This week’s Talent Tuesday features a number of veteran mining industry leaders taking on new board and executive roles.
American Rare Earths (ASX:ARR) is set to appoint Matthew D Gili as Non-Executive Director, subject to Australian regulatory formalities. Gili will be joining the company’s technical committee to contribute to the advancement of the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project, which the company notes is the largest known rare earth deposit in the US on a total rare earth oxide basis.
American Rare Earths is currently working to bring the project towards construction and production.
The appointment is a key step in the company’s board renewal program as it moves towards a dual-listing on the Nasdaq exchange in H2 2026, with a prospective full US domicile planned for next year.
Gili is currently President and CEO of Ur-Energy (TSX:URE), a Wyoming-based uranium company. He brings more than 25 years of mine building experience to the role, having worked with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO), including as COO of the Oyu Tolgoi mine, and Barrick Mining (NYSE:B), as its Chief Technical Officer.
American Rare Earths notes that Gili’s experience with in-situ recovery uranium overlaps with the company’s focus on rare earths, with similar processing chemistries.
American Rare Earths is a critical minerals company focused on reshaping the US rare earths industry through the Halleck Creek project in Wyoming, US.
Leadership shift at Eastport as Daniel Major steps in as CEO
Eastport Critical Metals (TSX-V:EVI) has announced the appointment of Daniel Major as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2026, while the company’s current CEO, Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi, will move to Chair of the board and current Chair, David Minchin, will become Co-Chair.
Major brings more than 35 years of experience in the mining industry, spanning banking and finance to developing projects in uranium, copper, gold, and critical minerals, with a strong focus on African resources.
He was most recently CEO of GoviEx Uranium, which was acquired by Atomic Eagle (ASX:AEU) in late 2025.
Eastport will issue 500,000 options for common shares in the company to Major, exercisable at a 20% premium to the five-day volume weighted average trading price.
Eastport Critical Metals is a critical minerals development company advancing five projects in Botswana.
Battery Mineral Resources bolsters board with new appointments
Battery Mineral Resources (TSX-V:BMR) has announced the appointment of Ryan Welker and Peter Doyle to its board of directors from 26 June 2026.
Welker has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, across Australia and the US, working across operations, structured finance, and corporate governance. He also serves as Non-Executive Director on the boards of Ten Sixty Four (ASX:X64) and Uranium America Resources (OTC:UARI).
Doyle currently serves as the company’s VP Exploration, and has more than 40 years of mineral exploration experience across regional reconnaissance, project evaluation, and development, and has worked globally across Canada, the US, Mexico, Australia, Asia, and South America.
Doyle has held senior leadership roles in exploration with PT Freeport Indonesia, Gold Fields (JSE:GFI), and Troy Resources.
Battery Mineral Resources operates the Punitaqui Mining Complex, a historic copper, gold, and silver mine in the Coquimbo region of Chile.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: American Rare Earths, Battery Mineral Resources
