Simon Mottram
President
Mr Mottram is a graduate of RMIT University, Melbourne Australia with a BSc in Applied Geology, a Fellow of the AusIMM, and has over 29 years’ experience predominantly in base (copper, nickel) and precious metals (gold, PGM). Mr Mottram has held both executive and senior management positions with several successful mining companies in various countries. He has progressed multiple discoveries through to commercial production and has been responsible for numerous significant exploration successes.
He most recently served as CEO (based in Brazil) and then Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Odin Metals Ltd, from 2019 to present. Prior to joining Odin Metals, Mr Mottram was Executive Director for ASX listed Avanco Resources Ltd, based in Brazil from 2011 to 2018, and Avenue Resources Ltd, in Brazil. Prior to this Mr Mottram was Country Manager, Vietnam for TSXV listed Asian Minerals Resources Ltd (2008-2011). Prior to Vietnam Mr Mottram progressed his career with Australian listed companies including: Exploration Manager, Falcon Minerals Ltd (2005-2008); Consulting Geologist, Jubilee Mines NL (2005); Chief Geologist, Metex Resources Ltd. (2002-2005), and from 1997 to 2002 was Senior Mine Development Geologist with Sons of Gwalia Ltd prior to their takeover of PacMin Mining Corporation Ltd, where he was Exploration Superintendent of the Carosue Dam Gold Mine. Prior to this he worked in mine geologist and project geologist roles post starting his career in 1993.
Mr Mottram is currently a Director of ASX listed Medusa Mining Ltd, Odin Metals Ltd, and Oceana Lithium Ltd. He was previously an Executive Director of Odin Metals Ltd, Avanco Resources Ltd, Avenue Resources Ltd, and a Non-Executive Director of Fin Resources Ltd.
Mr Mottram is an Australian and British national and a permanent resident of Brazil, where is he has lived for most of the last 12 years, and is fluent in Portuguese.
Manoel Carlos Cerqueira
CFO
Mr Manoel Cerqueira is a graduate of Celso Lisboa University Center, in Accounting, and also a graduate in Law from Candido Mendes University, both in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mr Cerqueira has over 35 years of experience in senior management positions in North American, UK and Australian companies in Brazil, mostly in the mining sector.
He was previously the Brazil CFO for the ASX listed Avanco Resources Ltd., from 2017 to 2021, a copper producing company with gold and copper exploration projects in Brazil that was acquired by OZ Minerals Ltd in 2018. Prior to this he worked independently as a consultant for mining companies (Avanco Resources Ltd and Canadian listed Luna Gold Corp.) and previously held the position of CFO for multiple Canadian listed resource companies including Rio Verde Minerals (potash and phosphate exploration), Talon Metals Corp. (iron ore exploration) and Amazon Mining (gold exploration).
Mr Cerqueira was formerly VP Finance, Brazil for TSX/NYSE listed Kinross Gold Corp.; CFO Brazil for TVXNA (TVX Normandy) where he also served as a member of the three TVXNA Joint Venture Boards, with two in Brazil and one in Chile. He was also CFO for the Brazilian operation of TSX listed intermediate gold producer Eldorado Gold, ASX listed Western Mining and BP Mining in Brazil. He started his career at Arthur Andersen & Co. Independent Auditors.
Mr Cerqueira is a Brazilian and Portuguese national and fluent in English.
Paulo Ilidio de Brito
VP Exploration
Mr. de Brito is a BSc geologist graduated in the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil and has over 37 years of experience in the mining industry, working as a geologist and exploration team leader of international mining companies, responsible for the planning and development of exploration programs, interpretation of data, project evaluation, drilling stages, geological model development, budget administration, and tenements’ applications.
He started his carrier with Western Mining Corporation in 1983 and subsequently held VP Exploration/Exploration Manager positions on companies such as: Talon Metals Corp, Rio Verde Minerals, Paringa Resources Limited and Five Star Diamonds.
His experience encompasses many commodities, including gold, copper, nickel (sulphide & laterite), iron ore, vanadium, diamond (gems) and fertilizers.
Mr. de Brito is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG #5173) and a member of AusIMM, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM #223453). He is a Qualified Person and a Competent Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and in the 2012 edition of the JORC Code, respectively.
Mr. Brito is Brazilian and is fluent in English.
Heinrich Muller
VP Technical Services
Mr. Müller is a mining executive and professional geologist with over 15 years experience across the resources value chain. He is a graduate of Stellenbosch University in Applied Geology with additional post graduate education in Minerals Processing (University of São Paulo) and Finance (University of Pretoria GIBS Business School). He is a Member of the Geological Society of South Africa. Through operational, leadership and consulting roles in South Africa, the UK, Brazil, Chile, Botswana and Zimbabwe, he has been part of multi-disciplinary teams leading private and publicly listed companies and executing a range of projects including greenfields and advanced resource projects, feasibility studies, open pit commissioning and operational production management.
Previously he was the Chief Operating Officer of Jangada Mines Plc, a London listed company developing South America’s largest PGM and chrome project, leading the business from pre-IPO until flagship asset disposal. Prior to Jangada, he held various roles of responsibility within Anglo American Platinum including Executive Director of Anglo Platinum Brazil and Managing Director of Pedra Branca Minerals, a Joint Venture company co-owned by Anglo American and Solitario Zinc (New York and Toronto listed). He has worked mostly in PGM, base metals, vanadium, diamonds, chrome and industrial minerals. He is the founder of Geminas Advisory which provides technical and corporate advisory services to natural resources companies.
Alex Penha
EVP Corporate Development
Mr Penha holds an MBA (York University, Schulich School of Business), a BSc Economics, (Rio de Janeiro State University) and a Post Graduate Degree in Corporate Finance (Getulio Vargas Foundation, Rio de Janeiro). He has over 17 years of experience in Canadian Capital Markets focusing on junior mining companies, including roles in Investment Banking and Equity Research and as an Executive Officer for TSX and TSXV listed companies where he played key roles executing equity raises and going publicly transactions, along with Corporate Development and M&A strategies/transactions.
Mr Penha is a Founder, Director and EVP Corporate Development of privately held 4B Mining Corp., a Brazilian iron ore producer and manganese project developer. He is also an Independent Director for AIM listed Brazilian organic fertilizer producer, Harvest Minerals Ltd and Corporate Development Advisor for TSXV listed Roscan Gold Corp. and AIM listed Jangada Mines plc.
Past Roles include CFO with Canadian listed GK Resources Ltd; Founder & VP Corporate Development, Rio Verde Minerals Development Corp.; VP Corporate Development, listed Aura Minerals Inc.; General Manager Corporate Development, Rio Novo Gold Inc.; EVP Corporate Development, Board of Director and Chairman of Audit Committee, Search Minerals Corp. He was also former Corporate Development and Director of Australian listed fertilizer company Fertoz Ltd, among other advisory roles for companies listed in Canada, UK and Australia.
His experience also includes Vice President, Research and Corporate Development at Tau Capital Corp. in Toronto; Gold Research Associate at both Merrill Lynch Canada and Clarus Securities Inc. and as an Investment Banker at Westwind Partners/Thomas Weisel Partners Canada.
In addition, Mr Penha has worked for nearly 10 years in Corporate Finance in several capital markets institutions based in Brazil. He has also been a Board Member of the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) and Chair of its Mining Committee.
Mr Penha is a Brazilian and Canadian national.