Directors
Liam Twigger
Chairperson, B.Econ, CPA, GDipBus
Liam is the Deputy Chairperson and Executive Director of Argonaut which recently merged with PCF Capital Group, which Liam founded in 1999.
Liam holds a Graduate Diploma in Business, a Bachelor of Economics and is a Certified Practicing Accountant. The Board considers Mr Twigger is currently an independent Director.
Edmund Ainscough
Managing Director, B.Sc (Hons) (Geology), FGeolSoc (London), MAusIMM
Ed led the acquisition of joint venture rights to the Foster/Jan Nickel Project (in 2014) that ultimately led to the IPO of Lunnon Metals in June 2021. A geologist by training, he has extensive operational experience (gold, copper and tin) in Australia, Africa, the UK and New Zealand. He was previously a senior member of the Gold Fields executive team in Australia where he held a key business development role reporting to the Executive Committee until 2008.
He was the last Chief Geologist for WMC at the St Ives Gold Mine, overseeing a $25 million per annum drill budget and the addition of over 2.0 million ounces to reserves during his tenure. Prior to founding Lunnon Metals Ltd’s forebear, ACH Nickel, he was at PCF Capital Group where he advised resource sector companies on corporate, merger and acquisition, and valuation assignments.
Ashley McDonald
Non Executive Director, LLB (Hons) B.Com
Ashley is the nominee for Gold Fields Limited. He is currently Vice President Corporate Development for Gold Fields and has played a key role in a number of the company’s key growth transactions including acquiring the Granny Smith, Lawlers and Darlot gold mines from Barrick in 2013, acquiring a 50% interest in the Gruyere gold mine in 2016 and evaluating the various funding options for Gold Fields key development asset Salares Norte (capex US$830M) in Chile in 2020.
An experienced and skilled M+A practitioner with strong financial and analytical skills, Mr. McDonald is also a legal practitioner with more than 20 years’ experience in Corporate and Resources Law and was part of the legal team that assisted Gold Fields in its acquisition of St Ives and Agnew in 2001. Mr. McDonald is an admitted legal practitioner holding a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from Murdoch University.
The Board considers Mr. McDonald is not currently an independent director.
Deborah Lord
Non Executive Director, B.Sc (Hons) FAusIMM MAIG GAICD
Deborah has a Bachelor of Science (Geology) (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and more than 30 years’ experience in the resources sector in Australia, North and South America. She has worked in greenfields to near-mine exploration and resource development projects across a range of commodities within leadership, management, consultancy, governance and research advisory positions.
Her previous experience includes Western Mining Corporation, Placer Dome, SRK Consulting, BHP and VRM. As Chair of the VALMIN Committee and formerly BHP Head of Resource Governance Deborah brings a strong technical risk management focus as well as having broad experience in project review, valuation and technical assessment of mineral assets. Deborah is currently a Non-Executive Director of E79 Gold Mines Limited. Deborah is also a director of VRM and the University of Western Australia Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET).
Deborah is a member of the AusIMM Professional Conduct Committee and the recipient of the 2023 AusIMM President’s Award that recognises notable achievement within the resources sector. The Board considers Ms Lord is currently an independent Director
Executive Team
Aaron Wehrle
Exploration and Geology Manager, B.App.Sc (Hons) AusIMM member
Aaron Wehrle is a Geologist with an impressive 28 years of experience spanning Australia, Canada, and the Philippines. His career is marked by significant operational expertise and notable achievements in resource exploration and delineation.
Aaron began his career at WMC in the Kambalda district, Western Australia, where he held various production roles before advancing to Exploration Manager within the site management team. During his tenure, particularly under Gold Fields Ltd, Aaron played a pivotal role in expanding the gold resource base through intensified exploration drilling, crucial to supporting a new 4.8 million tonnes per annum processing facility.
His career journey led him to Meliadine, Nunavut, Canada, where he contributed to resource definition efforts in gold exploration. Returning to Australia, Aaron assumed the role of Regional Geologist in Perth, focusing on the company’s exploration initiatives. His international experience further expanded when he relocated to the Philippines, taking charge of geological modeling and definition for the Far South East gold-copper deposit, both on-site and in Manila.
Since early 2015, Aaron has been an integral part of Lunnon Metals, dedicating his expertise to advancing the exploration opportunities at the Kambalda Nickel Project. His strategic insights, technical proficiency, and leadership have been instrumental in driving the project forward.
Aaron is recognized for his steadfast commitment to geological excellence and his ability to deliver results in challenging environments. His extensive track record underscores his reputation as a trusted leader in the field of geology, contributing significantly to the success of every project he undertakes.
Helen Anderson
Manager – Environment, Social & Governance
Helen is a health, safety, environment and human resources professional with 25 years’ experience in the resources industry.
Her experience includes building strong partnerships with operations, contractors and stakeholders in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of all the functions that she had led.
She has held several onsite senior leadership roles as well as corporate positions within Australia and overseas and has worked with WMC, Gold Fields, Newmont and Newcrest.
She holds a Bachelor of Health Science (OHS) and Advanced Diplomas in leadership, risk management and human resources.
Nicole Jeanneret
Manager – Corporate & Company Secretary, B.Com (UWA), GradDipACGRM, GIA(Aff), AIMM
Nicole is the Manager – Corporate and Company Secretary for Lunnon Metals, where she plays an important role in enhancing corporate strategy and fostering robust relationships across stakeholders. With a distinguished career marked by expertise and academic achievements, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge to her current role.
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in Corporate Finance and Marketing from the University of Western Australia, underscoring her strong foundations in financial and strategic marketing. Committed to continuous professional development, Nicole completed a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance & Risk Management through the Governance Institute of Australia, further enriching her skill set in governance and risk oversight.
Her career journey includes pivotal roles in operations management across diverse industries. Notably, Nicole was a founding member of Panoramic Resources (formerly Sally Malay Mining), where she served as Commercial & Corporate Officer. In this capacity, she excelled in managing intricate aspects of corporate finance, including overseeing loans, mark-to-market evaluations on hedge portfolios, and strategic nickel offtake agreements with global partners such as Jinchuan.
Nicole is recognised for her strategic foresight, meticulous attention to detail, and her ability to navigate diverse business landscapes effectively. Her dedication to excellence and her proactive approach make her a valuable asset to Lunnon Metals, driving sustainable growth and fostering positive stakeholder relationships.
Maxwell Sheppard
Development Manager, B. Eng (Mining)
Max is the Development Manager for Lunnon Metals. He is a Mining Engineer with 34 years’ experience in the nickel and gold mining industries. He has substantial mine management, operational and mine planning experience having worked with WMC at both their Leinster and Kambalda Nickel Operations and with Gold Fields at the St Ives Gold Mine.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) Degree from the WA School of Mines.
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