About us

Over 25 years of owning, developing and operating metals and mining projects across North America, South America, Africa and Europe.

• Founded TechMet in 2017. Serves on the boards of Trinity Metals, US Vanadium, Brazilian Nickel and TechMet-Mercuria
• Former Executive Director of Anglovaal Mining, developed the Chambishi Cobalt smelter and refinery and the Nkomati Nickel Mine together with numerous other metals projects. Sold the company to Anglo American in 2001
• Member of the RUSI’s National Security and Net Zero Transition Advisory Board
• Held various executive positions at De Beers in London, Antwerp, Windhoek and Johannesburg
• B.A. (Hons) Political Science & Economics, University of Pennsylvania

Over 20 years of financial leadership in the resources sector, working in Africa, Europe, the CIS, and Australia.

• Formerly CFO of KAZ Minerals PLC, a FTSE 250 high-growth copper company, focused on large scale, low cost open pit mining in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
• Extensive career with BG Group PLC, holding various positions including:
  • Vice President Finance – Europe E&P, which held BG’s oil and gas asset portfolio spanning the UK and Norwegian North Sea
  • Financial Controller – Queensland Gas Company, overseeing the development of the $20billion coal seam gas to LNG export project in Australia
  • Finance Controller – Rashpetco-Burullus, which produces natural gas for export via the Egyptian LNG terminal and for the domestic market in Egypt
• ACMA, CGMA, CPA (Australia) memberships
• Diploma in Financial Strategy, University of Oxford; MA (Hons) Economics, Heriot-Watt University

20 years’ experience in mining finance and investing, including major transactions in Africa, Turkey, and South America.

• Serves on the boards of ESM and TechMet-Mercuria
• Previously a director at Cutfield Freeman & Co, a leading global corporate finance advisor exclusively focused on the mining industry
• Founded Vicuñita Minerals, a private gold mining company in Peru
• Founded Resource Technology Capital, focused on private investments in ‘technology minerals,’ including lithium, cobalt, vanadium, and high-purity alumina
• B.A. in PPE from Oxford University (1st class); M.A. in International Relations and Finance, The School of Advanced International Studies in Washington D.C.

Business executive with 12 years’ experience across corporate operations, investor relations, and managing new business ventures in developing markets.

• Previous to the founding of TechMet, he spent 6 years as Director of Market Development of the Kemet Group, a private investment group, managing new businesses across sectors including private banking, agribusiness, tourism and tech in African markets
• Former British Army officer, including running front line operations in Afghanistan
• Holds the Investment Management Certificate; the Certificate in Corporate Finance; and Level 1 of the Chartered Alternative Investment Advisor (CAIA). B.Sc. (Hon.) Biology, University of St. Andrews

20 years’ experience as a Geologist and Mining Analyst.

• Serves on the boards of Cornish Lithium and REEtec
• Formerly a senior metals and mining analyst at Investec Asset Management, helping to manage multi-billion-dollar funds focused on natural resources
• Senior mining analyst at Ocean Equities Limited and Peel Hunt
• Mining analyst at Argent Partners Limited, a boutique M&A advisory firm focused on the metals and mining space
• Former exploration geologist in Spain and Ireland
• B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology and Physical Geography, University of Liverpool; M.Sc. in Mineral Deposit Appraisal (Mineral Exploration), Royal School of Mines, Imperial College

With a background in engineering, Darryll has over 30 years’ experience across company leadership, project/operational delivery and transformation, technical planning and implementation, fund management, business development and governance roles.

• Serves on the boards of US Vanadium, Trinity Metals, and Brazilian Nickel
• CEO of a number of mining and production companies including CEO of Trafigura mining, CEO PPC Cement, CEO of Anvil Mining (Listed in Toronto and Australia); as well as multiple board memberships of listed and private companies 
• Chief Operations Officer at Metorex Group Limited
• First hand operations and projects experience globally including in Cuba, Spain, Peru, and particularly on the African continent, having run projects and companies in the DRC, Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania
• B.Sc. Civil Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Bachelor of Commerce, University of South Africa; MBA, University of Cape Town; Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Dual-qualified Solicitor (United Kingdom and South Africa) with 15 years’ multi-jurisdictional experience in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, general corporate law, and compliance.

• Previously held the titles of Chief Legal Officer, Data Protection Officer and Member of the Executive Management Committee at Lonrho Holdings Limited. Responsible for the management of the UK Headquarters and all legal and compliance matters across the Lonrho group
• Various board seats on associated subsidiaries of Lonrho across 16 jurisdictions, including Luba Freeport Limited, freeport acting as a regional hub for the West-African oil industry
• Legal Counsel at PruProtect (a subsidiary of Prudential and later, Discovery) and a senior legal position as Associate Director at Salamanca, a financially regulated international private equity and risk management group
• Qualified as an attorney at ENSafrica, a Johannesburg based law firm advising various large corporates on Law, Tax, Forensics and IP
• Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Advanced Business Management III) (Hons. & Distinction) 
• Bachelor of Law Degree from Wits University (graduating cum laude)

Over 13 years’ experience in ESG, focusing on extractive industries.

• Responsible investment specialist for AgDevCo, a leading African focused agribusiness investment fund
• Senior natural resources consultant for S&P Global, providing consultancy to the EU on their pan-European mining strategy
• Spent four years in Sierra Leone for African Minerals and 2 years in Northern Kenya for Tullow Oil in various environmental and social roles, helping to secure funding from multilateral Development Finance Institutions
• B.A. in Philosophy, University of Newcastle; M.Sc. in International Development, London School of Economics

16 years as a management consultant and process engineer, focused on mining and metal processing.

• Partner at Partners in Performance – a management consultancy focused on improving investment returns and the performance of large industrial assets
• Delivered 50+ engagements on over 30 different sites across Africa and Europe – including UK, South Africa, Ghana, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, and Greece
• Brings on-the-ground experience in mining and processing, including gold, copper, mineral sands, coal, diamonds, zinc, lead, iron ore, manganese, chrome and steel
• B.Sc. and MBA Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town

Business leader with over 30 years’ experience building specialty chemical processing companies.

• Serves on the boards of US Vanadium, Xerion and Momentum Technologies
• Until 2020, served as Executive Vice President of Prince International Corporation, a global specialty minerals and chemicals manufacturer, managing commercial activity globally, including raw material supply management, sales and marketing, business development, and all aspects related to strategic growth
• Previously, served as President of American Minerals, a US-based processor of industrial minerals
• Holds a B.Sc. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a M.Sc. in International Relations, London School of Economics

Over 17 years of international government relations and communications experience.

• CEO and Managing Director roles with three Washington, D.C.-based consulting firms spanning 17 years, advising Fortune 500 companies, governments, and political campaigns
• Worked with several multinational mining, oil and gas companies on market entry, political risk mitigation, government relations, strategic communication, and community engagement strategies
• Served as government relations and communications advisor to multiple heads of state
• On-the-ground experience with multinational crisis response, including Ebola outbreak response in West Africa, peace initiatives in South Sudan, disaster relief coordination in Haiti, and combatting the use of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
• Holds a B.A. in Political Science from George Washington University

Over 25 years’ experience in Controllership across many different industries including technology, food & beverage and aviation.

• Senior Accounting Manager with Itron Inc., responsible for the APAC and LATAM regions
• Eleven years as Financial Controller and then Finance Director of Global Business Services in Kerry Group plc developing and executing strategies to streamline activities across Finance and HR
• Worked at Avery Dennison, Inc. for four years in Controllership, focusing on compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations
• Six years of experience in aviation financing solutions with GE Capital Aviation Services across controllership and structured finance activities
• Trained & qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC

Analyst with over 7 years’ experience across metals markets, with a particular focus on battery and other minor metals.

• Senior Analyst at CRU, responsible for lithium and molybdenum research
• Market Reporter at Argus, analysing and assessing prices for ferroalloys, related feedstocks and stainless steel
• MSci in Geology, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College

Over 10 years’ experience across various financial sectors including banking, lending, credit control, financial accounting, operational budgeting, financial reporting, tax, and audit.

• Trainee Accountant at OCKT Ltd, a boutique local accounting firm, with experience gained across diverse aspects of professional accounting
• Member Services Representative (Loans) & Credit Controller at Cara Credit Union, a dynamic regional credit union, contributing to banking and lending functions
• Bachelor of Business (Honours), Institute of Technology, Tralee

Experience in commodities trading and mining finance.

• Analyst on the commodities desk at Bank of America with a focus on base metals. Worked with large OEMs on battery metals hedging programs and with multinational metals mining companies on prepayment financing deals. Authored Bank of America’s daily metals update sent out to the major metals consumers and producers as well as institutional investors, such as hedge funds
• Graduated summa cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with two degrees, a B.Sc. in Finance and a B.A. in International Studies as part of the Huntsman Program. Graduated with honors, writing his thesis on “Why Chinese Control of the Supply Chains of the “Technology Metals” Is a Threat to Western National Security”