Perth-based Azumah Resources has recruited two top mining and project finance executives as it accelerates towards making a development and finance decision at its Wa gold project in Ghana.
Experienced banking and project financier Debra Bakker and 30-year mining consultant and private equity adviser Linton Putland have joined Azumah’s Board of Directors.
Their appointments follow the resignation this week of long-time Director Geoff Jones, who has stepped down from the Board to focus on his executive role with GR Engineering and other business commitments.
Azumah Resources’ Managing Director Stephen Stone said the appointments of Ms Bakker and Mr Putland were consistent with the Company’s objective of making a development and financing decision for its Wa gold project in Ghana in 2019.
The Wa gold project delivered real game-changing results during the June 2018 quarter, which has boosted our confidence of increasing Mineral Resources and more importantly, Ore Reserves.
“As we accelerate towards making a development and financing decision about the Wa gold project in 2019, we are extremely pleased to have Ms Bakker and Mr Putland join our Board of Directors.
“Debra brings more than 25 years’ experience as an international banker, deal maker and advisor to the resources sector while Linton is highly experienced in technical, operational and managerial roles centred on open pit and underground operations, including several campaigns in Africa.
“We look forward to both Debra and Linton playing critical roles in the Company’s growth and to its innovative partnership with private equity group, Ibaera Capital.”
During the last three months, Mr Stone said Azumah had continued its intensive, A$6 million multi-target drilling campaigns as well as advancing its overall Wa gold project study update.
“Notably, several high grade intercepts have opened up the possibility that mineralisation at Kunche could extend to considerable depth – consistent with similar style deposits around the world,” he said.
“Our exploration plans for the September quarter include drilling to test the recently identified Kunche ‘feeder zone’, exploration drilling at the Danyawu, A-B-C, and Butele North targets, and continued auger drilling at Butele North, Yagha Southwest and throughout our prospective 2,400km2 tenure.”
Ms Bakker has held several senior positions with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Standard Bank London Group and Barclays Capital in Sydney, London, New York, Chicago and, since 2003, Perth.
She is the Western Australian representative of Auramet Trading LLC, a New-York-based metals trading firm and merchant banking advisory service; a Non-Executive Director of Independence Group (ASX: IGO) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CAP), and holds several not-for-profit sector roles.
Ms Bakker holds a B. Bus Finance and Account from Edith Cowan University, Perth; is a graduate of the Securities Institute of Australia (now called FINSIA); holds a M. App Finance in Applied Finance from Macquarie University and is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors course.
As a consultant, Mr Putland provides advice on due diligence, business development, project planning and implementation, operational improvement and mentoring, various levels of project assessment studies, and tenders and contracts for a range of mining and mining-associated companies.
He is an independent Non-Executive Director with Pacific Energy Limited (ASX: PEA) and was for five years, until 2017, the Principal Technical Adviser to private equity group, Pacific Road Capital Management.
Mr Putland is a 1988 B. Eng graduate of the WA School of Mines from where he also gained an MSc. Mineral Economics. He is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors course and also hold a WA first Class Mine Managers Certificate (1991).
In welcoming Ms Bakker and Mr Putland to the Board of Directors, Azumah Resources’ Non-Executive Chairman Michael Atkins also paid tribute to Mr Jones for his considerable and constructive contribution to the Company during the past nine years, and especially his invaluable guidance on African project development.
