Key Personnel
Meet the Key Personnel for the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project.
Matthew Read
Project Director
Matthew Read has more than 30 years’ experience in project and commercial leadership roles. Most recently, Matthew was General Manager Lithium Projects at Neometals Ltd (ASX:NMT) managing international lithium studies and joint venture relationships. Prior he was Head of Projects at Tianqi Lithium Australia overseeing the development of its lithium hydroxide facility in Western Australia which included recruiting the owner’s team, negotiating and sourcing all major utility contracts, development of policies, procedures, systems and commissioning.
Matthew’s prior experience also includes Manager Contracts at the $10.5 billion Roy Hill Iron Ore Project where he was the Owner’s Team Contracts Manager for the Head EPC Contract.
The project was successfully completed and won numerous awards, of particular note being the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards (WA Division) for Resource Development.
He also brings extensive nickel laterite and sulphide experience from project and commercial leadership roles whilst working at BHP/WMC over an 11 year period.
His project development, commissioning, commercial, team building and joint venture management expertise in complex major resource projects makes him ideally suited to leading the development of the KNP – Goongarrie Hub.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) both from Monash University and a Masters of Business Administration from Latrobe University.
David Paget
Project Manager
David Paget is a Mechanical Engineer with 28 years’ experience in the resources sector, including extensive site and workshop-based project management, working with many of Australia’s largest mining companies.
David has experience in fabrication, construction, project engineering, project management, contract management, site management and scheduling. His project management experience includes estimating, procurement, scheduling, budget establishment and control, preparation of contract documentation, contractor evaluation, selection and control, transport and logistics, and reporting.
David’s prior experience includes acting as General Manager Projects to manage the FEED phase leading to the preliminary financial investment decision for a lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including contractor engagement and development of project procedures, budget and the Implementation Plan.
During the definitive feasibility study (DFS) of this project, David acted as the Owner’s Project Controls Manager and was responsible for the successful completion of the DFS. He was the EPCM contractors’ site manager, managing the owner’s team and contractors for modifications of the ore preparation circuit and other works for the restart of the Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation for First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
David holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from Curtin University.
Louise Marx
Project Services Manager
Louise Marx is an Industrial Engineer with 20 years’ experience in commercial, project services and project management roles, mainly within the mining and resources sector.
Her project services experience includes portfolio and project management, budget and cost control, contract management and strategic sourcing, estimating and budget control, and scheduling and reporting. She also brings extensive systems and reporting experience.
Louise’s previous experience includes her appointments as Manager Projects and Manager Capital Procurement for an international iron ore resources company, as part of the Anglo American group.
Louise holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial) from the University of Pretoria and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
Justine Hyams
Approvals Manager
Justine Hyams boasts over three decades of expertise as a commercial project manager and regulatory compliance expert, showcasing her exceptional skills across various industries. Her extensive background encompasses aviation, road engineering, high-pressure gas pipeline construction, and project management.
Justine has held key positions in leading global construction firms, local government bodies, and the private sector, where she excelled in multifaceted management roles, with a primary focus on construction, technology, public relations, and community engagement. In the corporate sector, she has accumulated substantial experience as a regulatory analyst and project delivery strategist, further enhancing her professional repertoire.
Jen Loh
Senior Management Accountant
Experienced Accounting and Finance Professional with 16+ years of employment history within the construction, property development and mining industry. Extensive knowledge of project accounting and successful at managing multiple projects. Notable achievements include leading projects that significantly cut report preparation time and staying consistently under budget.
Jen Loh is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Accounting from the Curtin University of Technology.
Alyson Blackburn
Human Resources Business Partner
Alyson Blackburn is a seasoned People & Culture professional with over 15 years’ experience in partnering with businesses to meet their Human Resource needs. As an HR Generalist, Alyson provides comprehensive support across the entire employee lifecycle.
Alyson is a Certified Human Resources Practitioner through the Australian Human Resources Institute. Her extensive background includes leading HR Change projects, Policy implementation, Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s and initiatives, and managing a HR portfolio at WA’s largest single-site employer.
Sarah Manzanares
Geology Manager
With over 20 years' experience in the mining industry, Sarah Manzanares stands out for her expertise in mining geology, geological modelling, mining portfolio management and her commitment to sustainable development. She is recognised for her expertise in geological database management, data quality control (QA/QC) and mineral resource modelling. Sarah has managed and supervised multidisciplinary technical teams on international projects, notably in New Caledonia, Madagascar, and contributed to the assessment of opportunities in Laos. She has contributed to the strategic growth of companies through asset optimization and risk management.
Sarah holds an engineering degree in geology from the UniLaSalle Polytechnic Institute in Paris and a DEUST in Mining, Water and the Environment from the University of New Caledonia. A member of AusIMM, she is actively involved in promoting best practice in resource modelling and sustainable development in the mining industry.
Irena Ivanova
Engineering Manager
Irena Ivanova holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and worked in the minerals and metals industry for over 25 years. Her commodity experience covers copper, nickel, cobalt, uranium, vanadium, magnetite / hematite, gold and battery recycling materials.
Irena has extensive expertise in process design, technology implementation, study, project and engineering management and team development, gained through her roles in international engineering houses, such as Hatch, Fluor, Tetra Tech and Ausenco. Prior to joining KNPL, Irena was a General Manager Evaluation Studies at Neometals Ltd.
Mike Miller
Principal Process Engineer
Mike Miller is a metallurgist whose track record includes over 35 years’ operating and developmental experience in hydrometallurgical operations. His primary focus has been in the area of nickel-cobalt production.
In addition to his background in technical operations management, Mike has a track record in process design and development. He brings a keen insight into the integrated nature of these operations. (BAppSci (Met), MBA, MAusIMM)