Luis Azevedo
Executive Chairman & CEO
Mr Azevedo has a BSc in Geology from Rio de Janeiro State University, a Law Degree from Candido Mendes University in Rio de Janeiro and a Post Graduate Degree from Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro. He is a resource industry professional with over 30 years of international experience and is specialized in the Brazilian Mining Code.
Mr Azevedo is the founder of FFA Legal Ltda, a law firm located in Rio de Janeiro. FFA Legal Ltda was established to focus on assisting natural resource companies, including environmental licensing support, management of land and mineral rights, accounting, financial reporting, HR and other administrative activities.
Mr Azevedo began his career working for Western Mining Corp., Barrick Gold Corp. and Harsco Corp. Mr Azevedo has built a strong track record originating and vending projects that became mine operations. He has been Founder, Executive and Non-Executive Director of numerous private and public exploration, development and mining companies across the commodity complex in Brazil, including ASX listed Avanco Resources (sold to ASX listed Oz Minerals in 2018), TSX listed Rio Verde Minerals Development Corp. (sold to B&A Mineração S.A.in 2013) and TSX listed Talon Metals Corp. He is currently a Director of TSX/LSE listed Serabi Gold PLC, AIM listed Harvest Minerals Ltd and AIM listed Jangada Mines PLC.
Mr Azevedo co-founded Avanco Resources Ltd in 2007 and was responsible for assembling the company’s property package in the Carajás Mineral Province of Brazil. Avanco explored, discovered, permitted, constructed and operated the only new copper mine in the Carajás not owned by VALE S.A. Avanco was acquired by Oz Minerals Ltd for a 120% premium (~A$418 million) in 2018.
Mr Azevedo has also been an active spokesperson and advocate for the Brazilian mining sector and works closely with the highest levels of all branches of the Brazilian Federal Government. He founded, and is CEO, of the Brazilian Mining Prospectors Association (ABPM), a non for profit Brazilian mining advocacy organization. In 2019, he was appointed Vice President of the newly formed Mining Council of the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) the main non for profit lobbying organization in Brazil that aims to increase competitiveness of Brazilian industry by influencing the policy environment. CNI engages in active policy dialogue with the Brazilian Congress, Federal Government and the Judiciary. It has 27 federations that incorporate over 1,250 unions and 350,000 companies.
Mr Azevedo was nominated National Explorer of the Year in 2017 and was also highlighted as one of the three most prestigious miners in Brazil in 2019 by the Global Mining Observer.
Mr Azevedo is a Brazilian National and resident and is fluent in English and Spanish.