Firefinch Ltd (ASX:FFX) has moved to strengthen its board with a slew of director appointments.
Naomi Scott and Liz Wall will join the FFX executive team as non-executive directors, while outgoing board member Brendan Borg will join the helm at Firefinch spinout Leo Lithium.
Firefinch said its new directors brought deep African mining experience to the board, together with expertise in community, environment, people, governance, permitting, operations and transactions in multiple jurisdictions around the world.
Strengthening the FFX board
Firefinch chair Dr Alistair Cowden said of the appointments: “We are delighted to welcome Liz and Naomi to Firefinch — their skills bring an extra dimension to an already strong board.
“I would also like to thank Brendan Borg on the occasion of his stepping down from the Firefinch board after four years and joining the board of Leo Lithium.
“Brendan’s contribution to the company has been exemplary, his commitment when the company was in difficulties in the past was outstanding and on shareholders’ behalf, I thank him.
“His insights will be missed but I am delighted Firefinch will continue to benefit from his skills through his board position with Leo Lithium, in which Firefinch will have a 20% interest.”
About Liz Wall
Wall is a specialist consultant in environment, social and governance matters with more than 20 years of global experience assessing and addressing social and environmental risks associated with extractive sector projects and investments.
She’s worked on a number of the largest extractive sector projects in the world, including Simandou, the ExxonMobil Rovuma project, Papua New Guinea LNG and the Guinea Alumina Project, while also working closely with junior and mid-tier companies.
Liz recently served as chair and director of TSX-listed Royal Road Minerals.
She has significant African experience, having worked in more than a dozen countries including Mali, with extensive periods of time spent on the continent.
Wall has provided strategic advice to listed companies and private equity firms, has worked for both the mining industry and major lending institutions and has taken up corporate governance roles for not-for-profit organisations.
She is a recognised expert in the application of the IFC Performance Standards and project development in complex jurisdictions and has been conducting and leading due diligence exercises for companies and investors for the past decade.
Liz Wall is a Rhodes scholar with a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering, and master's degrees in development studies and environmental management.
She is a Fellow and CP (social performance) of the AusIMM and chairs the Social Practice Forum.
About Naomi Scott
Scott has 11 years of operational experience within the mining sector and more than 10 years of experience in the design and implementation of United Nations programs.
The new director is skilled in multi-lingual communication and has extensive experience in leading complex operations in deregulated states.
Naomi is also a respected authority on investment risk analysis and crisis management in Africa.
For the last six years, she served as legal counsel and country director Mozambique for Battery Minerals (Australia).
This role involved managing all aspects of legal compliance in Mozambique and Mauritius, ensuring oversight of legal matters in Australia and securing mining licences, export licences, environmental impact plans, permits and a community relocation agreement.
Naomi was CEO of Anglo American (Mozambique) for four years, a position which, alongside day-to-day management, focused on business development, project generation, regional project integration and government negotiation.
Prior to Anglo, Scott was regional director of Metals Africa.