Management & Directors
Martyn Element, Chairman of the Board, Director
Martyn is the founder and President of Element and Associates, which is primarily focused on sourcing and pursuing new business ventures globally. The group has attained a proven track record of successfully advising and marketing new business ventures. Martyn has cultivated an extensive global network and developed strong working relationships with specialized funds and other related parties in conjunction with the various aspects required to market these opportunities. He developed his experience in the public financial markets in Canada, prior to forming Element and Associates in 1989. Before entering the financial markets, he was involved in the food and beverage industry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Martyn brings a genuine personal interest to each project, a skill set of identifying needs and developing strategic plans, as well as providing an extensive network of contacts.
Phillip Thomas BSc Geol MBusM MAIG MAIMVA MCIM CMV
President & CEO
Phillip has degrees in Geology and Business Marketing and is a certified mineral valuer. He specialises in finance and capital raising, management of mining companies, planning, development and management of mining projects, having established a number of significant exploration projects in Mexico, USA, Chile, Argentina, Arizona and Australia. Previously he was actively engaged in developing two major lithium projects in Argentina with Dr. Sorentino. Phillip has specialised in the exploration, development, financing and sales of lithium deposits within the public company structure. He has extensive knowledge of the lithium carbonate markets in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. From 2003 to 2008 he was CEO of Admiralty Resources, worked on the Rincon Salar project in Argentina, and prepared the bankable feasibility study for the exploitation of the Salar del Rincon. He raised more than $6m for this project and sold it in 2008. He and his team constructed a laboratory, pilot plant and developed a process to evaporate the brines in half the usual time. Phil has been active in three lithium projects in the last 4 years. Phillip holds a M Bus Marketing degree with high distinction from Monash University, a Bachelor of Science (Geology) degree and a Diploma in Finance. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a certified Mineral Valuer with the Australasian Institute of Mineral Valuers and Appraisers.
Kiki Smith, CFO, Director
With over 20 years of experience, Kiki has been assisting private and public companies in the roles of accountant, corporate controller and chief financial officer in mining, oil and gas, real estate, high technology, food production, and investment fund management. She currently provides consulting services in mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance to several public and private companies in the resource, food production and investment sectors. Kiki graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1989 with a bachelor of arts degree in economics. She is member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia.
Anthony Balme FCA, Director
Anthony Balme is an active participant in a number of public and private resource ventures. In the private sector he is Chairman of Carter Capital Ltd., Lymington Underwriting (insurance) and Alton Resource Corporation. In the public sector, he is Chairman of Forum Energy Metals listed on the TSX and formerly of Ortac Resources on the listed on the AIM market. One of his focuses is identifying early stage opportunities in the resource sector and arranging financings to advance projects to the public markets in both the U.K. and Canada.