Board and Management
Board and Management Team
John Sisay
Chief Executive Officer
John Sisay is a world-renowned natural resources expert for Africa, with over two decades experience managing bulk commodity, precious and base metal mining operations across the continent.
Mr Sisay has an extensive track record of overseeing large scale mine turnarounds. Prior to forming Consolidate Copper Corp as a founding partner and CEO, Mr Sisay was appointed to oversee sustainable development of the Tschudi, Otjihase, Matchless and Berg Aukas mines in Namibia by the administrators of the former parent company, Weatherly International plc. Subsequently, he has executed the successful and safe implementation of care and maintenance programs for these mines whilst spearheading Consolidated Copper Corp’s restart plans.
Recently Mr Sisay was part of the Allied Gold Corp team that oversaw the acquisition, refinancing and turnaround of three mines approaching closure in West Africa. Together, these mines now produce over 300koz pa. Serving as Special Advisor – Corporate Affairs West Africa (2019-2022), Mr Sisay played an instrumental role transitioning these mines and seeding Allied Gold Corp’s social license to operate in its host countries.
Between 2001 and 2016 (including seven years as CEO), Mr Sisay was part of the team which oversaw recommissioning of the Sierra Rutile Mine. Under Sisay’s leadership, Sierra Rutile Limited (AIM: SRX) won the London Stock Exchange AIM award for International Company of the Year, as well as successfully commissioning the Lanti and Gangama Dry Mine expansion projects. These expansion initiatives increased the company’s production capacity and operational efficiency, resulting in Sierra Rutile becoming the largest global producer of natural rutile. Sisay’s tenure culminated in the successful sale of the company to Iluka Resources. The sale marked a crucial phase in the company’s objective to deliver significant returns and value to Sierra Rutile’s shareholders.
John holds a BA (Honours) degree from the University of London and a MBA from the University of Surrey. He has also served as President of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Mines.
Skills & Experience
- Chief Executive Officer Experience
- Public Company Board Experience
- Operational Management
- Africa Experience
- Natural Resource Industries Experience
- ESG/Sustainability
- Government/Legal
Phillip Shamieh
Executive Chairman
Phillip Shamieh is a seasoned natural resources executive with over two decades experience in corporate finance, strategy, financial management, operations, and M&A.
Prior to forming Consolidated Copper Corp as a founding partner and Executive Chairman, Mr Shamieh served as Director and CFO of Allied Gold Corp between 2011-2021. Phillip was a founding executive of Allied, instrumental in securing the private and institutional capital which enabled the company to grow into a 300koz pa intermediate gold producer with operations across five African states. During this period Phillip oversaw the development of sustainable long life operating plans for three mine’s nearing closure prior to their acquisition by Allied.
Mr Shamieh has an extensive track record of driving sustainable strategic change and supply chain innovation across the natural resources industry. Before founding Allied Gold Corp, he served as Head of Natural Resources for the Investment Banking arm of Clarkson’s Plc (CKN:LSE), which is the world’s largest provider of integrated shipping services. In his career, Phillip has raised and advised on over $2.5 billion worth of equity, debt and convertible transactions, including the syndication of Australia’s largest privately financed irrigation project.
Phillip holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Western Sydney and a Postgraduate Degree in Applied Finance and Investments from the Securities Institute of Australia.
Skills & Experience
- Chief Financial Officer Experience
- Public Company Board Experience
- Operational Management
- Africa Experience
- Natural Resource Industries Experience
- Capital Markets/Banking
David Astill
Chief Legal Officer
David Astill is an Australian lawyer with over 18 years’ experience, having a particular focus on cross border M&A, international and commercial law. Prior to forming Consolidated Copper Corp as a founding partner and Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Mr Astill was part of the team which grew Allied Gold Corp from developer to intermediate producer generating more than 300koz pa.
Serving as CLO between 2017 and 2022, Astill was instrumental in facilitating Allied’s acquisition and integration of development and production assets across four African jurisdictions. During this period of rapid growth, Astill navigated Allied through five (5) large scale mining and exploration asset acquisitions together with the associated major financing transactions.
Astill holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Queensland University of Technology, and in 2006 was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in 2007. Astill served as a private practitioner (including as partner) for 12 years in a boutique law firm in Queensland, Australia.
David is passionate about working in African jurisdictions and driving corporate policy to extract minerals with responsibility, produce with less waste, use safer processes, incorporate new sustainable technologies and promote the improved wellbeing of local communities.
Skills & Experience
- Public Company Board Experience
- Africa Experience
- Natural Resource Industries Experience
- Government/Legal
- ESG/Sustainability
Yolande Stegmann
Chief Operating Officer
With over 16 years of experience in the mining and metals industry, Yolande is a seasoned Processing Manager renowned for her expertise in optimizing processing operations and driving efficiency. As the Chief Processing Officer at Consolidated Copper Corp, Yolande plays a pivotal role in overseeing the company’s processing activities and ensuring operational excellence.
Having served in various leadership positions in reputable mining companies, Yolande brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to her current role. Prior to joining Consolidated Copper Corp, she held key positions at MMG and Kamoto Copper Company in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she spearheaded major expansion projects and led processing operations with a focus on safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Yolande is recognized for her ability to navigate complex challenges and drive results in dynamic environments. Her strategic approach to production planning and budgeting, coupled with her strong technical background, has enabled her to deliver successful projects and optimize processing systems in large-scale production environments.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, and an Executive MBA from Henley Business School. Her commitment to continuous learning and professional development underscores her dedication to excellence in the mining industry.
Andrew Thomson
Non Executive Director
Andrew Thomson is a seasoned geologist who has served the Company for over 43 years under various owners, including Newmont Mining, Gold Fields Namibia, Ongopolo Mining & Processing Limited, and Weatherly International. He was part of a seven-man team of management and trade union leaders that in 1999 founded Ongopolo Mining and Processing Limited and bought Tsumeb Coporation Limited (TCL) out of liquidation, subsequently renaming it to Ongopolo Mining Limited.
Mr Thomson joined the company (then known as TCL) as a bursar in 1980, and on completion of his studies, commenced employment as the Mine Geologist at Otjihase Mine in January 1983, subsequently rising to the position of Chief Geologist for TCL in 1996.
Since 1983 Mr Thomson has overseen the exploration of the Otjihase orebody system and was responsible for all mineral resource and ore reserve estimations. He was instrumental in successfully guiding the primary and secondary extraction of the defined ore reserves from the underground mine.
Beyond this he has also assumed a number of managerial roles including Asssistant Mine Manager in 1997, and thereafter General Manager of Otjihase and Matchless Mines (Central Operations) for seven years, Country Manager for Weatherly Mining Namibia Limited for ten years and General Manager for Weatherly Mining Namibia and Ongopolo Mining Limited for two years.
At the Board level Mr Thomson has served as an Executive Director for Ongopolo Mining Limited and several other Group Companies for over fourteen years.
Mr Thomson holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree from the University of Natal in Durban.
Dominic Hope
Chief Business Officer
Dominic Hope delivers over 14 years of comprehensive mining experience to his role as Chief Business Officer at Consolidated Copper Corp and brings a wealth of expertise in Investor Relations, Communications, Operations Logistics and Sales.
At Sierra Rutile Limited, Mr. Hope held senior leadership roles such as the Operations Logistics Manager where he simultaneously oversaw the strategic performance of multiple departments including the Port & Shipping, Haulage, Warehousing, Demand Planning, Information Technology & Fuel Logistics teams.
Most recently Mr. Hope held the position of Sales, Marketing and International Logistics Manager at Sierra Rutile, where he was responsible for the marketing strategy, business development and sale of industrial grade rutile, as well as the outbound logistics supply chain. This included chartering export vessels, managing the global sales supply chain, including its hub and spoke distribution networks.
Mr. Hope played a critical role in developing and executing export vessel chartering strategies that derived Sierra Rutile millions of dollars in savings within his first 6 months on seat.
He holds an MA in International Business Management from the European Business School as well as BSc in International Politics from the Brunel University.
Sonia Bergh
Chief Human Resources Officer
Sonia Bergh is a Human Resources expert with over 30 years experience in the full spectrum of Human Resources Management at executive level. She also has extensive experience in Strategic and Operational Management, and Corporate Governance.
She holds a Master’s in Human Resource Management from the Rand Afrikaans University and as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and Social Services, from the University of South Africa (UNISA)
She holds several additional qualifications in other disciplines including, Finance Management, Project Management, Risk and Compliance Management, Corporate Governance Management, Performance Management, Dispute Resolution, Conflict Management, and Mediation and Arbitration.
She has significant knowledge and experience in managing Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Training and Development, and Health and Safety for companies in the Public, Private, and Mining sectors including, Tsumeb Corporation Limited, TrenTyre Namibia, Ongopolo Mining Limited, Sun International Namibia.
She has also served on the Boards of Directors for Road Contractor Company and PostFin Financial Brokers in varied capacities as the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Non-Executive director, whilst also serving on the Medical Aid- and Pension Fund Boards of Trustees as Board Trustee and Chairperson of the sub-committees. She also served as the Executive for Human Resources for Namibia Post Limited for 16 years.
Mark Koffal
Financial Controller
Mark Koffal is a CPA qualified accountant with over 25 years accounting experience, of which over 15 years has been site based. He has extensive mining experience working in Africa, specifically Zambia, Kenya, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and Namibia, where he has focused mainly on copper and gold operations.
Prior to joining Consolidated Copper, he served as VP Finance Operations for Allied Gold Corp, where he successfully migrated two of their Cote d’Ivoire operations acquired from previous owners into a fully functioning and standard Pronto ERP environment.
He has a strong understanding of systems and has delivered multiple Pronto migrations, he has also worked closely with teams to improve their systems, processes, data reporting and collection helping them to more efficiently manage operations.
Mr Koffal holds a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Queensland.
Skills + Experience
- Africa Experience
- Natural Resource Industries Experience
- ERP Experience
- Site Based
Robert O’Neill
Chief Compliance Officer
After serving as a former state and federal prosecutor, Robert (‘Bobby’) O’Neill was appointed United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, twice, by Presidents Bush and Obama. Bobby has extensive experience as a trial lawyer, investigator, crisis manager, and leader, including public service as an Associate Independent Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel in Washington, D.C., where his primary responsibility was as trial counsel in a case involving allegations of public corruption. Additionally, he was assigned to the role of Deputy Chief in Charge of Litigation of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Bobby is responsible for ensuring CCC operates in accordance with all legal, regulatory, and ethical standards; designing and implement the vital compliance programmes to mitigate risks and promote transparency throughout the company’s operations.
Board
Bechara Said Shamieh
Non-Executive Director
Mr Shamieh is a highly experienced senior executive with over 25 years’ professional expertise. A qualified lawyer and trusted adviser, he has provided legal and strategic counsel to numerous private, public, and international corporations.
He currently holds several key positions, including Chief Executive Officer of Madison Marcus, Director of Special Advisory and Special Projects, and Director and Chief Investment Officer of ARECOR. In addition, he serves as an Advisory Board Member of EVDirect.com/BYD and as a Director of Transcend Capital (AFSL). Mr Shamieh is also a legal adviser and Board Member of the FSHD Global Foundation.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Mr Shamieh has played a leading role in numerous corporate actions, including initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and complex financing arrangements involving both debt and equity projects with a combined value exceeding $30 billion.
He brings to the Board deep expertise in dealmaking and executive leadership, with specialist knowledge in mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution and negotiation, corporate finance special projects, energy and resources, petroleum, corporate governance and ESG, commercial and corporate law, property, and construction and development.
Mr Shamieh’s extensive experience and strategic insight will be an asset to the Board, and we look forward to his contribution to the continued growth and success of the organisation.
