ioneer Ltd (ASX:INR) has strengthened its team with the appointment of experienced resources finance executive Ian Bucknell as chief financial officer.
The CFO will play a key role in managing financing of the flagship Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in the US and in building the organisational capabilities and processes necessary to deliver a world-scale project.
The appointment of the Australian-based CFO, who will work out of the company’s Sydney office, follows an extensive search process with the assistance of Spencer Stuart.
ioneer’s managing director Bernard Rowe said: “We are delighted to announce Ian’s appointment to the company and welcome his financing experience and track record of success.
“Ian represents another key appointment by the company in building the right capability to ensure the successful development of the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project.”
International experience
Bucknell’s CV includes being CFO of ASX-listed companies and more than 20 years of international resource experience.
He has held senior executive roles at AWE limited, Drillsearch Energy Limited and Great Artesian Oil and Gas Limited.
During this time, he has worked in several high-growth organisations and financed projects from discovery to production.
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Rowe added: “We feel that Ian’s skills and experience are ideally suited to helping transform the company into a leading supplier to the lithium and boron markets.”
Bucknell is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from the University of Technology, Sydney.
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The 100%-owned Rhyolite Ridge project in Nevada, USA, provides a substantial foundation for ioneer to become a responsible and profitable producer of the materials necessary for a sustainable future.
Looking east over Rhyolite Ridge South Basin.
PFS demonstrates potential
A pre-feasibility study demonstrated the project’s scale, long-life and potential to become the lowest cost lithium producer in the world as well as the largest lithium producer in the US.
With forecast annual production of 20,200 tonnes of lithium carbonate and 173,000 tonnes of boric acid, Rhyolite Ridge will be a globally significant producer of lithium and boron.
These are both used in a diverse range of everyday items and innovative technologies that are essential to modern life and emerging clean technologies such as electric vehicles.