Terra Metals (ASX:TM1) has appointed three new directors as the company transitions from exploration to development following its platinum group metals discovery at the Dante Project in Western Australia.
Debra Bakker is set to become Chair on 29 June, with Jeff Quartermaine and Jennifer Purdie joining as non-executive directors. The appointments come as Terra Metals advances the Dante Project through resource definition and economic studies.
Ian Middlemas and Ben Cleary have stepped down as Chairman and Non-Executive Director, respectively. Both were instrumental in the company’s 2022 recapitalisation and the subsequent acquisition of the Dante Project in 2023.
A financier and director with a background spanning precious and base metals, critical minerals, oil and gas, and corporate finance, Bakker currently sits on the boards of Yancoal Australia (ASX:YAL) and Ten Sixty Four (ASX:X64).
Bakker spent a decade as a non-executive director of IGO (ASX:IGO), and earlier held senior roles at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA), Kiodex, Standard Bank Group (LSE:SBK), and Barclays (LSE:BARC).
Quartermaine spent nearly 13 years at Perseus Mining (ASX:PRU), stepping down as CEO after transforming the company from a junior gold miner into an ASX 100-listed pan-African producer with annual output above 500,000 ounces.
Purdie brings operational experience from BHP Group (ASX:BHP), Jemena Management Holdings, Adani Renewables Australia, and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO). As former president of BHP’s Olympic Dam asset, she oversaw production growth and expansion planning after the OZ Minerals acquisition.
Terra CEO and Managing Director Thomas Line says the new board brings the right mix of skills for the next phase.
“Debra brings ASX 100 governance, leadership, and capital-markets experience […] Jeff has successfully led the growth and development of a major ASX-listed mining company […] while Jennifer adds the technical depth required to advance a polymetallic project of this scale,” Line says.
The company will grant 3 million share rights to Bakker and 2.5 million each to Quartermaine and Purdie, vesting over three years.
Mark Freeman joins as Company Secretary, replacing Greg Swan. Freeman is a chartered accountant with more than 25 years’ experience in corporate finance and capital markets, having raised more than $750 million in equity capital for ASX-listed companies.
Terra Metals’ wholly owned Dante Project hosts a platinum group metals, nickel, copper, and gold discovery within the Jameson Layered Intrusion in the West Musgrave region.
Recent drilling at the Southwest Prospect has confirmed ‘high-grade’ sulphide mineralisation, with ongoing drilling focused on resource definition and expansion.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Terra Metals
