Phil Mitchell brings significant expertise in mining mergers and acquisitions, having previously served as Head of Business Development and Strategy at Rio Tinto. He also held key roles as Chief Financial Officer of Rio Tinto Iron Ore and as a member of the Executive Committee at Anglo American. Additionally, he led acquisitions for Robert Friedland’s company, HPX.
In his role as Head of Business Development and Strategy at Rio Tinto, Phil managed the company’s asset and commodity portfolio, overseeing mergers, acquisitions, and divestments. He was also responsible for the daily management of the BHP takeover proposal.
As CFO of Rio Tinto’s iron ore business, one of Australia’s largest business units, Phil directed all commercial aspects, including relationships with joint venture partners and government entities. He played a pivotal role in developing the strategic plan that fueled profitable expansion to support China’s growth.
Patrick is an experienced leader in the uranium mining sector, having previously served as Managing Director and CEO of Deep Yellow (ASX) and Alliance Resources (ASX). He possesses extensive operational experience across open-cut, underground, and in-situ mining, as well as related processing.
Currently, Patrick is the Managing Director and CEO of Image Resources (ASX), where he successfully led the company into production, transforming it into a profitable mining enterprise with the early repayment of debt.
Patrick has significant expertise in guiding companies through the transition from exploration to production.
Warren (Nyunggai) is a distinguished member of the Bundjalung Indigenous Nation and a descendant of the Gumbaynggirr and Yuin Indigenous Nations of Australia, hailing from Grafton, NSW. He is a highly respected businessman, political strategist, and advocate for the empowerment of Indigenous Australians through business development and sustainable economic growth.
With over 40 years’ of experience across the public, private, and community sectors, Mr. Mundine has advised successive Australian governments since 2004. His tenure as Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council from 2013 to 2017 is a testament to his long-standing contributions in public service, business, policy, arts, and community sectors.
Currently, Mr. Mundine serves as Chairman and Managing Director of Nyungga Black Group, Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, Governor for the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia, Chairman of Fuse Minerals, and Director of Aura Energy. He also holds the position of Director – Indigenous Forum at the Centre for Independent Studies. His previous leadership roles include Chairmanships of Real Futures, RISE Ventures, NAISDA College, NAISDA Foundation, and the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, among others.
Michelle Ash is an experienced mining executive with more than 30 years’ global experience across multiple commodities and geographies. She has held senior leadership and advisory roles with BHP, Barrick Gold, Dassault Systèmes, OZ Minerals, and Acacia Mining, with a focus on technology strategy, innovation, and transformational leadership.
Michelle currently serves as Chair of Magnium Australia, Chair of NatBridge Resources Ltd., and holds board positions with RailVeyor Technologies Global, Inc., NatGold Digital Ltd., and research organisation Mirarco. Most recently, she was Vice President of Growth at BHP, where she developed and led a multi-billion-dollar copper growth strategy. She previously served as CEO of GEOVIA at Dassault Systèmes and as Chief Innovation Officer at Barrick Gold, where she led digital transformation programs that delivered significant operational value.
Michelle holds qualifications in engineering, business, and psychology, is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Mr Kane is a highly experienced Mauritanian leader, with a distinguished career in government, finance, and economic development spanning more than 30 years. He has held senior positions including Mauritania’s Minister of Finance, Minister of Economic Affairs and Promotion of Productive Sectors, and Governor of the Central Bank of Mauritania.
He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM), Mauritania’s state-owned iron ore company, and was Vice-President of the African Development Bank.
Mr Kane has held board and advisory roles with several African and international organisations, including Générale des Banques de Mauritanie (GBM), TMLSA, Algold Resources, ENCO & Associés, and Liberia Mofe Creek Mining. He brings deep expertise in economic policy, investment strategy and resource development, and provides valuable insight into the Mauritanian operating environment as Aura advances the Tiris Uranium Project.
Mark has over 20 years’ of experience in finance, commercial management, and business improvement within the mining industry, with a strong focus on West Africa and francophone jurisdictions. He has been involved in the development of three recent greenfield projects.
Most recently, Mark served as Finance Director, Australia, for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX). Prior to this, he was CFO at Chesser Resources Limited (ASX), a Senegal-focused gold development company acquired by Fortuna Silver Mines (TSX) in 2024. He also held the position of Group General Manager Commercial at Perseus Mining Limited (ASX), where he played a key role in the successful development and funding of the Sissingué and Yaouré gold mines in Côte d’Ivoire.
Chantelle brings over 25 years of corporate and operational experience in managing environmental, occupational health and safety, social development and people management portfolios in both the Australian and African mining industries. She is adept at facilitating project permit and approval processes, developing and implementing business management systems, liaising with stakeholders and training and mentoring team members.
Most recently Chantelle oversaw the global support services functions for the Byrnecut Group’s mining consultancy subsidiary, with five entities worldwide. Other past roles include Group Sustainability Manager for Perseus Mining which saw her involved in the exploration, design, construction and operational aspects of three projects in West Africa, as well as Environmental Manager for Mineral Deposits Limited’s Sabodala Gold Mine in Senegal, HSE Manager for Anvil Mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and various roles with Tiwest’s (now Tronox) mineral sands operations.
Mr. Hacene is a highly experienced Mauritanian professional with a wealth of experience in mining and international affairs. As of November 1, 2024, he has taken on the role of Country Manager and Director General of Tiris Ressources SA, Aura’s 85% owned Mauritanian subsidiary that oversees the Tiris Uranium Project.
Before joining Aura, Mr. Hacene dedicated a decade to the United Nations, where he was the Director of the Economic Development and Integration Division at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in Lebanon. In addition to his UN tenure, Mr. Hacene held the position of General Manager of External Relations for Rio Tinto’s Simandou iron ore project in Guinea from 2011 to 2014. His expertise has also extended to consulting for various mining companies in Mauritania, including Woodside, Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière, Paladin Energy, and General Gold, as well as institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank. He also previously served as Mauritania’s Minister of Petroleum and Mines from 2007 to 2008, a pivotal period when uranium was first discovered at Tiris by Aura.
Will was appointed as Chief Development Officer to rapidly build momentum towards expansion of the Tiris Resource and preparation for uranium production.
Will has worked with Aura for over 10 years, has held the role of Aura’s Principal Metallurgist since 2018, and was responsible for delivering the Tiris Uranium Scoping and Definitive Feasibility Studies, and the Häggån Uranium Scoping Study.
He contributes over 20 years of experience in geometallurgy, mineral processing and hydrometallurgy across a wide range of commodities, contributing a strong mix of technical expertise and corporate experience.
Mohamed Sid’Ahmed is an experienced mining executive and engineer with a strong background in mine development, operations, and management across Africa. A Mauritanian national, he has held senior leadership roles in both national and international mining projects, bringing extensive technical and operational expertise to Aura Energy.
Before joining Aura, Mohamed was General Manager Operations at Leo Lithium’s Goulamina Lithium Mine in Mali, where he successfully led the mine’s development, operational readiness, and production activities. Prior to that, he held executive roles at Kinross Gold’s Tasiast Gold Mine in Mauritania and Teranga Gold Corporation’s Sabodala Gold Mine in Senegal, where he played a key role in enhancing operational efficiency and mine performance.
As General Manager Operations for the Tiris Uranium Project, Mohamed will oversee all aspects of project execution and mine operations, strengthening Aura’s leadership team as the Company advances towards uranium production.
Mindy is an experienced corporate and finance executive with more than 20 years’ experience in Australia and internationally. She is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, a Member of CPA Australia, and holds a CPA Australia Public Practice Certificate.
She has held senior corporate governance and compliance roles, bringing experience in company secretarial services, statutory and regulatory compliance, and board and committee reporting across ASX-listed, public and private companies. Her combined governance and finance experience, including financial reporting and analysis, supports boards and executive teams in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
Nigel has a 30-year career in the metals and mining industry, encompassing a diverse range of international commercial, operational, and project roles. He spent over 20 years with the Rio Tinto Group, where he managed uranium marketing across Europe and North America. His other roles included leading Rio Tinto’s marine business in Singapore, serving as Head of Investor Relations, and overseeing a major mergers and acquisitions program.
Most recently, before joining Aura, Nigel was the Managing Director of the Simandou project in Guinea, Africa’s largest mining project. Additionally, he spent two years leading the investment banking operations for ICBC Standard Bank in London, with a focus on financial transactions in the metals sector.
Jan is an accomplished Extractive Metallurgist and project management professional with over 20 years of experience in mining operations management, engineering, procurement and construction management, and project ownership roles. As the Tiris Project Director at Aura Energy, Jan is instrumental in overseeing the project’s development while leveraging his extensive expertise across various commodities, in diverse African settings. His career has been demonstrated by a commitment to delivering projects on time and within budget, employing innovative value engineering strategies to achieve significant cost reductions.
Before joining Aura Energy, Jan held a number of greenfields and brownfields execution leadership roles on West African projects, including Alufer Bel Air Bauxite, Dynamic Bon Ami Bauxite and LMC Marampa Iron Ore.
Andrew is a highly experienced mining and finance executive with over 30 years of global industry experience across multiple commodities. His expertise spans managerial, technical, commercial, and financial aspects, with significant specialisation in uranium and West African development and operations.
Most recently, Andrew served as Managing Director at Chesser Resources Limited, where he led the development of the Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal, which was acquired by Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. for a 95% premium in late 2023. Prior to Chesser, he was the Group General Manager of Business Development and Investor Relations at Perseus Mining Limited. Andrew also spent 14 years at Macquarie Bank as Division Director – Mining Finance and Risk Management. His earlier career included technical roles at Orano/Areva, Mines and Resources Australia, and Acacia Resources Limited.
Andrew currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Zenith Minerals (ASX), an Australian-focused lithium exploration company.