CORPORATE

DIRECTORS / EXECUTIVES / ADIVISORY BOARDS

Murray Bailey. Director / Chief Executive Officer
EESTech founding investor, an entrepreneur with extensive technical skills in systems engineering, managing research and development collaborations across New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the United States where he worked in the US Aerospace Industry, commercialising advanced technologies, led a team of ex-Apollo engineers for the first commercial launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. As co-developer of technologies, Murray has been the primary driving force behind the capabilities promoted by the company today.

Dr. Patrick Caragata, Ph.D, Director
Patrick has a Ph.D in Mineral Economics and Foreign Policy. Senior International Economist at Toronto-Dominion Bank, was in charge of the country risk analysis group. Chief Economist NZ Ministry of Energy (architect of petroleum royalty) Former Chief Tax Policy Advisor and Special Adviser Taxation Economics with New Zealand Inland Revenue Dept. In 1997 founded RapidRatings Inc. New York, the world’s first software-based corporate credit rating agency. RR was sold for US$240million in 2022. Has published 6 books and authored many working papers, including Global Resource Wars.

Graeme Lynch. Chief Commercial Officer
With 30 years of senior international corporate experience in both private and public listed organizations, most notably new venture companies with an emphasis on advanced technology commercialization and deployment. He has extensive experience in major contract negotiations, project management, financial administration, joint venture oversight. Supplementing this is his broad industrial technology background and management of major project works.

Craig Morris. B-Com (Law & Economics) / LLB / Project Manager (AIPM/CPPM)
25+years as a practising senior commercial, trade / transport / resources and infrastructure projects lawyer and project manager at top tier global / magic circle law firms, and with deep and varied professional legal and commercial experience. Legally qualified and admitted to practise in South Africa, England & Wales and Australia, having advised and supported clients across a global client-base. Additionally, a qualified Project Manager experienced in delivering professional services, energy, mining and infrastructure projects (with a strong focus on legal, regulatory and operational elements). Keen interest in global geo-politics.

Chad Lehman. Chief Technologies Officer
20 years systems engineering, new product development. Conceptualizing, prototyping, process design, international patents. Products and processes include polycrystalline plastics, specialized thermal forming, composite injection moulding, specialized cyanoacrylates, nano thermites, jelled hydrocarbon fuels, particle shaping, combustion technology, mineral extraction, chemical binding, cold and thermal agglomeration of recovered minerals. Chad has been lead developer of the companies patents and proprietary process technologies.

Mark Berger. GM Project Deployment
Over 30 years’ EPCM/LSTK project delivery experience, Mining, Power, Water and Petrochemical industries in Sub Saharan Africa. Experienced in process engineering, procurement and construction management, commissioning, and contracted operations. He has an extensive working knowledge in operation and maintenance of industrial process facilities, with a comprehensive understanding of South African requirements for BBBEE (Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment).

Harry Larkins: Extractive Metallurgical Engineer, Process oversight
An accomplished Extractive Metallurgical Engineer with over 30 years of experience in the minerals industry, specializing in the design, construction, and operation of complex mineral processing plants, significantly increasing the efficiencies of extractive metallurgy process. As co-founder and Technical Director of Mineral Resource Development (MRD), he led successful projects deployments across multiple African countries. Renowned for his technical acumen and innovative problem-solving, he remains a leading figure in advancing sustainable and efficient mineral processing solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

ADVISORY BOARD – CORPORATE AND FINANCE

Honorable James W. Ziglar
Experience in law, investment banking, corporate management, government, and academia. Served as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior, oversight responsibility for the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation. Served as Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate and Commissioner of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at George Washington University Law School, Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Institute of Politics.

K. Brian Keegan, B.A & M.B.A.
Former Managing Director at J.P. Morgan and Merrill Lynch where he led the firms’ rating and capital structure advisory practices and directed numerous advisory assignments for governments, financial institutions and industrial corporations in over 45 countries. While at J.P. Morgan, Brian worked with French and German ministers of finance to structure the EFSF which became the principal means the EU used to support select sovereign states in the wake of the Great Financial Crisis.

Brian currently leads KB Keegan & Advisors LLC, a corporate finance consulting practice and is a Senior Advisor to PJT Partners, Monolith Capital and Mizizi Africa. Brian’s broad set of experience, across industries and geographies, enables him to lead effectively by example.

Dr Willem Van Niekerk Ph.D, Pr.Eng, FSAIMM, GAICD
Senior Vice President for Tronox, world’s largest vertically integrated Titanium-dioxide producer. Was on subsidiary boards, GM (Technology), MD (Zincor) for Kumba Resources(South Africa). Was MD Exxaro Australia Mineral Sands and EGM Services at Exxaro Ltd, South Africa. Has PhD (UP) in Metallurgical Engineering, MBA and a BCom. Prior to retiring was non- executive director at Tronox Mineral Sands in South Africa. Served as President of Southern African Institute in Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), elected as an SAIMM Honorary Life Fellow, also a Fellow of SAAE (South African Academy of Engineering). Published over 20 international conference and refereed papers.

Pénélope Gibson PhD
A patent attorney and specialist in intellectual property, with over 25 years international experience in IP, valuation and business growth. Before setting up her own consultancy, Penelope was founder member and director of fast-growth technology companies, as well as government and policy advisor (UK, New Zealand and China). She has pioneered new monetary models for IP, most recently facilitating acquisition of a client for USD200m.

Managed research collaborations across Europe, USA and Australasia, working with 45 universities and research institutes. Has been guest speaker at international conferences, including Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on ‘green’ technologies, has authored two reports relating to models of sustainable development.

ADVISORY BOARD – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Dr Patrick Glynn Adj. Professor (Griffith University)
Over 40 years’ experience in electrical/electronic process engineering research, including advanced micro-controller engine management systems, 16 years with Philips Electrical (Holland) in research and development. Also, research into advanced thermodynamic alternative energy systems applied large power generating plants with CSIRO Australia. Patrick has a diploma in electrical engineering, a Batchelor and master’s degree in technology management and a PhD. in electrical engineering (Doppler Radar System Proximity Detection) for automobile and mine vehicle use.

Dr Johan Zietsman Pr. Eng. MSAIMM MTMS
Experienced in extractive metallurgy, software engineering related to extractive metallurgy with honorary appointment, to University of Pretoria, as Glencore Chair in Pyrometallurgical Modelling. Interests include pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes, thermochemistry, computational modelling, new process development, design and development of software related to information systems, process and financial modelling, advanced process control, and applied industrial research methodology. Has a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, published several papers at peer reviewed conferences and in refereed journals. Founder, Ex Mente Technologies (Pty) Ltd.

Dr Tim Johnson PhD FIMMM
Experienced in plasma arc technologies for processing, extraction and recovery of metals and materials, remediation of wastes, and waste to energy applications. Technical Director, Project Manager, and Principal Process Engineer responsible for development of plasma arc devices, specification and design of 21 plasma systems, commissioning of 14 plasma installations. Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham and Fellow of the UK Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Over 120 publications in plasma technology and advanced materials, including 5 patents and 67 refereed journal and conference papers, with 32 presentations at international conferences.

Dr Graham Harris FTSE
Environmental scientist, holding executive positions in Government Research, retiring as a CSIRO Fellow, Australia. Held positions as Affiliate or Adjunct Professor at a number of leading Universities. Chairman of Australian Antarctic Division Research Advisory Committee and member of Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage Threatened Species Committee. Specialising in ecosystem modelling and management, emphasis on natural resource management. Awards include, CSIRO Chairman’s gold medal and Australian Centenary Medal for services to environmental science and technology. published over 140 papers (75 in refereed journals) plus 3 books and monographs. Founding Director, ESE Systems Pty. Ltd.

Johan van der Waals PhD
Director of Terra Soil Science (Pty) Ltd (specialist environmental consulting). 20years experience in academic soil science and soil chemistry research, environmental consulting and environmental compliance matters. Has a wide environmental science interest with application in a range of fields, from wetland management and rehabilitation dealing with mining wastes and residues. Developed a proprietary floating wetlands system for industry water treatment. Johan fosters the sustainable management and development of natural resources from a soil perspective, while creating a robust intellectual environment in which to achieve this aim.

Dr Hongming Yan. BE, PhD, RPEQ, CEng & FIChemE
Over 30 years’ comprehensive experience as a Principle/Senior Process Engineer / Project Manager in coal science, coal gasification, coal combustion, CPP and process modelling, including as an academic (up to Professor) in chemical engineering at Australian universities, an Elected Fellow of Institution of Chemical Engineers (FIChemE) by Engineering Council in UK, a Corporate member (MIChemE). Over 100 publications including 82 refereed journal and conference papers, 4 keynote speeches, 30 presentations at international conferences including over 10 reports on CPP Design and simulation.

Dr Roland K.W. Merkle. Dipl.Min., Dr rer.nat.
Roland Merkle is an ore mineralogist and applied mineralogist, who studied geology/palaeontology and mineralogy at Mainz University (Germany). He joined the Bushveld Research Institute in 1983 and later the teaching staff at the Geology Department of the University of Pretoria. Roland has a very varied teaching background ranging from first year introductory courses in geology and mineralogy to economic geology, crystal chemistry, and geo-statistics. Since August 2019 he is Professor emeritus.

Roland has authored and co-authored some seventy papers in peer reviewed journals, books, and conference proceedings, and more than a hundred contributions to scientific conferences. He also was vice-chairman of the Commission on Ore Mineralogy, International Mineralogical Association 1998-2002 and elected chairman for the period 2002-2006. His present research interests focus predominantly on coal and precious metal placers.

Pieter Willem Jacobus (Jaco) Delport. BSc Honours Geology
Jaco has over two decades of experience in exploration geology, mineral resource management, and sustainable mining practices. Based in Pretoria, South Africa, he is the owner and principal geologist of Delport Explorations CC and Gneiss Granite CC. His work integrates cutting-edge geostatistical modelling with field data to uncover economically viable resource deposits while minimizing environmental impacts.

Jaco’s expertise includes geological mapping, core logging, geochronology, and advanced mineral analysis using techniques like XRF, XRD, and SEM. As an active member of the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA), Jaco has co-authored several academic publications on mining, geochemistry, mineralogy and has lectured at the University of Pretoria and University of Cape Town. Known for his ability to combine technical precision with practical insights, Jaco has consulted for multinational companies and spearheaded innovative approaches to mineral resource evaluation, such as 3D geological modelling and sustainable extraction techniques. His leadership in reopening and modernizing inactive mines highlights his commitment to resource optimization and environmental stewardship.

Dr Daoyong (Tony) Yang. P. Eng
Ph.D., Petroleum Systems Engineering, University of Regina, Canada
Ph.D., Petroleum Engineering, University of Petroleum, China
B.Sc., Petroleum Engineering, University of Petroleum, China

Tony Yang is a professor of Energy Systems Engineering program in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Regina. Previously, he worked as a petroleum engineer for 3 years in the PetroChina TuHa Oilfield Company with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and as a reservoir engineer for 4 years in the Software Development and Information Centre of Petroleum Engineering, CNPC. Also, he was a senior visiting research scientist at the Imperial Oil Resources Limited during his sabbatical leave (2021-2022).

Tony’s major research areas include reservoir description and dynamics, phase behaviour, mass and heat transfer, transient pressure/rate analysis, assisted history matching, formation evaluation, production optimization, CO2 EOR and storage, reservoir geomechanics, artificial-lift methods, transport phenomena, interfacial interactions in EOR processes, heavy-oil recovery, and unconventional resources exploitation. He has authored and coauthored 203 refereed-journal articles and 140 conference papers and holds three patents.

Tony is the recipient of the 2011 SPE Canada Region Regional Formation Evaluation Award, 2013 SPE Canada Region Regional Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award, 2018 SPE Canada Region Regional Distinguished Achievement Award for Petroleum Engineering Faculty, and 2022 Outstanding Technical Reviewer Award (SPE Journal). He
was an associate editor for the Journal of Energy Resources Technology (2015-2021) and included in the 2023 Stanford’s list of the world top 2% scientists.

Tony is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), American Chemical Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts, and a registered professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan, Canada.