Board and Management
FireFly Metals
Board
Ray Shorrocks
Non-Executive Chairman
B.A. History/Philosophy (Hons) M.B.A. Finance
Appointed: 28 January 2020
Mr Shorrocks has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate finance in the mining sector and has advised a diverse range of resources companies during his career at one of Australia’s largest investment banking and stockbroking/financial services firms.
He has been instrumental in managing and structuring equity capital raisings as well as having advised extensively in the area of mergers and acquisitions.
Mr Shorrocks has worked on mines in South America, Africa, Australia, and North America.
Steve Parsons
Managing Director
BSc (Hons) Geology, MAusIMM
Appointed: 28 January 2020
Steve is an experienced geologist with a proven track record of mineral discoveries, corporate growth, international investor relations and creating shareholder wealth. He was the founder and Managing Director of Gryphon Minerals that had a major gold discovery in West Africa and which grew to an ASX-200 company. Steve is also a Director of ASX listed Bellevue Gold Limited, African Gold Limited and Blackstone Minerals Limited.
Steve has been a Non-Executive Director of the Company since 28 January 2020 and was appointed as Managing Director on 20 October 2023 after the successful acquisition of the Green Bay Copper-Gold Project.
Michael Naylor
Executive Director
BCom CA
Appointed: 30 November 2018
Mr Naylor has over 27 years’ experience in corporate advisory and public company management since commencing his career and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young.
Mr Naylor has been involved in the financial management of mineral and resources focused public companies serving on the board and in the executive management team focusing on advancing and developing mineral resource assets and business development.
Mr Naylor has worked in Australia and Canada and has extensive experience in financial reporting, capital raisings, debt financings and treasury management of resource companies.
He was a founder and previous Executive Director of ASX-200 company Bellevue Gold Limited and previous Executive Director of Cygnus Metals. Michael currently serves as Executive of FireFly Metals Limited (ASX:FFM), a Non-Executive Director of Bellevue Gold Limited (ASX:BGL)and Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5).
Kevin Tomlinson
Non-Executive Director
BSc (Hons) (MS) Structural Geology, GradDip Finance and Investment, Banking, Corporate, Finance and Securities Law
Appointed: 15 December 2022
Mr Tomlinson has more than three decades’ experience in major discoveries, exploration and resource growth, mine development and financing of mining projects globally. He has also played leading roles in many successful mergers and acquisitions.
Mr Tomlinson was previously Managing Director of Investment Banking at Westwind Partners and Stifel Nicolaus (2006-2012), raising significant equity and providing M&A corporate advice, and is the former Chair of ASX/TSX-listed Cardinal Resources Ltd, leading its C$587 million sale to Shandong Gold. He was also a Non-Executive Director at Centamin Plc, which discovered and built a significant gold mine in Egypt.
Mr Tomlinson is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI), a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (UK).
He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Kodiak Copper Corp and Churchill Resources Inc and Independent Non-Executive Chairman of highly successful ASX300 Company Bellevue Gold Limited.
David Southam
Advisor
B.Comm, CPA, MAICD
Appointed: 18 September 2023
Mr Southam has been intimately involved in negotiating multi-billion-dollar sales off-take arrangements in various commodities including base metals, lithium and bulks. Furthermore, he has secured several large project financings in multiple jurisdictions, completed significant capital market and M&A transactions, and has substantial experience on listed and private company boards.
Mr Southam is the former Managing Director of nickel miner Mincor Resources (ASX: MCR), where he led that company’s highly successful return to the ranks of Australian nickel producers within a three-year period, overseeing the completion of off-take arrangements, attracting cornerstone investor Wyloo Metals (which subsequently purchased 100% of Mincor), base metal project financing, and construction of the underground Kambalda Nickel Operations. Prior to joining Mincor, Mr Southam was Executive Director of ASX-200 nickel company Western Areas Limited for nearly a decade and held senior executive roles within Brambles Group, ANZ Investment Bank and WMC Resources.
Mr Southam is currently Managing Director at Cygnus Metals and Non-Executive Director at Ramelius Resources.
Management
Darren Cooke
Chief Executive Officer
BAppSc (Geology) (Hons)
Appointed: 6 June 2022
Darren is a geologist with 26 years’ experience having previously held senior positions in global majors including Barrick Gold, Newmont and Northern Star Resources.
Darren has had extensive gold industry experience in Australia and North America spanning regional and near mine exploration, operational geology, long-term planning and corporate development.
He has a strong track record of discovery and delivering Resource growth during his time working at world-class deposits such as the Golden Mile Kalgoorlie (KCGM), Callie (Newmont), Kundana, Kanowna Belle (Northern Star / Barrick) and the Pogo deposit in Alaska (Northern Star).
Darren spent 6 years as part of the Business Development team at Northern Star Resources that completed significant M&A transactions that have seen the company transform from a junior into a global gold company.
Darren joined FireFly Metals in February 2021 as Chief Operating Officer.
William Nguyen
Chief Financial Officer and Joint Company Secretary
BCom CA
Appointed: 13 June 2022
Mr Nguyen is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 13 years’ experience in the mining industry, including 8 years in the gold sector. Mr Nguyen has been involved in the accounting and financial management across exploration activities, development projects and operating assets.
Mr Nguyen was previously the Financial Controller of Australian gold producer Regis Resources Limited.
Prior to Regis, he spent over 5 years at a multinational resources company.
Maddison Cramer
Joint Company Secretary
BA LLB
Appointed: 10 August 2022
Ms Cramer is a corporate lawyer with experience in both the listed and unlisted space, advising entities across a variety of different sectors, but with a focus on mining and resources.
Most recently, Ms Cramer was Joint Company Secretary at ASX300 Bellevue Gold Limited (ASX:BGL). Prior to this, she was an Associate at Bellanhouse Legal and HWL Ebsworth Lawyers. Ms Cramer specialises in corporate and commercial transactions, including capital raisings, IPOs and backdoor listings, and corporate governance issues.
Tabatha LeBlanc
Vice President – Environment & Community
BSc Environmental Science/Anthropology
Appointed: 4 June 2022
Ms LeBlanc is a highly experienced professional with over 25 years of ESG experience in North America, with a proven track record of achieving social & government approvals for companies including TransCanada & Alliance Pipelines, Marathon PGM Corporation, Sibanye-Stillwater & Generation Mining.
Tabatha oversaw the management & delivery of critical environmental approvals & community agreements including successfully obtaining approval for an Environmental Assessment conducted by a Joint Federal-Provincial Review Panel in Ontario.
Tabatha holds extensive experience in integrating ESG into environmental management systems, community outreach and training programs & other business areas.
Juan Gutierrez
Group Chief Geologist
BSc Geology (Masters), Geostatistics (PgD)
Appointed: 21 June 2022
Mr Gutierrez is a highly experienced geologist with over 16 years’ experience in a diverse range of mining projects globally. He holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s degree in geology in addition to a post graduate qualification in geostatistics.
Previously, Mr. Gutierrez spent more than 6 years with Northern Star Resources where he held the position of Geology Superintendent for the Yandal South operations (Bronzewing and Thunderbox). During his time at Northern Star, he was instrumental in the discovery, definition and mining of numerous orebodies at the Jundee operations, including Ramone.
Gus Simbanegavi
Vice President Operations
BSc (Hons) Mining Engineering, MBA, FAusIMM
Gus has held several leadership & executive roles in Africa including COO and Director of AIM listed Bluerock Diamonds where he was instrumental in the feasibility, development and construction of a 1.0Mtpa diamond mine & processing plant.
Gus holds a wealth of experience across a range of commodities including Gold, Platinum, Copper, Nickle, Zinc and Diamonds from his time in senior Executive roles at companies such as: Aquarius Platinum Mines, Vedanta Zinc International and Zimplats Platinum Mines.
Jim Edwards
Exploration Manager
Exploration Geologist with 20 years’ experience at Goldcorp, Harte Gold, Agnico Mines Limited Falconbridge, Battle Mountain and Miramar.
During his tenure at Goldcorp, he participated in converting 3.6 Moz Au to reserves, including the discovery of the Lynx zone in 2010 at Musselwhite Mine. This contributed to production guidance more than 260,00oz Au in 2015 and 2016.
Most recently, Jim has been responsible for managing FireFly Metals Pickle Crow Gold Project. Jim has a proven track record of delivering resources, while generating an exploration pipeline of quality targets for future growth.
Corey Greenham
Environment and Safety Manager
Health, Safety & Environment professional who has worked in the HSE department for 18 years at Ming Mine where he obtained the prestigious National John T Ryan Safety Award numerous times.
Corey is experienced in both Canadian Federal and Provincial regulations and is instrumental in Newfoundland & Labrador where he contributes to the overall mining safety structure within the province.
He sits on the Mine Rescue Technical Advisory Committee and Chairs the Mining NL Safety Committee. Corey also sits on the National John T Ryan Awards Committee which provides updates on OH&S mining regulations within Canada.
Bonnie Matthews
Vice President Human Resources
Over 20 years’ experience in Business Management and HR from previous positions with Tata Steel Minerals Canada and Grey Rock Mining as well as positions with the Governments of NL and of Nunavut.
Bonnie currently sits on the board of Canadian Manufactures and Exporters (CME) in NL, is the current Chairperson of the NL CME HR Committee, and is also on the board of Women in Resource Development for Newfoundland and Labrador.