Our Mission
Our mission is to build the next generation of US-based heavy mineral sands mining/processing expertise, to reshore domestic supply chains for minerals that are critical to consumers, defense and the green energy transition.
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Our goal is to conduct our business to the highest standards of business ethics, operational safety and environmental responsibility:
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People – we care deeply for our employees and our community
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Place – we will operate efficiently and responsibly, taking care of our workplace and the local environment.
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Profit – we aim to create substantial long-term, sustainable, responsible value for all stakeholders
Our team
Our growing team has wide-ranging international experience in developing and operating mineral operations, most of whom have direct experience operating our Virginia-based mineral processing facilities.
Chris Wyatt
Chief Executive Officer
Chris is a mineral professional with over 25 years’ international experience in the minerals industry developing both greenfield and brownfield projects and working as a consultant. He was formerly the Mine Manager of Iluka Resources’ adjacent Old Hickory Heavy Mineral Sands Operation where he was part of the team responsible for bringing the greenfield project into production. Chris and his team developed unique mining, processing, and reclamation methods to successfully mine the clay-rich deposit over the following decade, to become the world’s lowest cost feedstock producer at the time and to win multiple mine reclamation awards.
Craig Hairfield
Executive Director
Craig is a mining finance professional with over 20 years of broad experience in the mining industry, working initially as a mining engineer and later as an investment professional at Resource Capital Funds, a leading mining-focused private equity firm. Craig left RCF in 2018 to start his own advisory firm, assisting clients in the areas of M&A and business strategy. Craig has extensive international experience financing and developing mining projects related to a variety of commodities. Craig is a Virginia native and briefly worked at Iluka Resources' Old Hickory Operation early in his career.
Tanya Wilson
Chief Financial Officer
Tanya is a finance professional with over 15 years of experience in the mining industry. She started out in corporate finance for a global drilling service company, advancing through various roles including internal audit, tax, and site financial controller, based in South America. She later moved into operational financial leadership roles for a zinc start-up and within the gold sector, overseeing finance, information technology and supply chain.
Shawn Conaway
Processing Operations Manager
Shawn is an experienced processing production executive with over 25 years in the mining industry. He has successfully managed operations across a diverse range of mineral resources, including mineral sands, phosphate, and gold. The majority of Shawn's career has been dedicated to the critical mineral sands sector, with contributions made in both the United States and Australia. He started as a plant metallurgist, actively involved in the commissioning and start-up of Iluka Resources’ Old Hickory operation. He advanced to manager responsible for overseeing the mineral separation plant's operations, final product shipping, and laboratory functions.
Stuart Leinenbach
Chief Administration Officer
Stuart is an administrative professional whose experience in the mining industry spans thirteen years managing the Environmental, Health and Safety, Information Technology, and Human Resource functions. He formally served as Vice President and member of the U.S. Board of Directors for Iluka Resources, Inc.