Portfolio Companies
The CEOs of our portfolio companies are executives who have worked with, or are well known to,
the EMR team over many years.
JAMES PALMER
CEO, 29Metals
James has more than 25 years’ experience across operational, technical, strategy and business development roles, in a career that spans multiple commodities. James was previously with BHP where he has spent two decades in various leadership roles, most recently as BHP’s Group Performance & Improvement Officer.
TIM DUFFY
CEO, Ravenswood Gold
B Commerce (James Cook), Fellow CPA, Fellow AusIMM
Tim is an international mining executive with more than 30 years experience in the mining industry. He has a strong track record of leadership roles focused on development, growth and operational improvements.
Prior to joining, Ravenswood Gold, Tim was CEO & Managing Director of Lubambe Copper Mine Ltd in Zambia, during a business turnaround of the underground operation. Previous to that he was CEO of PT Agincourt Resources in Indonesia. During his tenure, the team at the company’s Martabe Gold Mine achieved significant improvements in operating performance and the gold and silver resource and reserve base, ensuring a long and sustainable future. These outcomes were delivered with regard to the highest standards of safety, efficiency and cost discipline and a sustainable social license to operate.
JAMES PALMER
CEO, 29Metals
James has more than 25 years’ experience across operational, technical, strategy and business development roles, in a career that spans multiple commodities. James was previously with BHP where he has spent two decades in various leadership roles, most recently as BHP’s Group Performance & Improvement Officer.
TIM DUFFY
CEO, Ravenswood Gold
B Commerce (James Cook), Fellow CPA, Fellow AusIMM
Tim is an international mining executive with more than 30 years experience in the mining industry. He has a strong track record of leadership roles focused on development, growth and operational improvements.
Prior to joining, Ravenswood Gold, Tim was CEO & Managing Director of Lubambe Copper Mine Ltd in Zambia, during a business turnaround of the underground operation. Previous to that he was CEO of PT Agincourt Resources in Indonesia. During his tenure, the team at the company’s Martabe Gold Mine achieved significant improvements in operating performance and the gold and silver resource and reserve base, ensuring a long and sustainable future. These outcomes were delivered with regard to the highest standards of safety, efficiency and cost discipline and a sustainable social license to operate.
Phil Nobes
CEO, Kestrel Coal
Phil Nobes has over twenty years of experience in senior management within both open cut and underground operations.
He completed his Mining Engineering degree at the University of NSW and began his career in the coal industry through the BHP Graduate Program.
In 2000, Phil transferred to Gregory Crinum Mine and has remained in Queensland ever since.
During this time, Phil obtained his Second Class Mine Managers Certificate.
Phil’s extensive knowledge in operational efficiency, safety standards, and business management is further reinforced by his attainment of a Graduate Diploma in Finance and Investment, along with the First Class Mine Managers Certificate.
Since 2022, Phil has filled the role of Kestrel’s General Manager Operations and Site Senior Executive (SSE), demonstrating his capability to improve safety and drive growth and value to the business.
With a firm belief in the potential of Kestrel and its exceptional team, Phil is committed to the ongoing success and growth of Kestrel Coal as one of Australia’s leading producers of underground metallurgical coal.
Phil Nobes
CEO, Kestrel Coal
Phil Nobes has over twenty years of experience in senior management within both open cut and underground operations.
He completed his Mining Engineering degree at the University of NSW and began his career in the coal industry through the BHP Graduate Program.
In 2000, Phil transferred to Gregory Crinum Mine and has remained in Queensland ever since.
During this time, Phil obtained his Second Class Mine Managers Certificate.
Phil’s extensive knowledge in operational efficiency, safety standards, and business management is further reinforced by his attainment of a Graduate Diploma in Finance and Investment, along with the First Class Mine Managers Certificate.
Since 2022, Phil has filled the role of Kestrel’s General Manager Operations and Site Senior Executive (SSE), demonstrating his capability to improve safety and drive growth and value to the business.
With a firm belief in the potential of Kestrel and its exceptional team, Phil is committed to the ongoing success and growth of Kestrel Coal as one of Australia’s leading producers of underground metallurgical coal.
MARK KIRKBRIDE
CEO, West Cumbria Mining
B Eng (Mining) (Exeter), M Philosophy in Geomechanics
Mark has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining and civil engineering industries, primarily in underground construction and operations and has worked on a wide range of mine developments, operational mines, tunnelling and heavy civil engineering construction projects. His mining expertise includes deep shaft sinking, hard and soft rock tunnel developments and production operations.
Mark has also held a series of leadership roles within a wide range of specialist businesses. These roles have incorporated strategic development, project financing, mergers/acquisitions and divestments.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining Engineering and a Master of Philosophy in Geomechanics, both from Camborne School of Mines. He is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Chartered Engineer.
DEAN PEKESKI
CEO, Peak Minerals
B Earth Sciences (University of Western Ontario)
Dean has more than 20 years’ experience in mineral exploration and project development. From 1996 to 2008, Dean was an exploration geologist and project manager with Rio Tinto where he explored for base metal and diamond deposits across Canada, Southern Africa, and India. He led the Rio Tinto exploration team that discovered and evaluated the diamondiferous Bunder kimberlites. After leaving Rio Tinto, Dean joined Western Potash Corporation where, as Executive Vice President, he successfully managed the Milestone Potash Project in Saskatchewan from discovery, through pre-feasibility, feasibility, environmental permitting, and project financing.
Dean holds a degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. He is a registered Professional Geologist and a Qualified Person in the field of potash geology as defined by NI 43-101 Standards, and is also an active member of the Solution Mining Research Institute.
Carles Aleman
CEO, Highfield Resources
In addition to degrees in Business Sciences and Pharmacy, Carles Aleman has a Masters degree in Chemistry as well as an MBA from the ESADE Business School in Barcelona.
During his more than 30 years’ experience he worked in international focused managerial roles in the chemical sector with companies including BASF and CIBA-GEIGY and in Pymag-Curtin where he was Managing Director. Carles has spent the last eight years working at ICL in Spain, where he was the President since 2018. He has been Board member in different companies and in Industrial and Employers Associations.
MARK KIRKBRIDE
CEO, West Cumbria Mining
B Eng (Mining) (Exeter), M Philosophy in Geomechanics
Mark has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining and civil engineering industries, primarily in underground construction and operations and has worked on a wide range of mine developments, operational mines, tunnelling and heavy civil engineering construction projects. His mining expertise includes deep shaft sinking, hard and soft rock tunnel developments and production operations.
Mark has also held a series of leadership roles within a wide range of specialist businesses. These roles have incorporated strategic development, project financing, mergers/acquisitions and divestments.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining Engineering and a Master of Philosophy in Geomechanics, both from Camborne School of Mines. He is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Chartered Engineer.
DEAN PEKESKI
CEO, Peak Minerals
B Earth Sciences (University of Western Ontario)
Dean has more than 20 years’ experience in mineral exploration and project development. From 1996 to 2008, Dean was an exploration geologist and project manager with Rio Tinto where he explored for base metal and diamond deposits across Canada, Southern Africa, and India. He led the Rio Tinto exploration team that discovered and evaluated the diamondiferous Bunder kimberlites. After leaving Rio Tinto, Dean joined Western Potash Corporation where, as Executive Vice President, he successfully managed the Milestone Potash Project in Saskatchewan from discovery, through pre-feasibility, feasibility, environmental permitting, and project financing.
Dean holds a degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. He is a registered Professional Geologist and a Qualified Person in the field of potash geology as defined by NI 43-101 Standards, and is also an active member of the Solution Mining Research Institute.
Carles Aleman
CEO, Highfield Resources
In addition to degrees in Business Sciences and Pharmacy, Carles Aleman has a Masters degree in Chemistry as well as an MBA from the ESADE Business School in Barcelona.
During his more than 30 years’ experience he worked in international focused managerial roles in the chemical sector with companies including BASF and CIBA-GEIGY and in Pymag-Curtin where he was Managing Director. Carles has spent the last eight years working at ICL in Spain, where he was the President since 2018. He has been Board member in different companies and in Industrial and Employers Associations.