Southern Gold Limited (ASX:SAU) (FRA:UH4) has boosted its exploration capabilities in South Korea by appointing Robert Smillie, an experienced geoscientist, as exploration manager.
Smillie’s career, which spans more than three decades, includes significant epithermal gold exploration experience, particularly in South Korea.
Following the appointment, Smillie will be based in South Korea and will be responsible for executing the company’s country-focused strategy and the targeting of newly identified epithermal gold systems that have seen limited modern exploration.
“Boost to exploration pipeline”
Southern Gold managing director Simon Mitchell said: “It is great to have Rob join the Southern Gold team, including being prepared to reside in South Korea on a full-time basis.
“I expect this will see excellent traction on the ground and give our exploration pipeline a boost as well.”
Smillie has a Master of Science degree from Otago University, New Zealand, and has had 12 years in exploring epithermal gold targets in South Korea, which is of considerable interest for SAU as it builds an exploration pipeline in the country.
Mitchell added: “The South Korean team will very much benefit from having the mentoring and guidance on a day-to-day basis that Rob can bring to the role.”
Smillie’s experience
In his most recent role, Smillie was working as the head of the department, regional geology for GNS Science, New Zealand’s Geological Survey.
Before this, he was working as an exploration or country manager for companies such as Ok Tedi Mining in Papua New Guinea, the National Petroleum and Mining Authority in Timor-Leste and Calibre Mining Corp (TSE:CXB) in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Prior to these appointments, he has also worked for OceanaGold Corp (ASX:OGC) on projects in New Zealand and the Philippines.
In his earlier roles, he has worked for Kenex Knowledge Systems in New Zealand, PT Masmindo Mining in Indonesia and WMC Resources at St Ives in Western Australia, among others.
“Building drill pipeline”
Smillie also has a Master of Business Administration from Victoria University, New Zealand and is a fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists.
Mitchell said: “Rob is also very well connected to an experienced group of geoscientists that are specialists in the field of epithermal gold geology and this will assist to augment the current team in its task of building the project drill pipeline.
“Rob’s background in working in culturally complex environments, as well as a variety of technical exploration target types, will be a great asset to the company and we welcome him aboard the exciting South Korean initiative.”
“Lead our exploration program”
Smillie said: “I am very much looking forward to joining the Southern Gold Team in South Korea to lead our exploration program in one of the most under-explored and gold-prospective jurisdictions in Asia.
“The opportunities for new discoveries are just tremendous.”