Ora Banda Mining has strengthened its boardroom credentials by appointing seasoned director John Richards as a non-executive director, effective 1 May. The mining veteran has also been designated as chair-elect, ahead of current chair Peter Mansell’s planned retirement at the close of the company’s annual general meeting in November.
Richards brings extensive mining experience
Richards brings 40 years of experience across the global mining and metals sectors, spanning executive roles and non-executive directorships. He currently chairs copper producer and explorer Sandfire Resources and serves as lead independent non-executive director at mineral sands developer Sheffield Resources. He has also previously served on the boards of Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings, working on exploration and growth committees responsible for capital allocation decisions across exploration and corporate growth.
The new Ora Banda director said he has watched managing director Luke Creagh and the team assemble a portfolio of operating and exploration assets over the past three years and has been impressed by what he described as a strong culture and a commitment to shared value for stakeholders.
“John is an outstanding successor to the Ora Banda Chair, having demonstrated throughout his career the attributes necessary to guide Ora Banda through its next growth phase. The Board and I are delighted to welcome John,” said current chair Peter Mansell.
Managing director Luke Creagh added that the incoming director’s depth of experience will be valuable as the company continues to build what it says is a premier gold business.
High-grade gold hits at Golden Pole
While strengthening its board for the next stage of expansion, Ora Banda has also been busy sharpening its growth story at the bottom end of the drill string. Last week, the company reported thick, high-grade hits from targeted infill and extension drilling at the Golden Pole lode, just 3 kilometres west of its Davyhurst processing plant within the Waihi project.
Standout intercepts include 3 metres at 44 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, featuring 2 metres at 64.6 g/t. A second hole intersected 11.3 metres at 10.5 g/t gold, including 2 metres at 48.2 g/t. A third hole delivered 3.5 metres assaying an impressive 31.3 g/t, within a wider 7-metre section grading 16.9 g/t gold. These results were supported by a string of eight more solid intercepts ranging from 3 metres to 7.9 metres long, carrying grades between 5.8 g/t and 23.1 g/t gold.
One standout hole among the suite of better results bored through a 0.4-metre intercept, more than making up for its short length by returning a grade of 80.9 g/t gold. These results come from 22 holes drilled at Golden Pole as part of an infill and extension drill program started at the turn of the year.
The company said the outstanding results have accelerated its plans to include Golden Pole in an updated Waihi mineral resource and ore reserve estimate, due in the June quarter. The company believes Waihi could now become a potential third underground mine, conveniently close to its Davyhurst processing plant.
With its chair succession plan now clearly mapped and fresh drilling momentum building on the ground, Ora Banda looks set to keep its focus on steady, value-adding growth.
