Experienced Leadership

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    +61 3 8692 9049

    Investor-focused International Board

    Michael Quinert
    Chairman

    Australia

    Michael Quinert
    Chairman

    Mr Quinert is a founding partner of Quinert Rodda & Associates which was established in July 2009. He has over 30-years’ experience as a commercial and corporate lawyer, including three years with ASX and over 20 years as a partner in a Melbourne law firm.

    Mr Quinert has extensive experience assisting and advising companies on IPOs, capital raising, cross border transactions, regulatory compliance and has regularly advised publicly listed mining companies.

    Michael is a Non-Executive Director of publicly listed First Au Limited (ASX:FAU) and Victorian Livestock Exchange Pty Ltd.


    Tozama Kulati Siwisa
    MLI WWI Executive Director/Head of Corporate Affairs

    Tozama Kulati Siwisa
    Head of Corporate Affairs

    Ms Kulati Siwisa has a BCom with MBA and broad experience in leading transformation projects from development through to execution. She has more than 15 years’ experience in stakeholder and government relations, as well as regulatory affairs.

    Prior to joining West Wits, Tozama was head of a stakeholder relations portfolio at Lonmin. Her appointment as Head of Corporate Affairs of West Wits during 2021 was a critical step in obtaining the Witwatersrand Basin Project’s Mining Right.


    Jac van Heerden
    Non-Executive Director

    South Africa

    Jac van Heerden
    Non-Executive Director

    Mr van Heerden holds an MBA and Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) and has over 20 years of mining experience. He is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Previously, Mr van Heerden presided over a Cobalt (5,000t pa) and Copper (50,000t pa) operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), overseeing the mining operation and two processing facilities, also including a medical centre and schooling program. A key achievement associated with the DRC role was the introduction of stricter capital controls, improved CAPEX and OPEX budget forecasting, KPI measurement and enhanced direct reporting lines to improve accountability and cash flow.

    Relevant to current project requirements, Jac’s division at South African miner Aquarius Platinum was tasked with identifying and developing business cases for new mining opportunities through to feasibility. He was also the transition project manager that oversaw the switch from a contractor mining model to an owner miner model.


    Warwick Grigor
    Non-Executive
    Director

    Australia

    Warwick Grigor
    Non-Executive Director

    Warwick Grigor is based in Sydney and is a graduate of the Australian National University, having completed degrees in law and economics. After a short period with Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, he embarked upon a career as a mining analyst and an investment banker specialising in the mining sector. He established Far East Capital Limited as a 50:50 partner with Andrew Forrest in 1991. Mr Grigor was subsequently the founding Executive Chairman of Canaccord Genuity Australia in 2008. He retired from Canaccord in 2014, returning to Far East Capital, which now operates as an AFSL accredited private investment bank offering independent research, corporate advice and capital raising services.

    As a highly respected and experienced mining analyst, Warwick’s extensive experience and network is an asset as West Wits advances uranium exploration and executes the development strategy of the 4.28Moz Gold Witwatersrand Basin Project.


    Hulme Scholes
    Non-Executive Director

    South Africa

    Hulme Scholes
    Non-Executive Director

    Mr Scholes is a founding director of Malan Scholes Inc., a Johannesburg based law firm and leader in the African mining sector. He was admitted as an attorney in 1995. His area of expertise is in mining and environmental law, as well as dispute resolution, having represented Tier 1 mining companies including Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. and DRDGold Ltd.

    Mr Scholes has in-depth knowledge of mineral rights and BEE transactions in this industry. He sits on as non-executive director on the boards of various mining companies and has a practical understanding of the industry, having begun his career as a Learner Official on the then Rand Mines Ltd. Harmony Gold Mine.

    Hulme is recognised by Best Lawyers® (2020) for his expertise in mining law.


    Experienced Management Team

    Rudi Deysel
    Chief Operations Officer & Country Manager (South Africa)

    Rudi Deysel

    Rudi Deysel
    Project Manager

    Mr Deysel holds degrees in B.Sc (Geophysics) and B.Eng (Mining) and has obtained his MBA.

    He has extensive production experience in conventional narrow tabular underground, as well as open cast, mining various commodities including Gold, PGMs, Copper and Cobalt. Mr Deysel project managed several brown- and greenfield mining projects in South Africa, the DRC and Ghana, which led to extensive experience in mine development, including scoping-, pre-feasibility, feasibility, development and execution.

    Before joining West Wits, Rudi was part of line management at Anglo American, after which he joined Murray-and-Roberts Cementation with the main focus on underground mine infrastructure, construction and contracting. Through ERG Africa, his technical input established strong management operating systems at its various operations in Africa.  At Asanko Gold, he was part of a senior management team that facilitated strong technical and financial principles at their Ghanian operation.



    Keith Middleton
    Executive Manager Commercial

    Keith Middleton
    Executive Manager Commercial

    Mr Middleton is an experienced executive of ASX listed companies specialising in the Australian and International resources sector. He is highly skilled in financial analysis, risk management, major capital works expenditure, corporate governance and ESG regulations.

    Keith is the former Managing Director of American Rare Earths where he had direct accountability for mining operations and exploration activities coupled with strategy formulation, project evaluation and investor relations.


    Simon Whyte
    Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

    Simon Whyte
    Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

    Mr Whyte is a Chartered Accountant and Associate Member of the Governance Institute of Australia with over 15 years of experience in finance and operational roles in the mining, commodities and logistic industries which includes BP Australia and Ernst & Young prior to joining West Wits in 2018.

    Having worked across multiple business functions, Simon has expertise in managing business transformation and integration projects which positions him well to facilitate West Wits’ rapid transition from exploration to production.


    Martin Bevenlander
    Head of Geology and Exploration

    Martin Bevenlander
    Head of Geology and Exploration

    Mr Bevenlander holds a BSc. Hon. (Geology) degree with mining experience across the mining cycle from greenfield exploration, and project development to production. His expertise includes Gold and base metal exploration, as well as the business development of mining projects. His 35-year industry mineral resources involvement stretches from grassroots exploration project design, implementation and management of exploration projects through to mine operations and executive-level reporting and management.

    Martin has an international experience record having worked in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and throughout Africa.