Cédric Simonet
Chief Executive Officer
Cédric Simonet holds a PhD in Geology and has 25 years’ experience exploring, developing and mining mineral deposits in Africa and in France. He was Head Geologist and Open Pit Manager at SOGEREM fluorspar mine (Alcan, France) and Africa Region Manager with IGE Resources AB. He is a co-founder of Akili Minerals Services, a Nairobi based exploration services company, and has been involved in several exploration projects on REE-carbonatites in Kenya including Ruri, Homa Mountain, Buru and Mrima. He is also a former Chairman of the Kenya Chamber of Mines, and well experienced in operating in this and many other African countries.
Cédric is a member of the European Geologists Federation (Eur Geol no 739). He qualifies to act as a Competent Person (JORC) and as a Qualified Person (NI43-101) on REE-carbonatite exploration projects.
Louise Adrian
Chief Financial Officer
Louise Adrian, has worked as Altona’s accountant for 2 years helping to strengthen both the accounting and corporate governance reporting. She graduated from Oxford University with an MA in Theology and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She started her career at Arthur Andersen in London where she gained experience with global energy companies, auditing accounts, reviewing financial and budgetary controls, and critiquing operational strategies. Since 2020 Louise has been a consultant for Orana Corporate LLP (“Orana”), a corporate advisory and services practice, where she has worked with established and newly listed companies, creating corporate governance protocols, producing annual report and accounts, group consolidations and cash flow analysis. Louise also holds a PGCE in secondary education and is a Finance Trustee for a Multi Academy Trust where she has helped to establish a framework for good governance and risk management.
Martin Wood
Non-Executive Chairman
Martin is the founder and Managing Director of Vicarage Capital, an FCA registered, full service brokerage house which provides assistance to junior and mid-cap resources companies. Martin established Vicarage Capital in 2003 and has advised many companies on their AIM listings and long-term mining strategies.
Martin was the CEO of ASX listed, Kogi Iron Limited between 2017 and 2019, where he secured a community development agreement with key stakeholders, arranged indicative offers for full bank debt-based project financing, as well as completing various on-going milestones, including a Scoping Study and metallurgical test work, as part of the definitive feasibility study.
Martin is Non-Executive Director of Royal Helium Limited, a Canadian listed critical resource company currently in the process of dual listing in London. Martin was specifically asked to join to add corporate governance and U.K. listed company board experience.
Between 1993 and 2003, Martin worked in corporate finance at NM Rothchild & Sons, Standard Bank, London and Benfield Advisory, providing services to resources companies. Martin has an MBA from Exeter University which he gained in 1993.
Audrey Mothupi
Non-Executive Director
Audrey Mothupi aged 50, is CEO of South African based SystemicLogic Group, a global financial innovation, data and technology disruptor, specialising in emergent business models. Her extensive knowledge of the African markets enables her company to deliver tailor-made solutions, providing strategic direction and strong corporate relationships. Prior to joining SystemicLogic, Audrey was head of inclusive banking at Standard Bank Group, where her division in 2013 was awarded the BAI-Finacle Global Banking Innovation Award for innovation in societal and community impact.
Audrey serves as independent Non-Executive Director on the boards of Pick ‘n Pay, Life Healthcare Group and Arden Capital, all in South Africa. She is the Chairperson of Roedean School (SA) and was Chairperson of Orange Babies of South Africa, as well as sitting on the boards of Nordic Female Business Angel Network and the Numeric Board of South Africa. Audrey is a Fellow of the African Leadership initiative, a member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) and has been named one of Africa’s 1,000 most powerful women. Audrey has over 18 years of business experience.
Simon Charles
Non-Executive Director
Simon is a solicitor and is a senior partner at City solicitors Marriott Harrison LLP, having joined the firm in 2004. He specialises in company law, with a particular emphasis on acquisitions and disposals, directors’ duties, equity and debt fundraises and shareholders’ rights, in each case in relation to private and public companies. He has previously worked at Dechert LLP and a US law firm in the City. Immediately prior to joining Marriott Harrison LLP he spent a number of years in the corporate finance department of Numis Securities Limited where he advised private and public companies on debt and equity fundraises, acquisitions and restructurings.
Christian Taylor-Wilkinson
Business Development
Christian has been closely associated with Altona since 2014, firstly advising the Company on its investor relation matter and latterly as its Chief Executive. He has spent his professional career working in the City and has over 28 years’ experience advising and working alongside companies of differing sizes and across many sectors. Christian was instrumental in assisting Altona in its move away from being a coal mining company to one which engaged in the Rare Earth Elements sector. His background spans investment banking (as a corporate broker at UBS), investor relations and financial PR and more recently, as a board director and a businessman. He has a broad perspective of the capital markets landscape, as well as a deep understanding of the needs of businesses and their shareholders.
Christian served as a Director of Altona from March 2019 until his resignation as Chief Executive in June 2023.
Gavin Beer
Consultant Metallurgist
Gavin Beer is a metallurgist with more than 30 years’ experience in technical and operational roles and has spent the past 13 years exclusively working within the Rare Earth and energy materials sector. He has been employed by or has consulted to over 12 Rare Earth companies including Arafura Resources, Peak Resources, Hastings Technology Metals and Pensana Metals. He is presently engaged by Neometals in the role of General Manager Metallurgy and has been retained by RareX and Hexagon Resources as a Technical Advisor.
Gavin is a Member and Chartered professional of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He is recognised as a Competent Person for JORC and as a Qualified Person for NI 43-101 with respect to his metallurgical expertise and is globally recognised as a leading metallurgical expert in the rare earth industry.