The Board
Greg Boulton
Non-Executive Chairman
BA (Accounting), FCA, FCPA, FAICD
Greg Boulton has extensive commercial and resource sector experience spanning over 40 years as CEO and Non-Executive Director for many Public and Private Companies. He has broad experience in corporate governance, capital raisings, acquisitions and commercial negotiations. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Institute of Chartered Accountants and CPA Australia. Mr Boulton is currently a Director of Statewide Superannuation Fund, Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber Limited and various Private Companies based in South Australia.
BA (Accounting), FCA, FCPA, FAICD
Greg Boulton has extensive commercial and resource sector experience spanning over 40 years as CEO and Non-Executive Director for many Public and Private Companies. He has broad experience in corporate governance, capital raisings, acquisitions and commercial negotiations. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Institute of Chartered Accountants and CPA Australia. Mr Boulton is currently a Director of Statewide Superannuation Fund, Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber Limited and various Private Companies based in South Australia.
Simon Mitchell
Managing Director
BSc (Hons) Geol, MAusIMM, GAICD,MSEG
Simon Mitchell is a geologist and finance executive with 30 years of resources industry experience in technical and corporate roles including 10 years gold exploration and mine development experience with Normandy NFM, RGC, Goldfields and Aurora Gold in countries as diverse as Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Mr Mitchell worked for 6 years at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, predominantly in Project Finance, and more than 6 years with Toro Energy as General Manager of Business Development where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and the engagement of investors worldwide. Previously Mr. Mitchell was Managing Director of Asiatic Gold Ltd, an unlisted public company with gold exploration projects in South Korea, assets that were recently acquired by Southern Gold.
BSc (Hons) Geol, MAusIMM, GAICD,MSEG
Simon Mitchell is a geologist and finance executive with over 30 years of resources industry experience in technical and corporate roles including 10 years gold exploration and mine development experience with Normandy NFM, RGC, Goldfields and Aurora Gold in countries as diverse as Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Mr Mitchell worked for 6 years at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, predominantly in Project Finance, and more than 6 years with Toro Energy as General Manager of Business Development where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and the engagement of investors worldwide. Previously Mr. Mitchell was Managing Director of Asiatic Gold Ltd, an unlisted public company with gold exploration projects in South Korea, assets that were recently acquired by Southern Gold.
Peter Bamford
Non-Executive Director
BSc (Eng) Mining, ARSM, MAICD, FAusIMM
Peter Bamford has a career spanning more than 40 years in the construction and mining industries, principally in underground mining operations as a mining engineer, mine manager and as a corporate executive. Mr Bamford’s experience includes senior appointments with Mount Isa Mines, Metana/Gold Mines of Australia, Dominion Mining (subsequently Kingsgate Consolidation) and Doray Minerals, among others. Mr Bamford has also served on several boards during the last 25 years, including Maiden Gold, Heron Resources and Dominion Mining. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
BSc (Eng) Mining, ARSM, MAICD, FAusIMM
Peter Bamford has a career spanning more than 40 years in the construction and mining industries, principally in underground mining operations as a mining engineer, mine manager and as a corporate executive. Mr Bamford’s experience includes senior appointments with Mount Isa Mines, Metana/Gold Mines of Australia, Dominion Mining (subsequently Kingsgate Consolidation) and Doray Minerals, among others. Mr Bamford has also served on several boards during the last 25 years, including Maiden Gold, Heron Resources and Dominion Mining. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Beejay Kim
Executive Director
Bong Joo (Beejay) Kim is a professional project manager who has had a long career with Samsung C&T Corporation and Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company over 30 years. As a senior executive for Samsung C&T, Mr. Kim led projects in several countries and regions including the Middle East, Australia and South East Asia. This includes more recent positions of Vice President and Regional Representative of Saudi Arabia LLC and Head of MENA Regional Headquarters in the UAE for Samsung C&T. Mr. Kim's work has been in leading construction of infrastructure in various country includes 2 years in Australia where he set up Samsung C&T's Australian office and was heavily involved in several project tenders including the successful winning of a major iron ore infrastructure project in Western Australia. Mr Kim has formal qualifications in Business Administration, including leadership program's at UC Berkley and Cornell University. He completed an MBA through Hyundai's Engineering and Construction company business school.
Bong Joo (Beejay) Kim is a professional project manager who has had a long career with Samsung C&T Corporation and Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company over 30 years. As a senior executive for Samsung C&T, Mr. Kim led projects in several countries and regions including the Middle East, Australia and South East Asia. This includes more recent positions of Vice President and Regional Representative of Saudi Arabia LLC and Head of MENA Regional Headquarters in the UAE for Samsung C&T. Mr. Kim's work has been in leading construction of infrastructure in various country includes 2 years in Australia where he set up Samsung C&T's Australian office and was heavily involved in several project tenders including the successful winning of a major iron ore infrastructure project in Western Australia. Mr Kim has formal qualifications in Business Administration, including leadership program's at UC Berkley and Cornell University. He completed an MBA through Hyundai's Engineering and Construction company business school.
Douglas Kirwin
Non-Executive Director
MSc, FSEG, FAIG
Doug Kirwin is an Australian geologist with over 45 years of international experience. His exploration teams have been responsible for several well-known mineral discoveries which are now being mined, the most notable being the Hugo Dummett ore body at the giant Oyu Tolgoi gold copper deposit in Mongolia developed by Rio Tinto. He was executive vice president of Ivanhoe Mines from 1995 to 2012 during which time Mr Kirwin's team was responsible for the epithermal gold-silver discoveries in South Korea (Eunsan, Moisan and Gasado Island, all of which became mines) among others. Mr Kirwin has been keen to more actively explore South Korea ever since.
Besides Hugo Dummett and the South Korean discoveries, Mr Kirwin's exploration group was responsible for the discovery of the Merlin Mo-Re deposit in Australia, the Ulugtau Au project in Kyrgyz Republic and several gold discoveries such as Hill 217 in China and Kerta, Jelai and Seruyung in Indonesia.
Mr Kirwin is and currently an independent consulting geologist. He has an MSc in mineral exploration from James Cook University where he is currently an adjunct professor of geology and he was President of the Society of Economic Geologists in 2019.
MSc, FSEG, FAIG
Doug Kirwin is an Australian geologist with over 45 years of international experience. His exploration teams have been responsible for several well-known mineral discoveries which are now being mined, the most notable being the Hugo Dummett ore body at the giant Oyu Tolgoi gold copper deposit in Mongolia developed by Rio Tinto. He was executive vice president of Ivanhoe Mines from 1995 to 2012 during which time Mr Kirwin's team was responsible for the epithermal gold-silver discoveries in South Korea (Eunsan, Moisan and Gasado Island, all of which became mines) among others. Mr Kirwin has been keen to more actively explore South Korea ever since.
Besides Hugo Dummett and the South Korean discoveries, Mr Kirwin's exploration group was responsible for the discovery of the Merlin Mo-Re deposit in Australia, the Ulugtau Au project in Kyrgyz Republic and several gold discoveries such as Hill 217 in China and Kerta, Jelai and Seruyung in Indonesia.
Mr Kirwin is and currently an independent consulting geologist. He has an MSc in mineral exploration from James Cook University where he is currently an adjunct professor of geology and he was President of the Society of Economic Geologists in 2019.
Michael McNeilly
Non-Executive Director
BA (International Economics)
Michael McNeilly is currently the CEO of AIM listed Metal Tiger Plc. Mr McNeilly has extensive experience in listed companies and is currently Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Cobre Limited. He sits on several private company boards within the Metal Tiger group.
Past board appointments include MOD Resources Ltd (up to acquisition by Sandfire in November 2019), Metal Capital Ltd (until November 2018), Greatland Gold Plc (until October 2017) and Connemara Mining Plc (until November 2019), among others. Mr McNeilly also has a deep understanding of the equity capital markets having worked at broking house Arden Partners Plc and Allenby Capital Ltd where he was part of their corporate finance teams during 2011-2015.
Mr McNeilly studied Biology at Imperial College London and has a BA in International Economics at the American University of Paris. He is fluent in French.
BA (International Economics)
Michael McNeilly is currently the CEO of AIM listed Metal Tiger Plc. Mr McNeilly has extensive experience in listed companies and is currently Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Cobre Limited. He sits on several private company boards within the Metal Tiger group.
Past board appointments include MOD Resources Ltd (up to acquisition by Sandfire in November 2019), Metal Capital Ltd (until November 2018), Greatland Gold Plc (until October 2017) and Connemara Mining Plc (until November 2019), among others. Mr McNeillyalso has a deep understanding of the equity capital markets having worked at broking house Arden Partners Plc and Allenby Capital Ltd where he was part of their corporate finance teams during 2011-2015.
Mr McNeilly studied Biology at Imperial College London and has a BA in International Economics at the American University of Paris. He is fluent in French.
Our Team
Robert Smillie
Exploration Manager
MBA MSc FSEG MAusIMM
Rob Smillie leads our exploration team based out of our South Korean office. He is a New Zealand Geologist with over 30 years' experience in precious metals exploration throughout Australasia and the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Smillie has worked with a number of companies in technical and senior leadership roles, including Ok Tedi Mining Ltd in Papua New Guinea, Oceana Gold in Philippines & New Zealand, Calibre Mining in New South Wales and the Solomon Islands, PT Masmindo Mining in Indonesia, and Western Mining Ltd at their St Ives mining operations in Western Australia. Prior to joining Southern Gold, Mr Smillie led the Earth resources research & commercial portfolios at GNS Science Ltd, New Zealand's Geological Survey.
MBA MSc FSEG MAusIMM
Rob Smillie leads our exploration team based out of our South Korean office. He is a New Zealand Geologist with over 30 years' experience in precious metals exploration throughout Australasia and the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Smillie has worked with a number of companies in technical and senior leadership roles, including Ok Tedi Mining Ltd in Papua New Guinea, Oceana Gold in Philippines & New Zealand, Calibre Mining in New South Wales and the Solomon Islands, PT Masmindo Mining in Indonesia, and Western Mining Ltd at their St Ives mining operations in Western Australia. Prior to joining Southern Gold, Mr Smillie led the Earth resources research & commercial portfolios at GNS Science Ltd, New Zealand's Geological Survey.
Dan Hill
Company Secretary
MBA, Mapp Fin, CA, F Fin, CSA (cert)
Dan Hill has over 15 years’ experience in finance. With a background in accounting practice, he has also held finance roles at Diageo PLC, Hess Oil & Gas Inc and Grosvenor Estates. Mr Hill also currently serves as Company Secretary on LBT Innovations Ltd (ASX: LBT) and is a director of a number of private companies.
MBA, Mapp Fin, CA, F Fin, CSA (cert)
Dan Hill has over 15 years’ experience in finance. With a background in accounting practice, he has also held finance roles at Diageo PLC, Hess Oil & Gas Inc and Grosvenor Estates. Mr Hill also currently serves as Company Secretary on LBT Innovations Ltd (ASX: LBT) and is a director of a number of private companies.
Ray Ridge
Chief Financial Officer
BA (Acc), CA, GIA (cert)
Ray Ridge is a chartered accountant with over 20 years accounting experience; he has held senior management positions in finance, compliance and commerce across a range of industries. He is currently CFO and Company Secretary for dual ASX- and AIM-listed Thor Mining PLC as well as CFO for ASX-listed Southern Gold Ltd. Mr. Ridge has broad corporate experience including previous appointments as General Manager Commercial & Operations with the Utilities, Government and Power Business Group of Parsons Brinckerhoff, CFO of the Merchandise Division of Elders Ltd and Senior Audit Manager at Arthur Andersen.
BA (Acc), CA, GIA (cert)
Ray Ridge is a chartered accountant with over 20 years accounting experience; he has held senior management positions in finance, compliance and commerce across a range of industries. He is currently CFO and Company Secretary for dual ASX- and AIM-listed Thor Mining PLC as well as CFO for ASX-listed Southern Gold Ltd. Mr. Ridge has broad corporate experience including previous appointments as General Manager Commercial & Operations with the Utilities, Government and Power Business Group of Parsons Brinckerhoff, CFO of the Merchandise Division of Elders Ltd and Senior Audit Manager at Arthur Andersen.