Directors
David Barwick (Chairman)
In his capacity as Chairman, Managing Director and/or President, Mr David Barwick has played a significant role in successfully funding and bringing into production, four mining projects throughout his career. He has considerable expertise in the restructure and financing of entities.
David is an accountant and has more than 36 years experience in the management and administration of publicly listed companies in both Australia and North America. As a director, he has managed over twenty six public companies, using his strong skills in strategic planning to successfully restructure these and give them a solid financial base from which to operate. He has experience in preparing prospectuses and ensuring companies meet the necessary compliance standards for listing on the Australian and Toronto Stock Exchange.
David is also Chairman of Metallica Minerals Limited (ASX-MLM), Jumbo Interactive Limited (ASX-JIN), Orion Metals (ASX-ORM) and Planet Metals (ASX-PMQ).
Andrew L Gillies (Non-Executive Director)
Mr Andrew Gillies has been Managing Director of ASX-listed Metallica Minerals Limited and its subsidiaries since 1997. He has been instrumental in the selection and acquisition of all the mineral assets now held by the Metallica group, Cape Alumina Ltd and MetroCoal Ltd. Andrew is a founding Director of MetroCoal. As the founder of Metallica, Mr Gillies, through his geological consultancy company, Golden Breed Pty Ltd is a major shareholder of Metallica.
Andrew's key strength is mineral resource management and strategic planning specialising in project generation, selection and acquisition. He has acquired a considerable database and significant knowledge of mineral deposits in Queensland. Since 1985 he has worked continuously as a geologist in the mining and exploration industry, accruing over 22 years experience across a range of commodities. He has been a company geologist with BHP Gold Mines Ltd, Perseverance Corporation Ltd and Cracow Mining Venture and as a consulting geologist for various exploration companies until his full time role with Metallica in 1997. Over the last 22 years he gained valuable experience in the exploration, feasibility, development, open pit and underground mining of mineral deposits.
Andrew is a Director of ASX listed Cape Alumina Ltd, Orion Metals Ltd and Planet Metals Ltd and is also a Director of the Queensland Resources Council. Mr Gillies graduated from the University of Queensland in 1985 with a BSc (Geology) and is a member of the Aus.I.M.M.
John K Haley (Non-Executive Director and Company Secretary)
Mr John Haley brings more than twenty-five years of senior corporate experience from positions in Canada and Australia to the board of MetroCoal. He is currently Company Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Metallica Minerals and has been employed by the company since late 2003. John is also Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of Cape Alumina since its formation.
He has a diverse career in a range of industries including mineral exploration and has participated as a seed capitalist in a number of mineral exploration companies.
With extensive experience in the preparation of prospectuses, he has had significant involvement in the listing of companies in Australia and Canada. He is a Chartered Accountant (Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants), an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and the Taxation Institute of Australia.
He has previously worked with Coopers & Lybrand and Arthur Andersen & Co and in Australia in general management, financial reporting and company secretarial positions.
John has formal academic qualifications which include a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Queensland.
Michael Hansel (Non-Executive Director)
As a partner in law firm Hopgood Ganim lawyers, practising almost exclusively in corporate law, Michael brings considerable knowledge and skills to the MetroCoal board in the areas of capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, due diligence, takeovers and corporate restructuring. He has a solid client base of publicly listed resource and industrial companies and provides professional advice on corporate governance and sensitive legal and commercial issues.
Michael joined Hopgood Ganim in 1998. In addition to holding an honours degree in law, Michael also has an honours degree in commerce and qualifications in business. He is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.