Director's Profile
Michael Sharwood – Chairman
Michael Sharwood, BSc (Hons), MA, practiced as a mineral exploration geologist in Canada and Australia for nearly 10 years before requalifying in New South Wales as a solicitor. In that capacity he practiced corporate and commercial law, particularly for mining and petroleum companies, including Australian companies investing overseas and foreign companies investing in Australia. He worked on transactions in Australia, Canada, the USA, Indonesia and elsewhere. He also had an extensive practice involving mergers and acquisitions and Stock Exchange Listings. He was formerly a partner of Blake Dawson Waldron and for several years was the senior partner in Australia of Andersen Legal. Before finally retiring from practice in December 2005 Mr. Sharwood developed an expertise in legal practice risk management and devoted several years to developing, implementing and supervising Risk Management and Quality Assurance procedures in law firms.
Ian Stuart – Managing Director
Ian Stuart has experience in both the finance industry and mining. Mr Stuart holds an Honours degree in Geology and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. As a stockbroker, Mr Stuart has worked in the finance industry over the last eight years, most recently with Macquarie Private Wealth. Mr Stuart has extensive experience with capital raisings within the junior resource sector. Prior to this Mr Stuart was a senior geologist with experience throughout Australia and Africa, exploring for both gold and base metals including feasibility studies and project development.
Matthew Howison – Non Executive Director
Matthew Howison is a lawyer and investment banker who has held senior positions at NM Rothschild & Sons (Australia) Limited, Turnbulll & Partners, Goldman Sachs Australia and Salomon Smith Barney before establishing the private merchant banking firm Emerald Partners. In these roles he has been involved in advising on mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions for major Australian and international corporations and has extensive experience in contested public company takeovers. He has particular expertise in the metals and mining, energy, renewable energy, media and technology industries. He is an active investor in and adviser to a wide range of exploration companies.