Our Leadership

B.Com (Hons)

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 Atlas Iron Ltd from 2017 and led the company to its acquisition by Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd. Prior to Atlas Iron, he was Managing Director of a number of ASX listed companies in the mining and mining services sectors. Cliff 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) and Non-Executive Chairman of privately owned Pacific Energy Limited.

LLM Resources Law (Distinction) (Scotland), Dip. International Nuclear Law (Hons) (France), LLB (Adel), BA (Adel), GDLP, FGIA, GAICD

Melissa Holzberger was appointed Non-Executive Director in May 2021.

Melissa is in an experienced Independent Non-Executive Director and Mining Lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in the international energy and resources sector. She brings a deep understanding of mining projects and operations, including uranium mining, having previously worked with BHP and Rio Tinto. Her significant experience extends to highly regulated industries, international commodity trade and logistics, corporate ethics, risk and compliance oversight, nuclear and uranium law, together with a focus on sustainability, environment, social and governance matters. She was awarded the SA Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year in 2006 which recognised her leadership in the energy, resources and business community.

Melissa is currently a Non-Executive Director of Argo Investments Limited, a Non-Executive Director of Intermodal Terminal Company and is a member of the Federal Government’s Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council. She is a former director of Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX).

BBus

Peter Main was appointed Non-Executive Director in December 2019.

Peter is a mining and finance professional with extensive experience spanning more than 35 years. During that time, he has developed an extensive working knowledge in financial markets centred around the mining sector, developing a wealth of industry experience.

During his career, Peter spent 13 years in a variety of roles in the mining industry through to CEO in the later years of a TSX-V listed mining company. He spent more than 20 years in mining finance, more recently advising and managing the development of gold enterprises in the Northern Territory and Queensland. Peter primarily worked for investment banks, including 11 years managing the Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) Australian equity sales and trading business and co-managing RBC’s regional business, and six years at Hartley Poynton as a mining analyst. Before that, he spent nine years in full time service in the Australian Army.

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).

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.

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 the New Zealand Aluminium Smelters 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.

BSc, (Geol), Member AIG

Jess Oram joined Paladin in June 2021.

Jess is an experienced exploration geologist with 30 years’ experience in mineral exploration and management across a variety of commodities, companies and countries. He has significant experience in uranium exploration and has been involved in mineral discovery, resource delineation and expansion and mining feasibility studies.

Jess’ previous roles include Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director of Cauldron Energy Ltd, GM Exploration of Axiom Mining Limited, Exploration Manager of Polymetals Mining Limited, and Chief Geologist – Exploration of Heathgate Resources / Quasar Resources.

Jess is a Non-Executive Director of Polymetals Resources Limited (ASX:POL).

LLB, BIur(Juris), BCom

Johan Roux joined Langer Heinrich in 2017.

Johan is a legal professional with over 30 years’ experience in the management of corporate labour, mining, commercial, human resources and legal compliance laws in Namibia and South Africa, largely in the Mining and Oil & Gas sectors.

Prior to joining Langer Heinrich, Johan was a partner of a legal firm in Namibia.

BBusAdm, AGIA ACG

Paula Raffo joined Paladin in August 2023.

Paula has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the investor relations and corporate governance fields after having worked in these areas for 20 years in Australia and Brazil.

Paula started her IR career in Brazil where she worked for two large listed companies, Gerdau and SulAmerica. Following her relocation to Australia in 2012, she joined former gold mining company, Beadell Resources, as IR and Corporate Governance Executive. Most recently, she worked at Tivan where she held senior roles in investor relations and corporate governance.