Board & Management

Board

Mr Aaron Banks
Non-Executive Chairman

Aaron Banks is a specialist business consultant with over 20 years’ experience in contract negotiations and business development including senior roles in sales, marketing and construction management. In 2015 as founder & Managing Director of Australian Silica Pty Ltd, Mr Banks discovered one of the largest high grade silica sand resources in the world. Whilst on the Board of Australian Silica he successfully negotiated the sale of Muchea Silica Sand Project to Ventnor Resources Limited that pivoted the former base metals explorer to the emerging silica sand producers known today as VRX Silica (ASX:VRX). In 2020 he vended his private companies into what is Suvo Strategic Minerals today. Aaron has an extensive background in industrial minerals and has focused on developing emerging assets globally.

Dr Agu Kantsler
Non-Executive Director

Dr. Agu J. Kantsler, B.Sc (Hons), Ph.D., G.A.I.C.D., FTSE, has over 45 years of experience in the international and Australian upstream oil and gas industry and has spent over 20 years in senior leadership positions and 12 years serving on the boards of several listed and private companies. He is currently the Managing Director of Transform Exploration Pty Ltd and a Non-Executive Director of Central Petroleum Limited. He is a former Director of Oil Search limited, a former President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia, a former Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a former Chairman and Director of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA). Dr Kantsler was awarded APPEA’s Reg Sprigg gold medal for service to the industry in 2005 and in 2006 was elected to Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Mr Oliver Barnes
Non-Executive Director

Oliver Barnes has over 25 years’ experience in natural resources and asset development with expertise in carbon, rural development, ESG and clean technology commercialisation. Mr Barnes was previously the Managing Director of an ASX listed land and water developer and held a senior role with an ASX listed phosphate technology company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business Management.

Executives & Management

Mr Bojan Bogunovic
interim Chief Executive Officer

Bojan Bogunovic is a qualified Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University. Mr Bogunovic has extensive experience in the mining, exploration, construction and agriculture industries in Australia and overseas. Mr Bogunovic has held senior financial roles with a number of ASX listed mining and exploration companies.

Mr Hanno Van Der Merwe
Chief Operating Officer

Hanno Van Der Merwe has over 25 years’ experience in Estimating, Project Management, and Production Management, holding qualifications in Production Engineering and a Master of Business Management. Mr Van Der Merwe has delivered of a number of highly successful projects in Australia and Africa, holding senior management roles in the mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, engineering, construction, maintenance and telecommunications industries.
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