the challenging environment of offtake agreements, bulk shipping and the commercial aspects of commodity trading.

Mr Cohen assumes the role of Commercial Manager and Joint Company Secretary with Mr. Jan de Jager

BALTHAZAR TSHISEKE MULUKENU

Director of Dathcom Mining SA (BSc Philosophy)

Mr. Tshiseke holds a Degree in Philosophy from the Faculty of Arts, University of Lubumbashi and has undertaken several Human Resources and Leadership training courses.   

Mr Tshiseke is a knowledgeable Administrator with 25 years’ experience in senior management positions.  Mr Tshiseke has worked as a consultant with various Non-Governmental Organisations where he was involved in community development projects.  Since 2004, Mr Tshiseke has been employed in the mining sector with responsibilities in the Administrative, HR Personnel, Company Secretarial and Company Administration areas.  

Mr Tshiseke is currently a Director of Dathcom Mining SA.