BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sebastiano (Sam) Randazzo

Sebastiano (Sam) Randazzo
Non-Executive Director & Chair

Sam Randazzo is a mineral resources industry professional with over 35 years’ experience encompassing various senior roles including executive and non-executive directorships, chairman, CEO, CFO and company secretary in public companies listed on the ASX, TSX, JSE and AIM stock markets.

He has extensive operational experience in project identification, merger and acquisitions, initial and secondary public offerings, capital raisings in international markets, corporate finance, feasibility studies and project development.

His mineral industry exposure spans companies involved in mining, exploration, engineering and construction of gold, diamonds, base metals, mineral sands, coal and uranium projects.

James Smith

James Smith
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

James is a highly experienced and qualified executive with more than 25 years’ experience in the mining, industrial and financial sectors. Originally a process engineer in the mining industry, James has held various consulting, investment advisory and operational leadership positions. He has extensive experience in strategy development and execution, operational excellence, mergers and acquisitions and organisational leadership within the mining and industrial sectors.

Darren Naylor

Darren Naylor
Executive Director

Darren Naylor is a seasoned executive with over 25 years’ experience across various industrial sectors, of which more than 15 are specialised in the engineering, mining and metals industry across Africa and Australia. In this time Darren has managed numerous multidisciplinary mining studies and projects and has operated at both senior executive and board levels. Darren is a commercially astute leader with excellent interpersonal skills and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Johannesburg as well as an MBA (with distinction) from Henley Business School.

Val Coetzee

Val Coetzee
Non-Executive Director

Val holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, and a Master of Engineering: Mining (Mineral Economics) from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He worked at Impala Platinum and De Beers Consolidated as a metallurgist and technical manager tasked with overseeing new greenfield projects. Until recently Val was DRA’s Senior Vice President of Process Engineering and has played a vital role in the global expansion of the Group during his 15 years with the Company.

Lindiwe Mthimunye

Lindiwe Mthimunye
Non-Executive Director

Lindiwe is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and has extensive governance, finance and business experience, having worked in investment banking and also as chief financial officer in the oil and gas industry. She previously served on the boards of various listed and unlisted companies including; Woolworths, Group 5, Torre, Sea Harvest, PetroSA, Hyundai Automotive South Africa and Liquid Capital.

Charles Pettit

Charles Pettit
Non-Executive Director

Charles Pettit is the CEO and Founder of Apex Partners, a holding company that makes long term investments in engineering, equipment and industrial distribution businesses. Prior to founding Apex, Charles founded and was CEO of JSE -listed industrial businesses Torre Industries Ltd (2012-2016) and Stellar Capital Partners Ltd (2015-2017). 

Charles graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BCom (Hons) degree in 2004 and subsequently qualified as a CFA charter holder while working for Close Brothers Corporate Finance in London and AfrAsia Corporate Finance in Mauritius and South Africa.