The board
Andrew Pardey
Non-Executive Chairman
Andrew is a geologist with more than 30 years’ experience across exploration, project development, construction and operations in the mining industry. He serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Company following the merger of PDI with Robex, having previously served as PDI’s CEO & Managing Director since January 2022. Andrew was previously CEO of LSE/TSX-listed Centamin, owner of the Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt, where he played a key role in the transition of the operation from construction into production. Earlier in his career he held senior management roles at AngloGold Ashanti’s Siguiri Mine and Nordgold’s Lefa Mine in Guinea’s Siguiri Basin, which also hosts PDI’s Kiniéro and Bankan projects.
Matthew Wilcox
CEO & Managing Director
Matthew is an experienced mining executive with a strong track record of developing and building gold mines in West Africa. He serves as CEO & Managing Director of the Company and was previously CEO & Managing Director of Robex where he led the construction of the Kiniéro Gold Mine in Guinea. Prior to this, Matthew was CEO & Managing Director of Tietto Minerals, where he led the development and construction of the Abujar Gold Mine in Côte d’Ivoire. Earlier in his career he held senior development and operational roles including Chief Development Officer at West African Resources, where he oversaw construction of the Sanbrado Gold Mine, as well as Project Director roles on Nordgold’s Bissa and Bouly Gold Mines in Burkina Faso, General Manager of the Lefa Gold Mine in Guinea, and Project Director for the Gross Gold Mine in Russia.
Alain William
Executive Director, Chief Legal & Government Relations Officer
Alain has more than 25 years of experience in capital markets and the mining sector. He serves as Executive Director – Government Relations and Legal having previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Robex and also overseeing stakeholder engagement. Earlier in his career, Alain worked as a metals and mining analyst for leading financial institutions including IXIS Securities, ING Financial Markets, Société Générale, Natixis and Oddo. During this time, he was involved in major IPOs and capital raisings for global mining companies including Glencore, ArcelorMittal and Rio Tinto.
Simon Jackson
Non-Executive Director (Lead Independent)
Simon is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience in the management and financing of resource companies, particularly in Africa. He serves as Lead Independent Non-Executive Director having previously served as Non-Executive Chairman from October 2021 until the merger with Robex. Earlier in his career he was a senior member of the management team of TSX-listed Red Back Mining, which financed, developed and operated two gold mines in West Africa before being acquired by Kinross Gold for CAD$9.3 billion in 2010. He later served as founding President & CEO and subsequently Chairman of Orca Gold, which discovered the Block 14 Gold Project in Sudan and was acquired by Perseus Mining in 2022. Simon currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Resolute Mining, Sarama Resources, Leeuwin Metals and South Pacific Metals.
Alberto Lavandeira
Non-Executive Director (Independent)
Alberto is a mining engineer with more than 45 years of experience developing and operating mining projects internationally. Alberto is currently CEO and Executive Director of Atalaya Mining, which he joined in 2014 as COO and where he has played a key role in developing, expanding and operating the 15Mtpa Riotinto copper operation in Spain. Previously, he was President, CEO and COO of Rio Narcea Gold Mines where he oversaw the permitting, financing and construction of three mines including Aguablanca, El Vallés-Boinas and Tasiast. Earlier in his career he worked with group companies of Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Cominco (now Teck) and was also involved in development of the Mutanda Copper Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Alberto is also a Non-Executive Director of Black Dragon Gold.
Steven Michael
Non-Executive Director (Independent)
Steven has more than 25 years of experience in financial advisory and investment banking within the resources sector. Steven previously held senior roles with global financial institutions including Rothschild, Macquarie Bank and RBC Capital Markets. He has also served as Managing Director of FTI Consulting, Managing Director of Red Hawk Mining and Vimy Resources, and Executive Director of Deep Yellow. Steven currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Marvel Gold.
Howard Golden
Non-Executive Director (Independent)
Howard is a geologist with more than 40 years of experience in mineral exploration across six continents. Howard has played a key role in the discovery of several major ore deposits including Syama, Oyu Tolgoi, Agbaou and West Musgrave. During his career he has held senior executive and exploration leadership roles with companies including Nordgold, Rio Tinto, Kinross Gold Corporation, WMC Resources and BHP Minerals, leading exploration programmes across diverse geological environments. Howard currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Marvel Gold.
Our management
Matthew Wilcox
CEO & Managing Director
Refer to description in the Board section.
Alain William
Executive Director, Chief Legal & Government Relations Officer
Refer to description in the Board section.
Clinton Bennett
Chief Operating Officer
Clinton is a mining executive with extensive operational and metallurgical experience across international mining operations. He serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Company having served as Chief Operating Officer of Robex prior to the merger. Clinton was previously Chief Operating Officer of Tietto Minerals and earlier held senior roles with Endeavour Mining, including General Manager of the Ity Gold Mine where he oversaw operations producing more than 300koz of gold per year. During his career, he has worked on mining projects across Burkina Faso, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Australia.
Ross McLean
Chief Financial Officer
Ross is a senior finance executive with more than 15 years of experience in mining and energy finance across Africa and Australia. He serves as Chief Financial Officer of the Company having served as General Manager of Finance of Robex prior to the merger. Ross previously served as Finance and Administration Director for Assala Energy, a Carlyle Group-backed oil and gas business operating in Gabon, where he spent more than five years overseeing all financial and administrative functions for the business. During his career, Ross has worked across a range of resource sectors and jurisdictions, gaining broad exposure to project financing, capital management and operational finance across Africa and Australia.
Dimitrios Felekis
Chief Development Officer
Dimitrios has more than 20 years of experience in project development and design management within the mining sector, particularly in West Africa. He serves as Chief Development Officer, having held the same role at Robex and being responsible for the construction of the Kiniéro Gold Mine. Dimitrios previously worked as Project & Design Manager for Tietto’s Abujar Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire and earlier with Lycopodium, contributing to the development of Nordgold’s Bissa Gold Project in Burkina Faso and Endeavour Mining’s Agbaou Gold Mine in Côte d’Ivoire.
Justin Rivers
Chief Exploration Officer
Justin is a mining executive with extensive experience in mineral exploration and resource development. He serves as Chief Exploration Officer having held the same role with Robex. Justin previously held several senior exploration and leadership roles including Head of Geology at Lithium Universe, where he contributed to the development of lithium projects, Chief Executive Officer of Convertible Resources focused on mineral project development across multiple regions, and Group Chief Geologist at London Mining Associates.
Gwendal Bonno
Chief Human Resources Officer
Gwendal is a human resources executive with extensive international experience in the natural resources sector. He serves as Chief Human Resources Officer having held the same role with Robex. Gwendal previously held senior human resources leadership roles including Group HR Manager at Assala Energy in Gabon and the UK, HR and Administration Director at Nordgold in Burkina Faso, HR Director at ArcelorMittal Mining in Algeria, and HR Manager at Eramet in New Caledonia.
