www.stratexinternational.com
Stratex International is an exploration and development company focusing on gold and high-value base metals. The company objective is to be a leading-edge and innovative explorer whilst creating revenue from gold and base metal production via well-managed joint-ventures.
Since formation, Stratex has rapidly amassed a portfolio of high-potential exploration licences in Turkey and Ethiopia, primarily focussed on gold.
Mining's movers and shakers prepare for FINEX 2010
When the FINEX conference first convened back in 2008 we were in the grip of the global financial crisis.
Many of the market’s junior miners were living what can only be described as a hand to mouth existence as they were starved of the finance to grow, or in some extreme cases the cash they needed to survive.
What a difference two years makes as delegates prepare for FINEX 2010, which takes place at the Geological Society in London on October 27 and 28.
Okay, the industry had its fair share of failures. But the capital markets have re-opened and there has been an upsurge of interest in the mining sector, particularly in the gold diggers, prompted principally by the sharp spike in the value of the precious metal.
How fitting then that the keynote Sir Julius Wernher Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Neil Phillips, professor at the School of Earth Sciences at the University at the Melbourne, who will reveal how companies can add value to gold exploration.
“As we look to the future of gold exploration, there is much we can learn from recent discoveries and from some earlier glorious periods for gold exploration,” Phillips says.
“We can analyse these periods and speculate what might have made exploration go right - i.e. lead to discoveries.”
In total there are 31 speakers from the worlds of finance and mining exploration who will consider the hot topics such as emergence of China, the exploration prospects for Brazil and of course the outlook for metal prices.
They will also discuss the latest environmental issues as well as looking at the training of our next generation of entrepreneurial geologists.
The theme this time is financing exploration, which looks at the still thorny issue of finding the funds for the various stages of the mining process through to full production.
This is a collaborative forum, which sets it apart from similar gatherings in the worlds of mining, says the event’s organiser, Bob Foster, the chief executive of gold explorer Stratex International.
“The conference will bring together the financial sector with the entrepreneurs and researchers involved at the sharp end of mineral exploration, all of whom are driving the industry through innovative leadership, R&D, and training,” Foster told Proactive Investors.
“The line-up of speakers is impressive and there is no doubt that this will be a highly informative and enjoyable forum – quite removed from the normal promotional type of conference that we all attend regularly in London, the focus being on top speakers providing informed views on a wide spectrum of relevant topics.”
A “must see” for the Proactive team is what promises to be a lively and entertaining presentation by Chris Hinde, the editorial director of the Mining Journal, who will tell us about some of the scams covered in his estimable publication.
“The 175-year archives of Mining Journal are full of examples of over-enthusiastic 'promoters' (incidentally, mining appears to be the only industry with such characters),” he says.
“Rather than being based, somewhat amusingly, on an extremely optimistic reading of the geology, all too often this exuberance turns out to be a scam.
“Such swindling is far from amusing, and is a serious intent to part investors from their funds. This presentation will give examples of mining scams, new and old, and suggest some ways of identifying entrepreneurs offering opportunistic investments from crooks offering ruin.”
The 2010 FINEX forum – Financing and Exploration: The Role of the UK and Ireland in Global Mineral Exploration – takes place at Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly on October 27 and 28. For more details and to book your seat go to: http://www.londonfinex.com. Advanced registration is required.
The event is supported and sponsored by:
+Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
+Mineral Deposits Studies Group, Geological Society
+Irish Association for Economic Geology
+Association of Mining Analysts
+AIM Team, London Stock Exchange
+Women in Mining
The contributors are:
J. Fergus Anckorn, Technical Director, AMEC Earth & Environmental (UK) Ltd.
“Environmental and social issues - what investors should know about the risks”
Dr Sacha Backes, Investment Officer, Oil, Gas, Mining & Chemicals, International Finance Corporation
“Mining financing in frontier countries”
Dr Adrian Boyce, Manager, NERC Isotope Community Support Facility, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Glasgow, UK
“Training of Economic Geology PhD's - a perspective from NERC facilities”
Graham Brown, Group Head of Geosciences and Exploration, Anglo American, London, UK
“Brazil: a major company perspective on mining and exploration opportunities”
Liv Carroll, Senior Geological Consultant, Gemsoft Software Europe Ltd
“Add another string to your bow”
Richard Chase, Managing Director, Ambrian Partners
“The perfect mix – an advisor’s view”
Cedric Chehab, Head of Commodities Research & Strategy, Business Monitor International, London, UK
“China’s mining sector: a macroeconomic perspective”
Phillip Crowson, Honorary Professor, University of Dundee; former Director, London Metal Exchange
“The uses and abuses of metal market analysis”
Dr Michael Denison, Research Director, Control Risks
“The new risk landscape”
Hugo de Salis, Principal, St. Brides Media and Finance Ltd
“To spin or not to spin?”
Paul Dewison, Research Manager, Bloomsbury Minerals Economics
“Medium- and long-term market influences: what is the equilibrium price for tomorrow’s copper?”
Gabriel Didham, MD, Objective Capital Research Ltd
“The value of sponsored research to a plc”
Claire Dorrian, Senior Manager, Product Management AIM
“Accessing finance for mining companies”
Charles Gibson, Sector Head, Mining Research, Edison Investment Research Ltd
“Valuing gold companies”
Roger Goodwin, President & Group Finance Director Griffin, Mining Ltd
“China from a practical perspective”
Christopher Hall, Mining Consultant, Grant Thornton UK LLP
“Technical Reports – who needs them?”
Dr Clive Hallett, Principal, CRT Minerals; Project Manager, MIRO (Minerals Industry Research Organisation)
“The international mining services sector in the UK and Ireland”
Dr Stephen Henley, Deputy Chairman, PERC (Pan-European Reserves and Resources Reporting Commitee); MD, Resources Computing International Ltd, UK
“Minerals reporting standards in Europe”
Dr Chris Hinde, Editorial Director, Mining Journal, AspermontUK
“Mining scams – then and now, and how to spot them”
Charles Kernot, Director, Metals & Mining, Evolution Securities
“Why do some companies succeed and others fail? – Avoiding the pitfalls”
Dr Duncan Large, Consulting Geologist
“Future sources of zinc – a geologist’s perspective from Europe”
Michael Lynch-Bell, Partner, Global Mining & Metals, Ernst & Young
“Future financing trends in the mining sector”
Professor John Ludden, Director, British Geological Survey
“Supporting international development of the mining sector – the role of the British Geological Survey”
John Meyer, Head of Resources, Fairfax ISL Plc
How to make the market work for you
Dr Charlie Moon, Teaching Fellow & Programme Leader, MSc Mining Geology, Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter
“Masters-level courses: experiences of working with the minerals industry”
Prof Neil Phillips, University of Melbourne and Phillipsgold Pty Ltd
Sir Julius Wernher Memorial Lecture: “Adding value in gold exploration: beyond technology and drilling”
Dr Hazel M. Prichard, Director, Exploration & Resources BSc, Cardiff University
“Benefits of student placements with exploration companies as illustrated by the Cardiff University BSc in Exploration and Resource Geology”
Prof Laurence Robb, Director, Savannah Gold Ltd, London, Visiting Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford
“Mineral commodities in 2010 - what are we looking for and where?”
Bill Scotting, Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy, ArcelorMittal, London, UK
“Meeting the world’s metals needs”
Chris Watling, CEO & Chief Markets Strategist, Longview Economics
“Commodities – is there a Super-Cycle?”
Dr Tim Williams, Director, Global Mining & Metals, Ernst & Young
“Junior miners – is there life after debt?”
