Board & Management

Dr Andrew Stewart is an experienced Economic Geologist with over 25 years of global resource industry experience across a diverse range of projects, countries, and commodities. Andrew has expertise in porphyry copper-gold and epithermal gold deposits and demonstrated track record of discovery through building and leading high-performance exploration teams. Andrew previously worked for Ivanhoe Mines. Oxiana and Vale, and during this time held various technical and management positions where he was involved in several green fields discoveries.

Andrew was formerly CEO & Executive Director of Xanadu Mines Ltd, through the acquisition and discovery of its flagship Kharmagtai copper and gold project and ultimately to the sale of the company to Zijin Mining & Bastion Mining in a 2025 off-market takeover valuing the company at $160 million.

Andrew holds a BSc (Hons) from Macquarie University and a PhD from the Centre of Ore Deposits and Exploration Studies at the University of Tasmania. He is a fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists and member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists.

Mr Peter Duerden is a Geologist and Mining Executive with over 25 years’ experience and a track record of developing successful exploration strategies with juniors and majors, including extensive expertise in the East Lachlan mineral systems of New South Wales.

Prior to joining Waratah, Peter held senior exploration roles for Newcrest Mining and Alkane Resources, where he was involved in the discovery of the Boda porphyry gold-copper discovery. He also served in corporate roles with Sky Metals (ASX:SKY)l Australian Gold and Copper (ASX:AGC) and Magmatic Resources (ASX:MAG).

He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and a Masters of Economic Geology. He is a Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) and an active member of both the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG).

Ms Naomi Scott has been working in the mining industry for over 15 years, with a particular focus on government relations, public relations, land access, governance, community consultation and international arbitration, including extensive work managing Waratah’s previous African portfolio. Naomi studied Law and International Relations in the UK and the US with specialisations in land law and human rights. She started her career in various intra-governmental organisations including the United Nations and the World Bank.

Naomi joined the private sector, supporting mining companies to identify risk and ensure compliance to international standards in operations and trade. Prior to joining Waratah Minerals, Naomi held a senior business development role in Anglo American, focusing on opportunities in emerging markets. The role included management of remote exploration teams, legal compliance, risk analysis (operational and sovereign) and M&A.

Dr Darryl Clark, a graduate of CODES UTAS, is principally an exploration geologist whose career has taken him throughout Australia, Central Asia and South East Asia for over 26 years. His responsibilities over the last 17 years have involved him in a diverse range of technological, political and cultural environments with unique challenges.

During previous corporate roles with both Vale and BHP Billiton, and in consulting roles including SRK, he has been responsible for business development strategies, designing multi-commodity exploration programs and the co-ordination of exploration teams to deliver discovery events. Darryl is currently the Senior Vice President Exploration & Resource Development for the Saudi Arabian Mining Company Maaden and a Non- Executive Director for Yukon Metals Corp (YMC:CSE).

Mr Van Vuuren is an experienced global executive with deep expertise in corporate strategy, transformation, mergers and acquisitions, international finance, and ESG-focused investment. He most recently served as Senior Vice President Corporate Development at the Tadawul-listed Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden). Prior senior executive roles, include Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer and Group Chief Financial Officer at Middle East Paper Company (MEPCO), the largest publicly listed paper and packaging business in the Middle East.

Johan’s extensive international experience spans NYSE, JSE, and Tadawul-listed organisations, sovereign wealth entities, and GCC family offices. His sectoral expertise covers mining, energy, petrochemicals, manufacturing, infrastructure, sustainability, and waste management. Having worked across the Americas, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, he brings a broad global perspective across enterprises ranging from startups to multi-billion-dollar corporations.