Non-executive chairman

George Bauk

Mr Bauk has more than 30 years’ experience in the resource industry and 15+ years as a listed company director, involved in mining exploration and production both within Australia and overseas.

Mr Bauk has more than 30 years’ experience in the resource industry and 15+ years as a listed company director, involved in mining exploration and production both within Australia and overseas. With qualifications that include a Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Finance) from Edith Cowan University and an MBA from the University of New England, he has held global operational and corporate roles with Northern Minerals, WMC Resources and Western Metals.

A Fellow of the CPA, Mr Bauk also boasts a strong background in strategic management, business planning, team building, finance and capital/debt raising (more than $350 million), and his expertise encompasses a variety of commodities; in particular, critical minerals such as rare earths, lithium, graphite, gold and uranium. During his time as managing director of Northern Minerals, Mr Bauk led that company’s rapid development from greenfields heavy-rare-earth explorer to one of the few global producers of high-value dysprosium outside of China.

Mr Bauk has previously held senior positions within the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, including as its vice-president, and continues to be a passionate contributor to the Western Australian resources sector.

Non-executive director

Kristie Young

Ms Young’s varied background includes more than 20 years’ experience across a range of sectors, including technical engineering, project evaluation, strategy, business development, growth, marketing, commercial, client management, governance and human resources.

Ms Young’s varied background includes more than 20 years’ experience across a range of sectors, including technical engineering, project evaluation, strategy, business development, growth, marketing, commercial, client management, governance and human resources.

Most recently, Ms Young held senior growth and business development executive roles with leading professional services firms PwC and Ernst & Young. She is Non-Executive Chair of ChemX Materials (ASX:CMX), Non-Executive Director of Tesoro Resources (ASX:TSO) and sits on the board of Wesley College WA.

Ms Young holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) Hons from the University of Queensland and a Post Graduate Diploma of Education (Mathematics & IT) from the University of Western Australia. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a CertIV HR from the Australian HR Institute.

Non-executive director

Phil Thick

Mr Thick has over 30 years’ experience as a senior executive in oil and gas, mining and chemical processing in large multinational – as well as smaller, ASX-listed and privately owned – companies.

Mr Thick has over 30 years’ experience as a senior executive in oil and gas, mining and chemical processing in large multinational – as well as smaller, ASX-listed and privately owned – companies. In addition, he has extensive experience on many boards, in non-executive director roles, and chaired many of them for extended periods.

Mr Thick enjoyed a 20-year career with Shell, both within Australia and overseas; for the last three he was on the board of Shell Australia as downstream director. This was followed by five years as a director and CEO of Coogee Chemicals, then four as CEO of New Standard Energy.

During the past four and a half years, Mr Thick headed up Tianqi Lithium Australia, a subsidiary of Tianqi Lithium Corp out of China, one of the world’s largest lithium companies. (Tianqi owns 51% of the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia, the world’s best hard-rock lithium resource.) Mr Thick was charged with building the world’s largest lithium hydroxide plant in Kwinana, south of Perth, an investment of nearly A$1 billion. He also chairs the boards of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA and Perth Symphony Orchestra.

Chief financial officer

Stuart Tarrant

Mr Tarrant is a senior finance professional of more than 20 years’ experience, most gained in rapidly growing or changing environments. He has worked within a range of industries, including mineral extraction, mineral exploration, finance and agribusiness.

Mr Tarrant is a senior finance professional of more than 20 years’ experience, most gained in rapidly growing or changing environments. He has worked within a range of industries, including mineral extraction, mineral exploration, finance and agribusiness.

Most recently, Mr Tarrant was CFO at Danakali Limited (ASX: DNK), which is developing the world-class Colluli potash project in Eritrea, East Africa. During his time with Danakali, Mr Tarrant worked through the study phases of the financial model that underpinned the economic outcomes and successfully secured US$200 million of project senior debt, as well as negotiating material operating contracts.

Before that, he held roles with BHP, Leighton Contractors and Great Southern Limited, and also consulted to small- and mid-sized enterprises. Mr Tarrant brings with him specific expertise in fundraising, strategic analysis, governance and compliance, with a focus on value creation.

Chief executive officer & Managing director

Simon Linge

Drawing upon 30-years’ executive experience in manufacturing, logistics and infrastructure, Mr Linge brings an exemplary track record in driving business performance and expansion in low growth environments through M&A and organic strategies. Mr Linge is CEO – Elect for Lithium Australia, and will commence 1st January, 2023.

Drawing upon 30-years’ executive experience in manufacturing, logistics and infrastructure, Mr Linge brings an exemplary track record in driving business performance and expansion in low growth environments through M&A and organic strategies. Mr Linge is CEO – Elect for Lithium Australia, and will commence 1st January, 2023. Mr Linge is currently EGM Contract Manufacturing at Pact Group a leader in plastic packaging, recycling and the circular economy in Australia. Prior to this Mr Linge was the Managing Director and CEO of Bradken Limited where he repositioned the company as a leaner, market-focused business, delivering profitable growth with a clear vision and strategy.

Holding prior senior leadership roles with BlueScope Steel, NZ Steel and NS BlueScope across Australia and New Zealand, Asia Pacific and the USA, he is experienced in driving improvements in safety, governance and operational hygiene. Of note is his success in changing the go-to-market model of BlueScope Steel China’s Coated business to align with the Chinese market, and role in driving 300% volume growth for New Zealand Steel’s mining division and leading a simultaneous, complex two-year acquisition program.

Distilling information across business and market dynamics, Mr Linge creates a clear, compelling vision, galvanising people around the path forward. Results-driven, he ensures teams are focused on key priorities while remaining agile and responsive to market changes, to ensure a business’ ongoing success.

Mr Linge is currently Advisory Board member at Connect Precision, an emerging Australian manufacturer of components for the building industry. Mr Linge has also served on several boards including Tata BlueScope Steel, SteelServ and McDonald Lime. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and a number of executive certifications.