Our Leadership
Board of Directors
Non-Executive Chairman Cliff Lawrenson
B.Com (Hons), FGIA
Cliff Lawrenson was appointed Non-Executive Chairman in October 2019.
Cliff is an experienced non-executive director having served on or chaired public and private companies for over 15 years after a successful career in executive leadership, including in investment banking. Cliff holds postgraduate qualifications in commerce and finance, and has worked extensively in the resources and energy sectors across the world. He has a successful track record of leading strategic direction in companies and executing complex corporate transactions.
Cliff was Managing Director of a number of ASX listed companies in the mining and mining services sectors during his career. He was a senior executive of CMS Energy Corporation in the United States of America and Singapore and this was preceded by an investment banking career.
Cliff is currently Non-Executive Director of Australian Vanadium Limited (ASX:AVL).
Non-Executive Director Lesley Adams
GAICD, CIPD
Lesley Adams was appointed Non-Executive Director in May 2023.
Lesley has more than thirty years of experience within the global resources industry across multiple roles including Human Resources, Health & Safety, Joint Venture Management and Indigenous and Corporate Affairs. Lesley’s experience includes leadership roles in global technology, engineering services and major resource companies.
Previously, Lesley was Executive General Manager at Roy Hill where she was responsible for implementing and supporting structural change as the organisation transitioned to a sustainable operating environment. Her other senior roles include Group Executive HR/Continuous Improvement at Beach Energy, Group Executive Corporate Services at Quadrant Energy and General Manager of Human Resources for Santos Limited.
Lesley is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Non-Executive Director Michele Buchignani
J.D (UofT), BA (Hons.) (UBC), ICD.D (Institute of Corporate Directors)
Michele Buchignani was appointed Non-Executive Director in June 2025.
Michele is an experienced non-executive director who has extensive senior level expertise in Canada and globally in law, finance, private equity, strategy, executive compensation, compliance and risk management. In her executive career, Michele held senior roles with CIBC World Markets, Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan and major law firms in Canada and Australia.
Michele’s Board and advisory roles have covered a diverse range of public, private and not-for-profit organisations. She currently sits on the Board of TSX Trust Company, a federally regulated trust company and TSX/Nasdaq-listed Westport Fuel Systems Inc.
Non-Executive Director Jon Hronsky OAM
BAppSci, PhD
Dr Jon Hronsky was appointed Non-Executive Director in March 2023.
Jon has more than thirty-five years of experience in the global mineral exploration industry, primarily focused on project generation, technical innovation and exploration strategy development. He has worked across a diverse range of commodities and geographies. His targeting work led to the discovery of the West Musgrave nickel sulfide province in Western Australia. Jon’s experience includes leadership roles in both major mining and junior mining companies, and he has consulted globally for the last 18 years. In January 2019 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the mining industry.
Jon is one of the Principals at Western Mining Services, a global geological consultancy and also an Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Exploration Targeting at UWA. He is also a Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Encounter Resources (ASX: ENR), Caspin Resources (ASX: CPN), Strickland Metals Limited (ASX: STK) and a General Partner – Global Targeting and Research at Ibaera Capital. He is also a Director of unlisted company Azumah Resources Ghana. Previously, Jon was Manager-Strategy & Generative Services for BHP Billiton Mineral Exploration and was Global Geoscience Leader for WMC Resources Ltd.
Non-Executive Director Peter Main
BBus
Peter Main was appointed Non-Executive Director in December 2019.
Peter Main is a highly experienced mining and finance professional with over 35 years in the resources and capital markets sectors. For the past 17 years, he has held senior leadership roles in the mining industry, including the last five years as Managing Director of Tennant Mining, where he led the successful development and commercialisation of the Tennant Creek Goldfield in the Northern Territory.
Earlier in his career, Peter spent nearly two decades in investment banking, including 11 years with the Royal Bank of Canada, where he managed its Australian equity sales and trading business and led its regional institutional equities division. His combined expertise in project development, capital markets, and corporate strategy positions him uniquely at the intersection of mining operations and financial markets.
Non-Executive Director Anne Templeman-Jones
CA, FAICD, Masters in Risk Management (UNSW), Executive MBA (UNSW) and BCom (UWA)
Anne Templeman-Jones was appointed Non-Executive Director in May 2025.
Anne commenced her career in a variety of audit and tax roles with PWC internationally and within Australia, followed by a career in institutional, corporate and private banking including senior positions with the Bank of Singapore, Westpac Banking Corporation Limited and the Australia New Zealand Banking Corporation Limited.
Transitioning to a professional director career in 2013, Anne is an experienced Chair and listed company director with substantial strategy, financial, operational risk, regulatory and governance experience in a variety of industry sectors. Energy (mining, chemicals, oil & gas and renewables), banking, payments and wealth management, retail and consumer goods, health, automotive and manufacturing.
Anne has experience with exposure to sectors managing transformation on ESG and changing business models with new technologies, with a focus on transformation with value creation operational risk, Ai and cyber security. Anne brings insights to addressing the complexities of AI technologies and ensuring organisations implement resilience against cyber threats. Her proficiency in industry standards, including NIST and Essential 8, demonstrates her commitment to effective cyber security management and internal control monitoring.
Anne is currently a Non-Executive Director of Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT), MAC Copper Limited (ASX: MAC), NSW Treasury Corporation Pty Ltd, The Trifork AG Group and Supply Nation Ptd Ltd. She is also an Advisory Board Chair of Erilyan Construction.
Non-Executive Director Peter Watson
BEng (Hons), FIEAust, GAICD, RPEQ
Peter Watson was appointed Non-Executive Director in December 2019.
Peter is a chemical engineer with more than 35 years’ experience in the global resources sector across senior technical, project, and management roles as well as corporate experience in running ASX listed companies. His experience includes project development, project delivery, asset optimisation and mining facilities operations across multiple commodities and global jurisdictions, including Africa.
Peter has held technical and senior executive roles with a number of companies, culminating in his appointment as the MD & CEO of Sedgman Limited. He has also held a number of senior and directorship roles at Strandline Resources Ltd, Sedgman Limited, New Century Resources, Resource Generation and EvacGroup, bringing significant board level experience at both the public and wholly owned company level, particularity on matters covering safety, governance, financial reporting, risk management, strategy and leadership.
Peter is currently a Non-Executive Director at Australian Vanadium Limited (ASX:AVL).
Senior Management
Chief Executive Officer Ian Purdy
BCom, FCA, FAICD
Ian Purdy joined Paladin in February 2020.
Ian is a highly respected executive with more than three decades’ experience within Australian and international natural resources companies.
In his time as a CEO and CFO of listed and private companies, Ian has delivered significant shareholder value through managing and optimising operations, delivering large projects and executing on business improvements and asset sales.
Ian was previously the CFO of Quadrant Energy, Managing Director and CEO of Mirabela Nickel, Managing Director of Norilsk Nickel Australia, Director of Finance and Strategy of LionOre Australia, and has held senior finance and commercial roles at North Limited and WMC Limited.
Chief Financial Officer Anna Sudlow
BCom, CPA, MBA, AICD
Anna Sudlow joined Paladin in July 2019.
Anna is a highly qualified CFO with more than 20 years of experience in commercial and corporate roles across the energy and resources sectors with particular experience in capital markets, corporate transactions and business transformation.
Anna started her career at Woodside Energy, progressing into senior functional roles across treasury and corporate strategy. Thereafter, she was the Commercial & IR Manager of Tap Oil and, prior to joining Paladin, Anna was the CFO at Transborders Energy.
Chief Operating Officer Paul Hemburrow
BSc, MBA, GAICD
Paul Hemburrow joined Paladin in February 2023.
Paul is a senior operations executive with over 30 years’ experience in the resource industry, covering multiple commodities in mining, processing, port operations and rail in complex operating environments.
Paul spent 17 years with Rio Tinto, where he held several positions, from Manager Port Operations to General Manager (GM) of New Zealand Aluminium Smelter Limited. After that, he worked for BHP for almost 8 years, as GM of Transformation, GM of the Blackwater Mine, GM of the Yandi Mine and, lastly, as the GM of Area C. Most recently, he was the GM of Aurizon’s Central Queensland Coal Network.
Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary Melanie Williams
LLB (UWA), GCertCorpMgt, GAICD
Melanie Williams joined Paladin in February 2025.
Melanie is an experienced corporate and resources lawyer and Company Secretary, with 30 years of experience.
Melanie has substantial international and corporate governance experience, gained through working across many jurisdictions and cultures. Most recently she held several senior positions at South 32 including VP Legal from 2020 and Company Secretary. Before that Melanie was General Counsel and Company Secretary at Tap Oil, Counsel with an international law firm based in Singapore and held legal and financial roles with Qatar Petroleum and Woodside Petroleum.
Chief Commercial Officer Alex Rybak
BEc, FIAA, ASIA
Alex Rybak joined Paladin in July 2021.
Alex has over 20 years of experience across a range of sectors including metals & mining, oil & gas, healthcare and financial services. He has significant international experience with public, private and State-owned enterprises. Alex has held a range of roles in corporates, investment banking and actuarial consulting.
Alex’s previous roles include General Manager, M&A at Quadrant Energy (acquired by Santos Limited), General Manager, M&A at St John of God Healthcare, Deputy Director of Business Development at Rosneft, Project Director, M&A at TNK-BP, amongst others.