Board and Management

Mr Patrick Walta

Executive Chairman

Mr Walta is a qualified metallurgist and mineral economist with experience across both technical and commercial roles within the mining and water treatment industries. In 2017 Patrick founded New Century Resources Ltd and became Managing Director following the successful acquisition of the Century Zinc Mine in Queensland. Over the proceeding five years he led the growth of the Company though feasibility, mine restart, commissioning and steady state operations. Through this process, the Century Mine became the 13th largest zinc producer in the world. In 2023, New Century was acquired by the multinational PGM-gold producer Sibanye-Stillwater Ltd.

Mr Walta is a graduate of Melbourne University with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Science in addition to postgraduate studies including an MBA, Masters of Science (Mineral Economics), Diploma of Project Management, and the AICD’s Company Directors Course. He has also been awarded the MNN Emerging Leader of the Year Award (2018) and the Young Achiever of the Year award (2015) at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards.

Mr Justin Tremain

Non-Executive Director

Mr Tremain is an experienced company director with extensive expertise across the mineral resources sector. His experience covers equity capital markets and promotion, resource project acquisition, exploration and resource delineation, feasibility studies and project development financing. He is currently Managing Director of West African gold explorer Turaco Gold Limited where he was appointed in December 2020. He is also Non-Executive Director of Caspin Resources Limited, which listed on the ASX in November 2020. Prior to becoming involved in the management of ASX listed resource companies from early 2010, Justin had over 10 years investment banking experience in the metals and mining sector with NM Rothschild & Sons, Investec and Macquarie Bank.

Mr John Carr

Non-Executive Director

Mr Carr is an entrepreneur, executive and chemical engineer and notably was co-founder of New Century Resources, which acquired and restarted the Century Zinc Mine in Queensland, Australia.

As Chief Development Officer, he was responsible for the development of the large-scale brownfield base metal mine re-start and expansion at Century, now a top-15 global zinc producer and Australia’s largest tailings reprocessing operation. Mr Carr also led the acquisition of the Mt Lyell Copper Mine from Vedanta Resources. In 2023, New Century was acquired by multinational PGM and gold producer, Sibanye Stillwater Ltd.

Mr Sam Rodda

Non-Executive Director

Mr Rodda’s appointment to the Board of Future Metals provides additional capacity and competence in the planned development of future operations at Panton. Mr Rodda has broad experience within technical and commercial roles within the mining industry. Notably, was previously Managing Director of the ASX listed PGM developer Podium Minerals Limited and has held significant operational roles at number of large underground and open pit mining operations in Australia and internationally, including at MMG limited, where he held the position of General Manager Operations and Technical Excellence. Sam has also held senior roles within WMC and BHP Billiton.

Mr Tom O’Rourke

Company Secretary & CFO

Mr O’Rourke is a qualified chartered accountant, who provides company secretarial and financial services to the Company under a consulting agreement with Grange Consulting Group.

Mr Andrew Shepherd

GM – Project Development

Mr Shepherd is a qualified mining professional with a career spanning over 25 years across the mining sector in Australia and Asia. Skilled in the planning, development and implementation of complex, global, multi-discipline mining projects.

He has an established strength in prefeasibility and feasibility studies, Life of Mine planning, commercial negotiations, business analysis and infrastructure construction. Coverage includes both underground and surface mining, nickel, gold, uranium, and iron ore.

Mr Shepherd is a committed mentor and leader of high-performance teams across a range of operational, technical and commercial disciplines.

Ms Barbara Duggan

Principal Geologist

Ms Duggan is a geologist with 20 years’ experience in mineral exploration from project generation to advanced project stage, encompassing targeting studies, project management and evaluation. She has extensive experience in Australia and Canada with a focus on nickel sulphide and magmatic hydrothermal mineral systems. Barbara specialises in integrated mineral systems targeting at a district to deposit scale. She previously worked for Peak Minerals and has held positions at CSA, Panoramic Resources, Emmerson Resources, BHP Ni West and Inco Exploration. Barbara completed her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada and her Master’s Degree in Economic Geology at the University of Western Australia.