Global Lithium Resources Ltd (ASX:GL1) has appointed 35-year resource industry veteran Geoff Jones as non-executive chair to lead the company into its next phase of growth.
Warrick Hazeldine, chair of GL1’s initial public offering, has stepped down and will remain as a non-executive director of the company.
Since its listing two years ago, GL1 has achieved a number of significant milestones, including the recent launch of an ambitious 70,000-metre drilling campaign across its Manna Lithium Project and Marble Bar Lithium Project in Western Australia.
Technical expertise
“In Geoff, we have appointed an experienced mining professional who has the technical background of delivering major mining projects in Western Australia, which will be particularly valued as we advance the Manna Lithium Project,” GL1 managing director Ron Mitchell said.
“We look forward to welcoming Geoff to the company and having his contribution as Global Lithium progresses the Manna Lithium Project through its DFS and beyond.
“The board of Global Lithium would like to thank Warrick for his significant contribution, which has been integral to the rapid growth of the company.
“As chair, Warrick has overseen Global Lithium’s incredible journey from a private company heading into our initial public offering, to listing on the ASX in May 2021 and now cementing a well-capitalised position with a growing team and resource base.”
Right time
In thanking the board, shareholders, advisors and other stakeholders, Hazeldine added that Jones’ appointment was timely to showcase Manna’s potential as a globally competitive lithium mine as well as to advance Marble Bar’s exploration strategy.
“Following GL1’s two-year anniversary on the ASX, now is the right time to hand over the reins to someone with Geoff’s experience,” he said.
“It is an exciting time, of unprecedented activity, to be at the forefront of the global energy transition. Importantly, WA’s hard rock lithium sector is a key enabler of this energy transition.
“I look forward to maintaining an active role on the GL1 board and transferring the GL1 knowledge and relationships to Geoff over time.”
Exciting time
Jones is a civil engineer with more than three decades of experience in engineering, project delivery and management in minerals processing and civil engineering in Australia, Ghana and Tanzania.
“I am delighted to be joining Global Lithium at this exciting time in the company’s evolution,” he said.
“I am particularly excited with Global Lithium’s upcoming more than 50,000-metre exploration program at Manna, where we are looking to materially increase the MRE to support a large-scale lithium mine.”
Jones is currently the CEO of engineering and construction company MACA Interquip, non-executive director of base metals exploration company Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX:RTR, OTC:RTRFF), and non-executive chairman of Ausgold Ltd (ASX:AUC), a gold exploration company.
Between 2013 and 2023, he was the managing director GR Engineering Services Ltd (ASX:GNG), where he led the delivery of a number of major mining projects, including the Thunderbird Minerals Sands Project and the Nova Nickel Project.
Global lithium player
West Australian-focused GL1 has multiple assets in key lithium jurisdictions with a primary focus on the 100%-owned Marble Bar Lithium Project in the Pilbara region and the Manna Lithium Project in the Goldfields.
The company has now defined a total inferred and indicated mineral resource of 50.7 million tonnes at 1.0% lithium oxide at Marble Bar.