Mr Lawrenson is an experienced mining professional who was previously the Managing Director of Atlas Iron Ltd from 2017 until its acquisition by Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd.
Prior to Atlas Iron, Mr Lawrenson was Managing Director of a number of ASX listed companies in the mining and mining services sectors. Mr Lawrenson was a senior executive of CMS Energy Corporation in the United States of America and Singapore and this was preceded by an investment banking career.
In addition to Canyon, Mr Lawrenson is currently Non-Executive Chairman of three ASX listed companies: Paladin Energy Limited (ASX: PDN), Australian Vanadium Limited (ASX: AVL) and recently listed Caspin Resources Limited (ASX: CPN), as well as Non-Executive Chairman of private companies, Pacific Energy Limited (acquired by QIC) and Onsite Rental Group.
Mr Gallagher has had extensive experience in senior commercial and operational roles in both private and public companies. He was previously Managing Director of ASX listed Empire Beer Group Ltd, Marketing Manager Western Australia for the Fosters Group for over 14 years and has held various other commercial and general management roles.
Mr Gallagher is the founder of Canyon Resources and has operated in West Africa for the past eight years.
Mr. Netherway received a B.E. in Mining Engineering and a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance. Mr. Netherway is a mining engineer with over 40 years of experience in the mining industry.
Mr Netherway is currently the Chairman of Kilo Goldmines Inc.(KGL-TSX-V), Canyon Resources Ltd (CAY-ASX) and Altus Strategies plc(ALS:AIM, ALTS:TSX-V) and a non-executive director at Kore Potash plc(KP2:AIM, ASX & JSE)
Mr Zaninovich has spent more than 25 years in project development, maintenance and operational readiness in the mining industry. He served as COO with Gryphon Minerals (“Gryphon”) before assuming the role of Vice President of Major Projects, and becoming part of the Executive Management Team, at Teranga Gold Corporation (“Teranga”) following its acquisition of Gryphon.
Mr Zaninovich is currently a Non-Executive Director of Indiana Resources Ltd (ASX:IDA) and previously held Non-Executive Director roles with Centaurus Metals, Gryphon Minerals, Orway Minerals Consultants, and an Executive position with Lycopodium Minerals.
Mr Su is based in Western Australia and is actively involved in property investment and development in Australia and overseas. Mr Su is a Perth-based strategic investor with a diverse range of business interests in Australia and overseas. The Su family have historically held commercial interests in bauxite and alumina refining in China.
Mr Bacopanos is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Securities Institute of Australia with more than thirty years of experience in a wide range of industries, geographies and roles. He was previously an Executive Director with Ernst & Young in their Transaction Advisory Services division and has held executive director roles in public and private operating entities in China.
Mr Bacopanos was previously a director of the first privately owned steel mill in Vietnam, VinauSteel, and Finance Director and Company Secretary for Compact Steel. More recently Mr Bacopanos has undertaken consulting roles in the lithium, copper, gold and nickel sectors that have involved advising on and negotiating EPC contracts, funding structures and offtake agreements.
Mr Bacopanos is currently a non-executive director of Threat Protect Australia Ltd (ASX:TPS)
Mr Durrant brings to the role his operational and corporate leadership experiences from roles in tier 1 operational mining companies and junior mining project development including at Danakali’s Colluli Potash Project where Mr Durrant led the technical, social and environmental studies.
During Mr Durrant’s 4 year tenure at Danakali the market capitalization of the company grew from $20m to $200m and it has a fully permitted and shovel ready project, on the verge of securing US$200m in project development debt funding.
Mr Durrant compliments the leadership team at Canyon, bringing a wealth of highly relevant and recent industry experiences in bulk commodities, and formal education from leading British engineering faculties including the Camborne School of Mines where he received a Master’s in Mining Engineering with Distinction. This followed a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University.
Rick Smith has over 35 years’ experience in a variety of international locations relating to new markets, business development, exploration, feasibility studies and construction in bauxite and alumina projects. Mr. Smith most recently served as the General Manager of Operations and Projects at Guinea Alumina Corporation S.A. from 2013 to June 2016, and the Business Support Director from 2016 through 2019. Mr. Smith was part of the executive team that successfully delivered the Guinea Alumina Corporation USD1.4 billion bauxite mine-rail-port export project in Kamsar, Guinea.
Mr. Smith previously worked for Gulf Canada Resources Ltd and BHP. Mr. Smith was the Conakry, Guinea based Project Director for BHP Aluminium’s Boffa Santou Houda bauxite/alumina project from 2009 to 2012. Prior to 2009 Mr. Smith worked in BHP’s Aluminum group looking at business development opportunities in SE Asia and prior to 2009 worked in BHP’s Petroleum division in Australia, Middle East and SE Asia.
Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in geological engineering from Michigan Technological University in the United States.
Mr. Smith’s experience will be a strong asset to Canyon Resources Limited (ASX: CAY) in developing the world-class Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon.