Directors & Officers

MR GEOFFREY HANDLEY- BSC (Hons, Geology and Chemistry) MAusIMM
Non Executive Chairman

Mr Handley is a Geologist with over 30 years’ experience in the mining industry. Mr Handley worked as a geologist for BHP Exploration Ltd, as a chemist and geologist for Placer Exploration Ltd, and as an analyst for the AMP Society. In 1981, he joined Placer Pacific Ltd as a senior geologist and was responsible for the exploration and feasibility work at the Porgera, Granny Smith, Osborne and Big Bell mines. Subsequently, Mr Handley was Executive Vice President, Strategic Development with Placer Dome where he was responsible for global exploration, acquisitions, research and development, and strategic planning. Mr Handley is currently a Non-Executive Director of Eldorado Gold Corp, PanAust Limited and Endeavour Silver Corp.

MR IAN PURDY -  BComm, CA, FAICD
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director 

Mr Purdy joined Mirabela Nickel as Chief Executive Officer and Director on 2 November 2009. Prior to joining the Company, Mr Purdy had held a number of senior positions in the Australian mining industry, including Managing Director of Norilsk Nickel Australia and Director Finance and Strategy of LionOre Australia, where he led the management of five operating nickel projects.

He has a strong track record in operations management, sales and logistics, and financial control, which are all critical skills for Mirabela as it enters production and grows into a sustainable, long-term nickel business.

MR NICHOLAS SHEARD - MAIG, RP.Geo
Non Executive Director

Mr Sheard has a long history of involvement in nickel sulphide exploration and development. Up until 2007 Mr Sheard was the Vice President, Exploration of Inco based in Toronto. Mr Sheard managed an exploration team of 250 people with nine offices and 11 mines worldwide. Under Mr Sheard's leadership, the Inco team discovered the Reid Brook nickel sulphide deposit in Labrador, Canada.

Prior to joining Inco, Mr Sheard held various senior management positions with MIM Exploration Pty Ltd in Australia from 1990 to 2003, including General Manager of Worldwide Exploration and Chief Geophysicist. Mr Sheard is also Executive Chairman of Carpentaria Exploration Limited.

MR COLIN STEYN - B.Comm, MBA
Non Executive Director

Mr Steyn has over 30 years’ experience in the resources sector with particular expertise in the development of mining operations in Southern Africa. He was previously President and CEO of LionOre Mining International from 1999 to 2007, when it was acquired by Norilsk Nickel. Mr Steyn was one of the original founders of LionOre and was instrumental in the growth and development of the company into a major international nickel producer.

From 1996 to 2000, Mr Steyn was a director of Centachrome, a worldwide metals marketing organisation, and for five years prior to this was Executive Director in charge of Metallurgical Operations in Zimbabwe for Rio Tinto, where he started his career in 1979.

MR IAN McCUBBING- B.Comm (Hons), MBA
Non Executive Director

Mr McCubbing is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ corporate experience, principally in the areas of corporate finance and M&A. He has spent more than 13 years’ working with ASX-listed companies in senior finance roles, including positions as Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer in industrial and mining companies. Mr McCubbing is also the Non-Executive Chairman of Eureka Energy Limited and a Non-Executive Director of Swick Mining Services Limited and Territory Resources Limited.

MR CHRIS ELS - CA, CPA, CIMA
Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary

Mr Els is a finance executive with over 20 years’ experience in mining, manufacturing, agribusiness, business services and fast moving consumer goods sectors in Australia and in South Africa. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer of Norilsk Nickel Australia where he managed finance, accounting and IT services.

Most importantly, Mr Els brings a wealth of operating experience in nickel sulphide projects and reporting requirements to the Toronto and Australian stock exchanges.