Finding the Front

Our special guest on this episode is Brandon Munro, the Executive Chair and MD of listed Uranium development company, Bannerman Energy. Brandon is a corporate lawyer by profession who has built an entrepreneurial career that developed into a passion and leadership in the field of mining, in the country of Namibia in southern Africa, in the commodity of Uranium. Brandon was born in South Africa but moved to Australia when he was very young, his family background is fascinating when you see where he has ended up (eg. amongst other things Brandon co-authored the Namibian Mining Charter). Brandon has deep insights into the world of Uranium and Nuclear Power. We talk about the impacts of the Fukushima earthquake on the nuclear industry and the long journey back to the current standing and the future possibilities for Uranium. As a side note, Brandon was also the Captain of the Prague Cricket Club, leading them to a trifecta of trophies in the Czech/Eastern European League! A great conversation with many takeaways.

What an opportunity we have in this episode to have a captivating chat with veteran exploration and mining legend Dr Mark Bennett, the founding MD and CEO of huge success story Sirius Resources which was acquired by IGO for $1.8 billion dollars in 2015. Mark is now the Executive Chair of the follow on company from Sirius, S2 Resources. Mark has an enviable exploration track record of finding mineral deposits and building mines but what a background story he has. He grew up in Birmingham in the West Midlands region of England eventually arriving in Australia on the slight chance of a job in geology with Western Mining Corporation. Well the rest is history with Mark, amongst other things, making massive company making discoveries like the Thunderbox gold discovery and the Nova-Bollinger nickel copper deposit. In recognition of his amazing achievements Mark was twice awarded the prestigious AMEC Prospector of the Year in 2002 and then again over 10 years later in 2013 which says it all.

Our very special guest for this episode is a Lycopodium legend, an original founding member and Chair since inception until last year – 40 year mineral processing industry veteran - Mr Michael (Mick) Caratti. An electrical engineer that grew up in Wollongong in NSW who through a couple of sliding door decisions ended up in WA and became a key founding member of the team that has grown Lycopodium into the leading global integrated engineering, construction and asset management solutions provider success story it has become. This is truly a wonderful story told by an understated, highly regarded, absolute leader in his field.

For our last episode for 2023 our very special guest is Mr Robert Scott, the MD and CEO of one of Australia’s most well known and highly respected companies, the iconic Wesfarmers. Rob is a high achiever. An dual Olympian in rowing winning the silver medal in 1996 in the Atlanta games, a dedicated family man and only the eighth CEO in Wesfarmers 100 plus year history – need more be said.  This is a captivating broad ranging conversation with Rob offering so many detailed insights and takeaways.

What an absolute cracker of an episode we have today – Mr Anthony Kiernan AM, Non-Exec Chair of lithium powerhouse Pilbara Minerals and growing Leonora gold company Genesis Minerals. Tony is a highly respected and highly regarded, 35 year veteran in the management and operation of listed public companies and has many highlights from a wonderfully impressive career. These include over the years being Non-Exec Chair of BC Iron, Non-Exec Chair of Chalice Mining and Non-Exec Chair of Saracen Minerals. Tony provides some seriously fantastic insights into his career and his observations including the deal making with Saracen such as buying 50% of the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, the mighty lithium growth story - and the challenges - since he commenced as Chair of Pilbara Minerals in 2016, his views on the role of a Board and the Chair and the challenges of cost inflation and labour in the mining sector.  Tony’s firm belief in the importance of cash flow, dividends and his love of the mining sector and the people involved shines through. He was awarded a member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to business and the community which says it all.

This episode of Finding the Front is simply quite special. It is like a feature length movie and will no doubt provide you another person’s perspective. The takeaways are something else. Our guest is Malaysian born Mr Simon Lee AO, the recent former Chair and current Non-Exec. Dir. of ASX listed Emerald Resources. This is a story that covers humble beginnings, global business, leadership, immense WA gold mining success and extreme generosity. After embracing a fortunate opportunity to study in Perth and a globally diversified business career that followed, then starts a strong and treasured relationship with WA, the WA Gold Mining Industry and the people involved. The story just gets better and better. It includes his formative insights into gold company success stories Samantha, Equigold and Emerald Resources, and the people who have been close to him and played an integral part along the way. Simon’s largely unknown, enormously impactful philanthropic contributions have been wide ranging. Add to this his role in assisting politicians at both a federal and state level and establishing the WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the late 1980s you can understand why Simon was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the development of Australian-Asia trade relations and to the Chinese community. Journeys like this do not come along often.

Our special guest for this brand new episode is Mr Nick Griffin, the founding partner & chief investment officer for highly regarded funds management business Munro Partners. Munro Partners was founded in 2016 as an investment manager with a core focus on global growth equities and has grown and grown having now some $4.5 billion dollars of funds under their management. Nick provides some fantastic insights into his background, how he commenced on a  20+ year pathway in funds management and his wider views on the exciting world of global investing including growth investing, what they look for and how they assess big structural changes and identify companies that will participate in these changes. The conversation includes the key characteristics that makes a great growth company, a thorough insight into an emerging structural change being that of artificial intelligence, and other areas they are considering including the current market conditions. There really are many fantastic takeaways from Nick’s well delivered insights.

Welcome to another brand new episode of Euroz Hartleys Finding the Front! With Euroz Hartleys being the Principal Partner for the upcoming Dowerin Machinery Field Days at the end of this month we thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to spend some time again, and get an update from, the CEO of the CBH Group, Mr Ben Macnamara. Ben was a guest on Finding the Front back in early 2022 when he had just been appointed to the role of CEO, a huge responsibility. That episode was very well received. Over the past 18 months CBH has experienced pressure packed back to back bumper record breaking crops which has required some serious thought and action on key infrastructure to handle such a massive volume of grain. Ben provides his insights into the last 18 months covering all the challenges and opportunities faced including infrastructure, truck and rail transport, port capacity, shipping, market pricing and fertiliser. He also delivers his insights into the CBH strategy on their pathway to 2033. For those who are involved in agriculture or love the land this is a must listen as it is a powerful insight  and a classic example of the incredibly important role agriculture, farmers and grain growers play in the success of this amazing state.

This episode we certainly have a special opportunity to spend some time with a veteran of some 50 years of the mining industry, someone who originated from the US and travelled out to WA, who has dedicated himself to geology, mineral processing and mining in the US, Canada and Australia and someone who backed himself in from the very start. He simply just loves the mining and resources industry. Our guest is none other than Charlie Bass. Charlie co-founded Eagle Mining in 1992. The company won both explorer of the year and then Developer of the Year at  the Diggers & Dealers before being subject to a hostile takeover in 1997. He then co-founded Aquila Resources in 2000 transitioning it from a gold explorer to iron ore and coal before it too was subject to a hostile $1.4 billion takeover in 2014 at the hands of a joint bid between Baosteel and ASX listed Aurizon. These days Charlie is still heavily involved in mining being the Managing Director of Eagle Mountain Mining, is active in philanthropy and, with his own hard earned money, is the founder and Chairman of the Centre of Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation, fostering a start-up culture to drive the future economy of WA. This story delivers some serious insights and understanding into life of a very successful and passionate mining entrepreneur and historic big WA deals.

In this episode of Euroz Hartleys Finding the Front our guest is none other than 40 plus year funds management industry icon, Mr Geoff Wilson AO, the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Wilson Asset Management. There is so much packed into this captivating conversation that is very hard to cover in an intro but there are many, many takeaways from a journey in investment management that has seen Geoff build a business that now manages some $5 billion in shareholder capital on behalf of more than 130,000 retail investors. In the first half of this podcast we cover off on Geoff growing up, some of the sliding door moments he encountered, his career history and learnings both domestically and internationally, including working in the extravagant 80s and then some of his insights on the impact of the ’87 crash. We then take some time to look at what prompted him to make the decision to go out on his own and kick start Wilson Asset Management. In the second half we go through the detail of the origins of Wilson Asset Management, the keys to it’s success so far, the setting up of the Future Generation companies to give back, being an advocate for retail investors and the importance of this role and challenges that come with it, and then finish off with some general questions to Geoff on funds management, investing, and important factors to consider, and his view on the markets going forward. We really hope you enjoy this journey.

In this episode of Euroz Hartleys Finding the Front we have a wonderful opportunity to speak with Western Australian 40+ year mining veteran Kerry Harmanis. Kerry is the Chair of Australian mineral and development company Talisman Mining. Prior to this, Kerry was the noted founder and former Chair of Jubilee Mines until its acquisition by Xstrata for A$3.1 billion in October 2007 – one of WA’s most talked about mining deals. This is just a cracker of a story that makes for such interesting listening. We learn from Kerry about his upbringing in Darwin, how he started out in mining and managed to fund himself during the really early days through a van selling fish on the beach, his love of exploration, building Jubilee Mines and the discovery of the famous Cosmos Nickel system and his insights into the acquisition by Xstrata and how it all came about. Throw into this his love and passion for Mindful Meditation Australia and Music and it makes for compelling listening.

In this episode of Euroz Hartleys Finding the Front we have a seriously super opportunity to sit down for a chat with one of Western Australia and Australia’s leading corporate and business leaders, long time Board member and former CEO of Fortescue Metals Group, Elizabeth Gaines. To give you an idea of Elizabeth’s career recognition for those that aren’t familiar, she ranked second in the 2019 Fortune Magazine's Businessperson of the Year, in 2020 the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia awarded her the ‘Women in Resources Champion’ at the annual Women in Resources Awards and also in 2020, she was also awarded Joint Australian Business Person of the Year by the Australian Financial Review. This podcast provides our listeners with a wonderful opportunity to hear about Elizabeth’s background on where she grew up in far northern and country WA, her close family environment through to a diversified international corporate career and experiences she has gained over many years at the top that delivers some amazing insights and captivating listening. There are so many takeaways and perspectives from Elizabeth in this conversation  - we hope you enjoy.

In this episode we are hugely fortunate to have an absolute leader in their very specialist field join us on the show. Our special guest is Mr Paul Anderson, CEO and Managing Director of ASX listed regenerative medicine company Orthocell. Paul is a veteran of the regenerative medicine field which is a technology that has emerged over the last 20 years. The focus began with using cellular therapy for the regeneration of damaged cartilage. This focus, combined with Paul’s passion for his craft, has progressed through the founding of Orthocell to commercialising a range of different products for nerve, bone, tendon, ligament cartilage and soft tissue repair and regeneration – and includes doing a multi-million dollar deal with one of the largest dental companies in the world today. This is a seriously great chat into entrepreneurialism and business building over the long term. We gain a look at Paul’s background and how he arrived in his field of expertise with an overview of a journey that has so many insights and takeaways.

This episode we have the wonderful opportunity of having a highly regarded, veteran of the Funds Management industry on the show. Our special guest is Mr Ben Griffiths, the co founder of well known small and emerging company investment specialists Eley Griffiths. Ben, who is based in Sydney and on a visit to Perth, grew up on the beautiful eastern suburbs beaches of Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi.  In this podcast, we take the time out to learn about Ben’s life and career journey where he has accumulated some 30 years of financial markets experience. This includes kicking off his love of investing at the early age of 16, how he started in Funds Management, learning the power of compounding, right through to co-founding Eley Griffiths Group with colleague and friend Brian Eley. In this wide ranging conversation, Ben provides a provides a detailed look into the process of investing, small companies and gives his views on the current investing environment. Ben has so much experience and provides a seriously good insight into life as a long time Fund Manager and the passion he has for his craft. There are many takeaways from this chat – we hope you enjoy.

What an opportunity we have in this episode to spend some time with  our very special guest, Western Australian Entrepreneur, 40 plus year prospector, business owner and mining veteran Mr Tim Goyder.  Tim, who is Chair of Liontown Resources and DevEx Resources and former Chair of Chalice Mining,  was recently awarded the prestigious GJ Stokes Memorial Award at the 2022 Diggers and Dealers in Kalgoorlie for his significant and lasting contribution to the Mining Industry. In this captivating and seriously insightful chat Tim shares his epic journey including family and life, his upbringing on the farm, prospecting and pegging his first tenements in his early 20s including his early dealings with Hancock and Wright, the early days of getting involved in listed companies, running a goldfields drilling company right through to the background and story behind his involvement in DevEx Resources and the two well documented success stories that eventuated being Chalice Mining and Liontown Resources. He also provides a wonderful look at a career dedicated to the Mining Industry and how he navigated his way through all the challenges to get to where he is today. There are so many takeaways on life in this conversation - the ups and the downs - that come along the way in pursuit of a passion – delivered with humility and humour. It makes for compelling listening! For more information visit the Euroz Hartleys website 

This episode we are so fortunate to have as our special guest on the show veteran Fund Manager Mr Paul Moore, the Founder, Chair and Chief Investment Officer of PM Capital based in Sydney. Paul began his investment management career in 1985, approaching some 40 years ago and he has seen a lot over this time as you could imagine in building out what has been a very successful funds management and business career. We cover off on Paul’s upbringing in Melbourne and Sydney, his love of AFL footy, how he came to become an Investment Management professional and how he arrived at his first investment management role at such a young age with Bankers Trust Australia which was so formative to his future pathway. We discuss family, starting his own business PM Capital in 1998 and the challenges of doing this at the height of the Tech boom of the late 90s. We look at investing through crises and significant market moments, and then drill down on the challenges of present day investing including inflation, interest rates, Russia, labour supply, supply chain constraints, electrical vehicles and the future facing battery metals, oil, gold and the potential outlook for the stock market with this all in mind. Paul is also a former Board member of the GWS Giants and he gives us an insight into the challenges of football in NSW. We cover so much in this episode, it’s a real opportunity and a privilege to be able have a chat with someone with so much experience and who is incredibly interesting. For more information visit the Euroz Hartleys website 

What an episode this, our Episode 20, is! It was our great pleasure to spend some time with Mr David Flanagan AM CitWA. David grew up in the coastal city of Bunbury WA, went on to be a graduate of the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering which led to a mining career where he was ultimately appointed the founding Managing Director of Atlas Iron Pty Ltd where he oversaw it's growth from a junior explorer to ASX top 50 company and the operator of three iron ore mines.  He is currently Executive Chair of Battery Minerals Limited, Independent Non Executive Chair of Red Dirt Metals and the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) and a Non Executive Director of MACA Ltd. David provides a captivating, passionate and expressive insight into his life and career plenty of great stories to boot! Including starting out, working in West Africa, exploration, the significant highs and the challenges of Atlas, the current battery minerals demand and the supply in WA vs our competition, the leading position of the WA Resources sector with regards to Space and the opportunity set for WA as a whole, and the challenges. We hope you enjoy!  For more information visit the Euroz Hartleys website 

This episode really is an absolute ripper! We are very lucky to have an awesome opportunity to spend some time in conversation with the wonderful Diane Smith-Gander AO who has built an amazing corporate career over many years covering a wide range of Directorships across different entities, industries and geographies. She has inspired so many with her achievements, the roles she has played and her drive to make a difference. Diane was recently appointed Chair of private health insurer HBF, is current Chair of leading drilling services company DDH1, is current Chair of buy now pay later company Zip Co, is National Chair of the Committee for Economic Development in Australia, is independent Chair of the Nominations Committee for the World Anti Doping Agency and former Director of companies such as Wesfarmers where she was a member of this board for some 11 years, and former President of pre-eminent women’s advocacy group Chief Executive Women representing senior women leaders from the corporate, public service, academic and not for profit sectors. In the 2019 Queens Birthday Honours, Diane was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of her “distinguished service to business, to womens engagement in executive roles, to gender equality and to the community” This is such a wide-ranging conversation where Diane shares with us her experiences in life from growing up in Alfred Cove WA to school, education and the massive amount of accumulated experience she has learnt and gained through a hugely decorated corporate career – which is still going. For more information visit the Euroz Hartleys website 

What an opportunity we have on this show to have as our special guest Mr David Maxwell, the Managing Director of ASX listed Cooper Energy, stock code COE. David has achieved a massive amount in a career spanning more than 25 years as a leading oil and gas industry executive. He shares with us his journey in the formative years of Woodside Energy which accumulated in him being appointed Director of the Gas and Marketing business unit and a member of the Woodside Executive Committee of just 5 people which was responsible for the strategy, planning and management of this major Company. During his time with Woodside, David was awarded the Australian Gas Association Silver Flame Award for significant contribution to the gas industry. David was also a major part of the multinational oil and gas company BG Group, formerly known as British Gas, to build their Asia Pacific Liquid Natural Gas presence and to create a true global LNG business for the company, his rise and success at this company was outstanding and he shares the challenges and opportunities that he was presented with. David has been the Managing Director of Cooper Energy for more than 10 years. In 2019 he was awarded Western Australia’s prestigious John Doran Life Time Achievement Award for his contribution to the Australian Oil and Gas industry. As is well known, there is uncertainty across the globe and here in Australia around the supply and cost of energy.  David shares with us his career and has some captivating insights into the oil and gas industry including his views on the current situation surrounding a shortage of gas, particularly given Cooper Energy operate two gas hubs out of South Eastern Australia. For more information visit the Euroz Hartleys website.

This episode we have a wonderful opportunity to have a great chat with a true leader, Mr Jeff Quartermaine, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of rapidly growing African Gold Producer, Developer and Explorer, Perseus Mining, stock code PRU. Jeff, who grew up in far north Queensland, has had more than 30 years experience in senior corporate, financial and strategic management roles and has had some seriously amazing experiences in a career that has seen him journey to places such as Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and then spend the past 12 years focused on West Africa with Perseus Mining, building the company into the business it is today with a market cap currently in excess of $2 billion dollars. Jeff shares his views on working in the different regions, the rewards and challenges that come with it, mining and growing Perseus Mining. This a fantastic episode. We hope you enjoy.   For more information visit the Euroz Hartleys website.