our-board
Board
Our team of world-renowned experts in geology, chemistry and engineering is supported by a Board with decades of leadership and expertise in the lithium industry, geology, and investment banking.
Gavin Rezos
B.Juris, LLB, BA, Law, Economics, International Politics
Chair
- Executive Chair/CEO positions of two companies that grew from start-ups to the ASX 300.
- Extensive international investment banking experience.
- Investment banking Director of HSBC with senior multi-regional roles in investment banking, legal and compliance functions.
- Currently Chair of Resource and Energy Group and principal of Viaticus Capital.
- Previously Non-Executive Director of Iluka Resources, Alexium International Group.
Dr. Francis Wedin
PhD & BSc (Hons) Geology & Mineral exploration, MBA in renewable energy
Managing Director & Founder – CEO
- Founder of Vulcan Zero Carbon Lithium™ Project. Lithium industry executive since 2014.
- Previously Executive Director of ASX-listed Exore Resources Ltd.
- Three discoveries of JORC Lithium Resources on two continents including Lynas Find, now part of Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora Project in production.
- Management & Executive experience in resources sector on four continents; bilingual; dual Swedish & Australian nationality.
Annie Liu
BEng Industrial Engineering & Operations Research
Independent Non-Executive Director
- Former Tesla Head of Battery and Energy Supply Chain.
- Led and managed Tesla’s multi-billion-dollar strategic partnerships and sourcing portfolios that support Tesla’s Energy and Battery business units including Battery, Battery Raw Material, Energy Storage, Solar and Solar Glass, including raw materials sourcing efforts such as lithium for battery cells.
- 20 years’ experience with Tesla and Microsoft.
Dr. Heidi Grön
PhD Chemical Process Engineering, Dip. Chemical Engineering
Independent Non-Executive Director
- Dr. Grön is a chemical engineer by background with 20 years’ experience in the chemicals industry.
- Since 2007, Dr. Grön has been a senior executive with Evonik, one of the largest specialty chemicals companies in the world, with a market capitalization of €14B and 32,000 employees.
- At Evonik, Dr. Grön is currently responsible for:
- Global product Safety including impact assessment and development of solutions for the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability;
- Management of Evonik’s major investment volumes and production network.
Josephine Bush
CTA, MA (Hons) Law CFA, ESG investing, Sustainable Finance Certification
Independent Non-Executive Director
- Member of the EY Power and Utilities Board.
- Led and delivered the EY Global Renewables and Sustainable Business Plan and spearheaded a series of major Renewable Market Transactions.
- Successfully advised on the first environmental yieldco London Stock Exchange listing, Greencoat UK Wind PLC.
- Ms. Bush is a Chartered Tax Advisor, holds an MA Law degree from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, and brings a wealth of experience in ESG strategic advisory.
Ranya Alkadamani
BA Media, Communication, Media Studies, MA International Relations & Affairs, MA International Communications
Independent Non-Executive Director
- Founder of Impact Group International.
- A communications strategist, focused on amplifying the work of companies that have a positive social or environmental impact.
- Experience in working across media markets and for high profile people, including one of Australia’s leading philanthropists, Andrew Forrest and Australia’s then Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
Dr Günter Hilken
PhD in Organic Chemistry, Master’s Degree in Chemistry
Independent Non-Executive Director
- Dr Hilken is a Senior Advisor to Macquarie Asset Management and is a Director of Currenta.
- President and Chairman of the Board of the German Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (VIK).
- Previously CEO of Currenta for 9 years, held senior executive roles with Bayer in Germany, the US, Canada and Asia and was a Director of RWE Power AG.
Mark Skelton
Bachelor of Science (Honours), Mechanical Engineering
Independent Non-Executive Director
- Nearly 30 years at BP in various Project Director and operational leadership roles,
- Over six years at Fortescue as Project Director
- Project Advisor to various industries and infrastructure projects including a major lithium hydroxide development in Western Australia.
Dr. Horst Kreuter
PhD Engineering Geology, MSc Applied Geology
Co-Founder & Board Advisor
- Ex-CEO of Geothermal Group Germany GmbH and GeoThermal Engineering GmbH (GeoT).
- Co- Founder of Vulcan Zero Carbon Lithium™ Project.
- Successful geothermal project development & permitting in Germany and worldwide.
- Widespread political, investor and industry network in Germany and Europe.
- Based in Karlsruhe, local to the project area in the Upper Rhine Valley.
Julia Poliscanova
BA (Hons) Politics, French. MSc Energy
Special Advisor
- Senior Director with the EU’s Transport and Environment.
- Instrumental in shaping policies around EU vehicle CO2 standards & sustainable batteries.
- On the steering committee for the Battery CO2 Passport program of the Global Battery Alliance.
- Previously worked for the Mayor of London and in the European Parliament following EU legislation on renewables, energy efficiency and sustainable transport.