Our People

Directors

Oliver Kleinhempel

Oliver Kleinhempel

Chair & Non-executive Director

BBA, M.Sc. (Mining)

Board Committees:
Audit and Risk

Oliver was appointed Non-executive Director on 12 August 2019 . Oliver has held various executive management positions in the project development, finance and commodity trading sectors, and with organisations including Outotec, Ferrostaal Group and CRONIMET. He is currently an executive director of CRONIMET Holding GmbH, Germany.

 

Stephen Layton

Stephen Layton

Non-executive Director

MSIAA

Board Committees:
Remuneration and Nomination

Stephen was appointed Non-executive Director on 14 November 2017 and has over 35 years’ experience in equity capital markets in the UK and Australia. Stephen has held both principal and director roles in his extensive career and has a depth of knowledge in capital raisings, ASX listings and corporate advisory matters. Stephen is currently also a non-executive director of ASX-listed companies, Mithril Silver and Gold Limited and Pursuit Minerals Limited.

 

Zhui Pei Yeo

Zhui Pei Yeo

Non-executive Director

BEng (Electrical and Electronic Eng.) Hons

Board Committees:
Audit and Risk, Remuneration and Nomination (Chair)

Zhui Pei was appointed Non-executive Director on 12 August 2019. Zhui Pei has held executive, management and supervisory roles and has a wide range of experience from project planning to resource management to commercial negotiations. He has been working at a leading system integrator in the telecommunications industry in South-East Asia and is currently also an executive director of a steel-product manufacturer.

 

Richard Morrow

Non-executive Director

FAusIMM

Board Committees:
Audit and Risk, Remuneration and Nomination

Richard has more than 30 years' experience as a sharebroker in Melbourne and in London, with a particular interest in the resources space. He is a long-serving steering committee member of the Melbourne Mining Club, Australia’s foremost networking organisation for the Australian resources sector.

Richard’s investment experience includes a role as director of Lowell Resources Fund Management, manager of the ASX-listed Lowell Resources Fund. He is a Fellow of the AusIMM and an honorary member of the AusIMM Investment Advisory Committee.

 

Stephen Weir

Non-executive Director

B. Eng. Hons (Mech), Grad Dip Applied Finance SIA, GAICD

Board Committees:
Audit and Risk (Chair), Remuneration and Nomination

Stephen was appointed Non-executive Director on 19 January 2024, representing Oaktree Capital Management. Stephen has an extensive background in mining and finance and was recently CEO of ASX listed company, Magnetite Mines Ltd. His prior experience including senior corporate advisory, project finance, and construction management roles provides valuable expertise in support of EQR's growth strategy.

Stephen is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the GBA Capital Advisory Board, a Sydney based resources specialist stockbroker.

 

Leadership

Kevin MacNeill

CEO

B Tech Mineral (Mineral Processing and Civil Construction); Dip Canadian Securities Course, Stockbroker’s Licence.

Kevin was appointed the Company’s full time CEO in 2020 after having been involved since 2019. Kevin’s +35-year career has been dedicated to the development and operation of resource projects, from discovery, through feasibility to full scale operation. He has held various senior executive appointments including President of Etruscan Diamonds (part of TSX-listed Etruscan Resources), Founder & Managing Director of Specialized Metallurgical Projects Pty Ltd which was majority acquired by the CRONIMET Group where he was the MD of CRONIMET Mining Processing SA Pty Ltd , focusing on the development of mining projects using sensor based sorting and fine gravity separation technologies for the re-purposing of historic waste dumps and development of low grade resources into economic projects. During his career, Kevin has had a strong project development history securing over $150M in equity and $200M in debt.

As CEO, Kevin is focused on the project outputs for both the Mt Carbine tungsten mine, Australia and the Barruecopardo tungsten mine, Spain operating through EQR's Spanish subsidiary, Saloro. Additionally, Kevin oversees the assessment of the Company’s project portfolio to develop a strategic roadmap that provides accretive value for the Company's developments as a leading Western tungsten producer.

 

Melanie Leydin

Melanie Leydin

Company Secretary

BBus (Acc. Corp Law) CA FGIA

Ms Leydin has over 25 years’ experience in the accounting profession and over 15 years as a Company Secretary with extensive experience in relation to Public Company responsibilities. Ms Leydin holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and Corporate Law, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and Registered Company Auditor. Ms Leydin graduated from Swinburne University in 1997, became a Chartered Accountant in 1999 and since February 2000 has been the Principal of Leydin Freyer Corp Pty Ltd. Following Leydin Freyer’s acquisition by Vistra Australia in November 2021, Ms Leydin now holds the position of Australian Managing Director of Vistra Australia which provides outsourced Company Secretarial and accounting services to public and private companies across a host of industries.

Tony Bainbridge

Chief Geologist

BSc (Geology and Chemistry), AusIMM

Tony is currently contracted as the Company’s Chief Geologist focusing on the investigations for Mt Carbine’s underground development of narrow high-grade mine to extract ‘King-Vein’ style mineralisation. Tony has extensive experience with projects in South Korea and Africa, including building, owning and managing a tungsten mining operation in South Korea.  His capabilities include assisting with feasibility studies, acquisition negotiations, mine exploration, mine development, strategic personnel placements, equipment sourcing, and day-to-day operations.  He is also currently a director of Asia Intercept Mining Ltd and AMB Exploration Pty Ltd.

Natasha Troughton

Finance & Administration Manager

BCom

Natasha is the Company’s long-standing stalwart employee, providing continuity since Carbine Tungsten days. Natasha co-ordinates all aspects of the company’s finance and administration matters, oversees the corporate services department and is an integral member of the corporate and site leadership team.

Kong Yong

Financial Controller

BBus (Accounting), CPA

Kong is a member of CPA Australia since 2002 with demonstrated experiences in audit assurance, risk management and financial controls in the equity capital market, banking and mining industry. Kong oversees the management and financial accounting, treasury and risk management functions at EQR.

 

For information on EQR's Saloro Management Team,
please visit the Saloro website.