NickelSearch Ltd (ASX:NIS) has made several high calibre additions to management and technical teams to help execute its nickel sulphide strategy at the flagship Carlingup Project.
NIS is a dedicated WA nickel sulphide explorer focused on advancing the Carlingup Nickel Project, which has an existing resource base of 171,000 tonnes of contained nickel.
This is a highly prospective tenure covering +10 kilometres of strike, with multiple high priority, drill‐ready resource extension targets.
The project is also strategically positioned next to major nickel mining and processing hubs.
A new managing director
One of the primary placements is Nicole Duncan, who will take over as managing director from February 1, 2022.
She will replace Craig Moulton, who recently resigned and who made a valuable contribution to NIS in guiding it through the IPO process.
Duncan is a highly experienced resources industry executive, who was a founding member of the Executive Lead Team of South32 following an extensive career with BHP.
She has more than 20 years of experience in mining and oil & gas as a lawyer and then in commercial roles and broader executive portfolios.
Her experience includes supporting minerals exploration, project development and execution, operations, sales and marketing, technology, governance, compliance and human resources, all the while focusing on running the business safely and reliably.
Duncan also comes to the company with sustainable practices in mind and has a clear vision for what a modern‐day mining company should aspire to be and what NIS’s footprint will look like moving forward.
Leading scientist joins the team
Tamsin Senders has also been welcomed to the team as manager of processing
Senders is one of Australia’s leading scientists in the field of bacterial leaching.
She began her career as group microbiologist for Titan Resources, before roles at Fox Resources (ASX:FXR) as Bacterial Oxidation specialist and most recently, at Western Areas as microbiological consultant.
Also of benefit is Senders significant business development and corporate experience with Geobiotics, LLC where she was business development manager ‐ Australasia, as well as multiple assignments undertaken through her consultancy business. One of these assignments was a study for the Carlingup Project in 2015.
Senders is a co‐developer and patent holder of the BioHeapTM bacterial heap leach process and is named as co‐inventor on 13 granted international patents.
New resources manager
Andrew Weeks will bring further geological experience to the NIS team as manager of resources.
Weeks has more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry including senior production and resource management roles with Acacia Resources, WMC, BHP and 10 years as a principal consultant for Golder Associates.
He has also worked on nickel, gold, silver, diamond, uranium, copper, tungsten, PGE, REE and iron ore projects and is an expert in mineral resource development and ore control systems.
Weeks worked at Mount Keith, Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation and with Norilsk Nickel Australia, so his nickel experience will be invaluable to NIS’s strategy. He has a detailed knowledge of the company’s flagship Carlingup project, having consulted to the company over several years.
Strong team to execute strategy
NIS’s recent appointments complement the existing team of Leo Horn as senior technical advisor (exploration), who recently completed a drilling program at Carlingup, and CFO Peter Evans, who has extensive experience in the Australian and global equity capital markets with a particular emphasis on ASX small and mid‐cap industrial and resource sectors.
“NickelSearch has assembled an experienced, dynamic and energetic management team, to be led by Nicole Duncan, to execute the nickel sulphide strategy at our flagship Carlingup Project, an asset with immense potential,” NickelSearch’s chairman David Royle said.
“We are also delighted to welcome Tamsin to the team to lead the necessary test-work and studies as we assess processing options at Carlingup and Andrew to lead the rigorous resource work. The company is excited by the tremendous capability this high calibre team will bring to the project.
“The new NickelSearch team are passionate advocates for ESG policies and practices which are in complete alignment with the company’s values.
“With an extensive exploration program planned for 2022 and the commencement of test-work to support commercialisation studies, this is an exciting time for NickelSearch.”