Board Members

Norm Gardner

Managing Director

Norm set up a Territory business that operates Tiltup construction, concrete supply, quarrying, crushing and screening. Through this company over the past 20 years Norm has worked with significant mining projects in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia, including the backfill plant at the Granites Gold Mine in the Tanami.

He has also been involved in several successful property developments and served as the Director of other mining companies such as Thor.

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Graham Bubner B.Sc (Hons)

Executive Director

Graham graduated from Adelaide University with a double geology/geophysics degree in 1976 and a first class Honours degree in geophysics the following year. He explored for multiple commodities including base metals, precious metals, uranium, diamonds, iron ore and coal throughout west-central Australia with CRA Exploration for 16 years, taking part in major discoveries, such as diamonds at Argyle and uranium at Kintyre. During four years at Middleback Ranges in South Australia with BHP Billiton Limited and Onesteel Limited, he gained experience in iron ore exploration Since then he has serviced many local, national and international companies through his exploration consultancy, AsIs International.
He has spent time in Saudi Arabia, Canada and South Korea. Graham brings to the company broad exploration experience, particularly in uranium, gold and iron oxide systems, and access to extensive geoscience libraries for new project generation.

He is a member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Society of Economic Geologists and Australian Institute of Geoscientists.

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Rick Allert, AO

Chairman

Mr Allert is a chartered accountant with more than 25 years' experience in a leadership role with major Australian public companies. He brings to Western Desert exceptional corporate knowledge and expertise in developing commercial activities in the Northern Territory in close cooperation with the NT Government. Rick is Chairman of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd and the Aboriginal Foundation of South Australia, Deputy Chairman of Gerard Lighting Group Ltd and a director of Genesee and Wyoming Australia.

He has been Chairman and Director of Coles Group Limited, the AustralAsia Railway Corporation, Southcorp Limited and Voyages Hotels & Resorts Pty Ltd.

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Scott Perrin, LLB

Non Executive Director

Scott Perrin was admitted as a Solicitor in 1988 where he practised in the area of banking and securities. He was a major shareholder and director of Billabong International Limited until July 2000, which he guided in the transition from a family-owned business through to an ASX listed entity. Mr Perrin is a Director of Perrin Legal Pty Ltd and Permat Holdings Pty Ltd. Mr Perrin's appointment delivers additional contracting, legal and commercial experience to the Western Desert board.

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David Cloke - FCCA

Non Executive Director

David was a partner with Deloitte for 30 years and has had more than 40 years' experience in the accounting profession in Australia and Central Africa. He was Managing Partner of Deloitte's three offices in the Northern Territory and a member of that partnership's national management board in Australia. He has a strong audit background and has been the lead partner for the audits of national and international mining companies. He is now finance director for a substantial property company in the Northern Territory.

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Michael Kevin Ashton

Non Executive Director

Mick owns a timber manufacturing business in South Australia that supplies Australian and international markets.  He is also a major shareholder in a successful  Victorian exploration drilling company with operations across Australia and Botswana and Zambia in Africa.   He has 40 years’ experience in the exploration and mining industries.  Mick is a director of ASX listed company Thor Mining PLC.

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Phil Lockyer Dip Met; Assoc Min Eng; MSc Minerals Econ

Non Executive Director

Over the past 40 years, Phil has held managerial positions in nickel, gold, lead and zinc operations with WMC Resources Limited, as Executive Director of Operations and Projects for Dominion Mining Limited, and as Executive Director of Operations for Resolute Limited.  Phil is a graduate of the WA School of Mines (Mining Engineering) and the former Ballarat School of Mines (Metallurgy).  He is Chairman of the Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia and is non-executive Director of Saint Barbara Ltd, Focus Minerals Ltd, CGA Mining Ltd and Swick Mining Services Ltd.  He is a Chartered Professional (Management) of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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