Our Team – American Rare Earths

We have adopted a Board Charter to give formal recognition of the Board’s role and responsibilities and to specify how we are governed so as to promote ourselves and protect the interests of shareholders, employees, and the broader community.

Board of Directors

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/DEPUTY CHAIRMAN B.A., J.D
Sten L Gustafson

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEC, MBA, FCPA, ASIA, FAICD
Geoffrey ‘Geoff’ Hill

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR B.EC., BA ENGLISH LITERATURE, MBA, PROFESSOR, THUNDERBIRD SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT
Melissa ‘Mel’ Sanderson

CHAIRMAN B.COM. FCA

Richard Hudson

Richard is experienced in strong corporate governance and internal controls, resolving shareholder disputes, and advising on business sales, acquisitions and mergers. He is currently Chairman of a private Contract Research Organisation in Animal Health in Australia and New Zealand and the Company Secretary of a group of Emergency Veterinary Practices operating throughout Australia. He also was the Chairman for many years of a manufacturing business operating in the marine industry in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/DEPUTY CHAIRMAN B.A., J.D

Sten L Gustafson

Sten is the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Pyrophyte Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: PHYT), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) focused on companies that provide products, services, equipment and technologies that support a variety of energy transition solutions. Sten is a highly experienced energy service industry executive, investment banker and corporate securities attorney. With over 25 years of experience in the global energy sector, Sten has advised on more than 100 corporate transactions worldwide for over US$100b of transaction value.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEC, MBA, FCPA, ASIA, FAICD

Geoffrey ‘Geoff’ Hill

Geoff was a Director of ARR from 1989 to June 2014 and re-joined the board on 27 August 2015. He has extensive experience identifying and implementing mergers and takeovers and has acted for various corporate clients in Australia and overseas. Geoff also has extensive experience in giving corporate advice to mining companies.

He is a Director of unlisted companies, including International Pacific Capital Limited, So Co Ltd, Coromandel Gold Limited and Texas and Oklahoma Coal Company Limited. Listed company directorships include Metals Finance Corporation Limited (ASX: MFC), Mount Gibson Iron Limited (ASX: MGX) and Advance Metals (ASX: AVM)

He previously was Chairman of Mount Gibson Iron and a Director of Centrex Limited

CEO and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Chris Gibbs

Chris has over 28 years of experience in the resource sector within Australia, Canada, the US, South America, Africa and Europe. He is an innovative leader with a proven track record for implementing organisational change and delivering business results. Before joining American Rare Earths, he was Vice President and General Manager for Argonaut Gold’s Canada business and led the development of the Magino Gold Project. He has also held various leadership roles with Centerra Gold and Thompson Creek Metals, including VP of Operations, VP of Operational Excellence and VP of General Manager of the Langeloth Metallurgical Company in Pittsburgh and VP General Manager of the Endako Mine in British Columbia. Chris has also held various leadership roles with Barrick Gold, Placer Dome and Millennium Chemicals.

He holds a and a Bachelor of Business from Curtin University of Western Australia.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR B.EC., BA ENGLISH LITERATURE, MBA, PROFESSOR, THUNDERBIRD SCHOOL OF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT

Melissa ‘Mel’ Sanderson

Mel’s International career has spanned diplomacy and mining for more than 30 years. Mel is adept at cross-cultural communication and brings exceptional leadership experience in inclusivity and diversity issues. At global mining leader Freeport-McMoRan, Mel sited, staffed and ran a corporate office focused on government and public relations and social responsibility programs. She has also served as a senior diplomat in the US Department of State.

Management

CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER CPG
Dwight Kinnes

COMPANY SECRETARY BBUS, ACA, FAICD, ACIS
Wayne Kernaghan

CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER CPG

Dwight Kinnes

Dwight is a Certified Professional Geologist and JORC Competent Person (coal) with over 35 years in the mining industry. A third generation Coloradoan, Dwight obtained a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Colorado State University. He specialised in the geological modelling of complex coal deposits in British Columbia, Venezuela and Indonesia. Prior to joining American Rare Earths, he was the President of Highland GeoComputing LLC for 17 years, providing geological field services, geological modelling services, GIS services, and database management services to the mining industry.

COMPANY SECRETARY BBUS, ACA, FAICD, ACIS

Wayne Kernaghan

Appointed 25 September 2020. Wayne is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia with over 35 years’ experience in various areas of the mining industry. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Chartered Secretary.

PRESIDENT WRI JD, MA

Joe Evers

Prior to joining Wyoming Rare (USA), Inc., Joe served in various leadership roles in the energy and mining industry. Most recently, Joe served as General Counsel of American Rare Earths Ltd. Prior to that, Joe was corporate counsel at an international mining company and held positions of increasing responsibility in the land and policy departments at a publicly traded oil and gas company. Originally hailing from Sheridan, Wyoming, Evers received a bachelor’s degree and JD/MA in Environment & Natural Resources from the University of Wyoming. He maintains strong ties to his alma mater where he serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board at the Haub School of Environment & Natural Resources, President-Elect of the Alumni Association, and is a member of the Advisory Board at the College of Law.

Joe was instrumental in securing a US$7.1 million grant from the State of Wyoming with support from partners Wyoming Energy Authority and the University of Wyoming Energy Resources Council.

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