White Cliff Minerals’ incoming executive chairman and mining veteran Roderick McIllree has vowed to mark his new role by immediately focusing on the company’s exploration and business development programs.
As part of a wider management restructure, technical director Ed Mead will also transition to the role of executive director of exploration and business development and the pair will work together to build a global development business of critical metals in low-risk jurisdictions.
During the past two decades, Mr McIllree gained international experience in the mineral belts of Chile before returning to Australia's gold sector. After completing a graduate diploma in mineral economics at the Kalgoorlie School of Mines, he moved into the finance sector and worked as an analyst and advisor for broking houses active in Australian and international capital markets.
He was involved in the establishment of several successful international mining operations including Medusa Mining, Anvil Mining and Kingsrose Mining. He also served in senior roles in international exploration companies such as Greenland Minerals and Energy, Bluejay Mining and Elemental Minerals.
And he promised today to immediately begin the search for more value within the company.
New White Cliff Minerals executive chairman Roderick McIllree said: “I look forward to working with the team at White Cliff. I have known many of them for many years and I am truly excited by the prospect of working with a talented team that I trust. In terms of the path forward, we will focus on two fronts, firstly maximising short-term value from our large portfolio of highly prospective projects in Western Australia. Secondly, utilise our global networks to create a globally significant mining and exploration company for the long-term benefit of all stakeholders.”
Management says Mr McIllree brings a deep understanding of global finance, mergers and acquisitions, project acquisition and management and international logistics to White Cliff, in addition to both precious and base metals production.
“We are delighted to have secured someone of Rod’s credentials, after a global search for a Chairperson to strengthen the composition of the Board,” White Cliff Minerals director Ross Cotton said.
“His extensive corporate and technical experience gives him an excellent understanding of how to best monetise our very exciting projects. Rod is a strong presenter, experienced in cultivating and maintaining stakeholder relationships and leading from the front.”
The company is building a significant WA portfolio and recently added a dozen projects prospective for rare earths and iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits into its fold. The 12 operations cover 2562 square kilometres – from Jerramungup in the State’s Great Southern region, to Wanna Lakes near the South Australian border and up to the Three Rivers-Ashton Hills projects east of Carnarvon and south of Newman.
The acquisitions add to its established rare earths and lithium sites at the Hines Hill, Diemals and Lake Tay projects.
Just last month, White Cliff recorded significant extensions to its maiden rare earths discovery at Hines Hill near Merredin in WA’s Central Wheatbelt region, in addition to completing a sampling blitz across five other sites.
With its latest appointments, the company says it is now well positioned to enter a phase of growth with a highly sought-after and competent management team.
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By Michael Philipps
