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Board

Our Company’s leadership has expertise in exploration, mine development and corporate finance with a track record of creating shareholder value.

  • Daniel Lougher

    Non-Executive Chairman

    BSc (Hons) Mining Geology; MSc Engineering

    Daniel Lougher is a highly regarded mining executive with a distinguished career of over 40 years’ experience in the resources sector. He has successfully built multiple mines, managing all facets of project development from resource definition, feasibility studies, project financing, mine construction and the negotiation of off-take contracts.

    Dan joined Western Areas in 2006 and occupied the roles of General Manager, Operations and Projects, followed by an appointment to the Board as Executive Director – Operations and rose to the position of Managing Director and Chief Executive; a role he occupied from 2012 until the takeover of Western Areas by IGO in 2022. In his role as Managing Director of Western Areas Limited, Dan built the company into the leading independent nickel producer in Australia ahead of a $1.3 billion takeover by IGO Limited in 2022.

    Daniel holds a BSc (hons) in Mining Geology from the University of Leicester, a Graduate Diploma in Engineering (Mining) and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Perseus Mining Limited with the roles of Chair of the Technical Committee and Chair of the Nomination Committee.

  • Dave O’Neill

    Managing Director

    Bsc (Hons) Applied Science (Geology)

    Founder of American West and a major shareholder. A geologist with over 20 years’ experience in the resources sector gained in Australia and internationally.

    Dave has expertise in base metals and gold exploration as well as business development gained in senior roles with Anglogold (ASX: AGG), WMC Resources, BHP (ASX: BHP) and Western Areas (ASX: WSA).

    He has managed remote grass roots exploration to large resource delineation and mining projects in Australia, Europe, North America and Russia. Dave has a track record of successful exploration and was a leading team member for the discovery of the Succoth (Cu), Yappsu (Ni) and Cathedrals (Ni) deposits in Western Australia.

    Dave holds a BSc. (Honours in Geology) from the University of Technology, Sydney and is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

    The Board considers that Mr O’Neill is not an independent Director.

  • John Prineas

    Non-Executive Director

    Bec/LLB F Fin

    Founder of American West and a major shareholder. John is also the founder and Executive Chairman of St George Mining Limited (ASX: SGQ), a successful explorer and emerging nickel company in Australia.

    Prior to starting St George in 2010, John spent 20 years in the banking and legal sectors, including the role of Country Head Australia for Dresdner Bank AG (now Commerzbank AG) with a focus on project and acquisition finance for resources and infrastructure projects. John has worked on funding arrangements and growth strategies for a range of mining companies, from global majors to junior explorers.

    John holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow of Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

    John is also a director of BMG Resources Limited (ASX: BMG).

    The Board considers that Mr Prineas is not an independent Director.

  • Tom Peregoodoff

    Non-Executive Director

    BSc.

    Mr. Peregoodoff has over 30 years of resource industry experience., much of it in greenfield and brownfield exploration and resource development. Currently he is President, CEO and a Director of Apollo Silver Corp and a director of MAG Silver Corp. Prior to this he was President and CEO of Peregine Diamonds Ltd. where he led the company from the resource development phase through to the eventual sale to DeBeers Canada in 2018.

    Prior to Peregine Mr. Peregoodoff spent 18 years in several positions with the mining multinational BHP, culminating in his role as Vice President of Early Stage Exploration, with global responsibility for all early stage exploration across their commodity groups.

    Mr. Peregoodoff holds a BSc. in Geophysics from the University of Calgary.

    The Board considers that Mr Peregoodoff is an independent Director.