Board of Directors
John Welborn
Executive Chairman
Mr Welborn is a respected business leader and a passionate advocate for responsible mining development and operations. As Executive Chairman of Fenix, he is driving the growth of an exciting integrated mining, logistics and port services business in Western Australia.
Mr Welborn is a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a member of both the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
A former Wallaby and international rugby union player, John was Head of Specialised Lending at Investec Bank Australia Ltd before leading, as Managing Director & CEO, several successful public iron ore and gold mining companies listed on the ASX, TSX, and the LSE.
John was previously a director of the World Gold Council and is currently the President of Rugby WA.
Craig Mitchell
Executive Director
Mr Mitchell founded Mitchell Corp in 1997 which became one of Australia’s largest bulk haulage businesses before its sale to Toll Group in 2011. Mr Mitchell was awarded the 2006 Ernst and Young Western Australian Entrepreneur of the Year.
In 2019, founded trucking and logistics company Newhaul, which formed a joint venture with Fenix Resources and was 100% acquired by Fenix Resources in July 2022.
Garry Plowright
Non Executive Director
Mr Plowright is an experienced executive with over 25 years’ experience in finance, commercial and technical development within the mining and exploration industry.
Mr Plowright has held global operational and corporate roles with Gindalbie Metals Ltd, Mt Edon Gold Ltd, Pacmin Mining, Atlas Iron Ltd, Tigris Gold (South Korea) and Westland Titanium (New Zealand).
Shannon Coates
Non Executive Director
Ms Coates has over 30 years’ experience in corporate law and compliance. She was most recently Managing Director of Source Governance, a national governance service provider, and has provided governance and corporate advisory services to boards and various committees across a variety of industries, including oil & gas, resources, manufacturing, and technology.
Ms Coates is a qualified lawyer, Chartered Secretary, and graduate of the AICD’s Company Directors course. Shannon is also currently non-executive director to Bellevue Gold Limited, a West Australian ASX 200 gold producer, and Chairs Bellevue’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
Natalie teo
Company Secretary
Ms Teo is an experienced company secretary and has provided corporate advisory, company secretarial and financial reporting services to ASX-listed, unlisted public and private companies.
Ms Teo has played key roles in a variety of transactions, including capital raisings, acquisitions, IPOs and takeovers. She is a Chartered Secretary and an Associate of the Governance Institute of Australia.
MANAGEMENT and our people
Chris Hunt
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Hunt is a finance executive with over 30 years of experience in the resources and construction industries, specialising in feasibility studies, corporate financing, and mining operations.
Mr. Hunt has held senior CFO roles at Rox Resources, BC Iron, Crosslands Resources, FerrAus, and Cliffs Natural Resources, leading major financial transactions and corporate restructures.
Mr. Hunt holds a Bachelor of Business, is a Fellow of CPA Australia, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance.
fernando Pereira
Westmine – Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Pereira is a seasoned mining executive with more than 25 years of experience across the global resources sector, spanning iron ore, bauxite, gold, cement, pelletizing operations, and lithium mining in Western Australia.
Mr. Pereira has held senior leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer at Mineral Resources, Director of Pilbara Operations at Fortescue Metals Group, and key operational positions with HWE Mining and Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) in Brazil.
Recognized for his expertise in safe operations, business improvement, and production optimization, Mr. Pereira has consistently delivered step‑change improvements in output while reducing operational risk across complex mining, rail, and port environments. His leadership has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, cultural transformation, and sustainable performance uplift in both greenfield and brownfield operations.
Mr. Pereira holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering, complemented by a specialization in Business Management. His career reflects a deep commitment to safety, innovation, and high‑performance operational leadership.
Reece Olney
General Manager – Weld Range Project
Mr Olney’s extensive career in the resource industry spans multiple commodities in both open cut and underground operations. He has a proven history in project development, and has managed significant iron ore operations in the Midwest region over the last decade.
Adrian Third
General Manager Commercial & Marketing
Mr Third brings 30+ years of experience across the mining industry in Australia and international markets, with deep, hands-on capability spanning the full pit-to-port value chain—from mine operations and mobile maintenance through to processing, logistics, port operations, shipping and marketing. Mr. Third has built a career on leading diverse teams and delivering operational excellence across multiple commodities, combining strong commercial judgement with practical operational insight to support the growth and performance of integrated mining businesses. Mr. Third is recognised for championing inclusive, high-performing workplace cultures and was awarded the Northern Territory Women in Resources Gender Diversity Champion in 2019 for his contribution to improving diversity in the industry.
Mr. Third holds an MBA from Curtin University and is known for pairing disciplined commercial leadership with data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.
Mr. Third is a collaborative, results-driven leader who builds strong stakeholder relationships and delivers sustainable outcomes through strategic planning, system optimisation, and mentoring high-performing teams.
Goran Seat
General Manager – Projects
Mr Seat is a professional engineer and accomplished management professional with over 18 years’ experience in delivery of complex and challenging multidisciplinary projects, management of expert teams in the delivery of growth focused assets, project and engineering management, and providing consulting and advisory services to the resources, infrastructure, and renewable energy sectors.
Michael Roglich
Group Financial Controller
Mr. Roglich is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years of experience in finance and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance.
Mr. Roglich specializes in financial planning, analysis, and business partnering, providing strategic insights to optimize business performance. Michael excels in fostering strong cross-functional partnerships and delivering data-driven solutions that drive growth and efficiency.
Miriam Sharp
Senior Executive Assistant to Chairman
With over 30 years of experience as an Executive Assistant, including 20 years in the mining industry, Miriam brings unparalleled expertise in providing strategic support to C-suite executives. Miriam firmly believes that a great assistant has the power to elevate an average leader into an exceptional one.
Enhancing executive support through proactive strategic planning and seamless coordination of high-level initiatives and extensive expertise in travel planning and customer service, gained from her time as a British Airways cabin crew member, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role—an integral part of the organisation.
In recognition of her dedication and expertise, Miriam was a runner-up for the AIOP Office Professional of the Year award in 2011. Miriam has recently completed her Advanced Certificate for the Executive Assistant (ACEA®) through ACEA Training.
Balbeena Kaur
Accountant
Balbeena brings extensive experience in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Payroll to her role as an Accountant.
Balbeena has held finance positions with Woodside Energy and Rio Tinto, supporting operational excellence through accurate financial management and process efficiency. Balbeena holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Banking from Curtin University.
Heinrich de Waal
Management Accountant
Mr. de Waal is a management accountant with experience is tax, financial accounting and management accounting. He has held positions at PwC New Zealand, Finalto Financial Services (UK) and Findex (New Zealand).
Heinrich holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a member of CAANZ.
Abbygaile Buenaventura
Shipping, Sales, and Tenements Administrator
Abbygaile is a detail-oriented professional with over 8 years of experience in administration. Abbygaile has graduated with a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Finance with a background in contract administration, export documentation, and stakeholder coordination across the mining and engineering sectors.
Abbygaile ensures compliance, accuracy, and timely communication with internal and external partners.