Christopher Wallace
Interim CEO
Mr. Wallace is a current member of the Company's Board, appointed as part of the reconstitution undertaken last year, as well as chair of the Company's Audit Committee. With a wealth of experience in leadership and finance, including in the critical minerals industry through other public corporate directorships, Mr. Wallace brings a renewed perspective and discipline of oversight during this transition period.
Mr. Wallace is Managing Director of CCC Investment Banking, a mid-market investment bank that is involved in mergers and acquisitions, financings, valuations and provides fairness and expert opinions. He is an experienced corporate director and currently sits on the board of GoviEx Uranium Inc., the fifth largest publicly-traded uranium company by resource size in the world. Mr. Wallace also serves as Chair of the audit committee and as a member of the human resources and compensation committee of the board of GoviEx Uranium Inc.
Brett Richards
Director & Advisor to the CEO and Board
Mr. Richards is an experienced and accomplished natural resources executive and corporate director with over 37 years of experience in senior and operational management, project development and corporate business development in the mining and metals industry. Mr. Richards is a Director of TSX-V listed Goldshore Resources Inc.;a Director at TSXV listed Midnight Sun Mining; the CEO and Chairman of Banro Corporation Ltd., and the principal at Richards Enterprises Inc. ("REI") - Richards Enterprises Inc. (rei.capital)
Martin Vydra
EVP, Strategy
Martin Vydra joined Nickel 28 after a 31 year career with Sherritt International Corporation, a leader in the mining, processing and refining of lateritic nickel and cobalt with operations in Canada, Cuba and Madagascar. Martin is widely recognized as an expert in nickel and cobalt extraction, processing and refining including the development and application of advanced technologies to maximize the recovery of valuable metals such as nickel and cobalt from a variety of feeds. While at Sherritt, Martin’s technical accomplishments spanned four continents and over 20 operations including postings in Australia where he was integrated in Murrin Murrin’s refinery start up; Finland for the design of Harjavalta’s nickel reduction circuit; and, in Chile where he oversaw the design, construction and commissioning of a major pressure oxidation operation.
From 2012 to 2017, Martin held the position of Senior Vice-President of Metals, where he successfully guided the division through one of the most challenging periods in the commodities cycle, while delivering production at near to bottom quartile costs. Martin played a key role in the assessment of Cuba’s operations at Moa Bay, which resulted in the formation of Sherritt’s Moa Joint Venture. From 2005 to 2007, Martin was responsible for engineering, maintenance and capital construction at Sherritt’s nickel refinery and was considered one of Sherritt’s top technical experts across global operations. Most recently, Martin served as Sherritt’s Senior Vice President, Commercial and Technologies, where he had oversight for the sales and marketing of nickel and cobalt, and marketing and commercialization of Sherritt’s proprietary technologies. Martin was instrumental in gaining access to numerous markets culminating with large-scale commercial plants built in China (zinc processing and coinage), Australia (HPAL), and in South America (pressure oxidation of sulphide ores).
In addition to his technical expertise, from 2008-2011, Martin held the position of Managing Director, Commercial Contracts and Marketing, with global responsibility for metal marketing which included finished products from Sherritt’s Ambatovy and Moa joint ventures. Over his career, Martin has been responsible for the sales and marketing of cobalt, nickel, fine cobalt powders and chemicals, thermal spray powders and coinage with end users ranging from aerospace to lithium-ion battery manufacturers.
Craig Lennon – CA, AGIA
Head of Asia Pacific
Craig Lennon is the Head of Asia Pacific for Cobalt 27 Capital Corp. a leading battery metals investment vehicle listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Craig was previously the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASX Listed Highlands Pacific Limited from 2016 to 2019 and prior to that Chief Financial Officer at Highlands for 9 years and with the company for 19 years in total. Highlands was taken over by Cobalt 27 in May 2019. Highlands was an exploration and development company with assets focused in Papua New Guinea that included the world class Ramu Nickel Cobalt mine. Craig has vast experience working in Papua New Guinea, working with Chinese partners and corporation transaction including joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, capital raisings and debt funding.
Preceding Highlands, Craig had worked for KMPG for five years in Australia gaining experience in industries including manufacturing, construction, retail, hospitality and mining. He also worked in the United Kingdom for two years in the manufacturing industry.
Craig is a Chartered Accountant, has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance with FINSIA and is a member of the Australian Institute of Directors.
