Leadership

Mr Jonathan Paul Back LLB, BCL
Executive Chairman and Managing Director

Mr. Jonathan Back is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales. Prior to working as a lawyer, Jonathan graduated from Oxford University having won the Vinerian Scholarship for the best performance in the Bachelor of Civil Laws degree.

Jonathan has over 18 years of experience in law and finance internationally, having spent significant periods in Europe, Hong Kong and Australia.

Jonathan first worked as a lawyer for the leading UK firm Linklaters for 4 years, specializing in large project finance transactions. This included the acquisition of the Gladstone Power Station in Queensland by a consortium expanding the Boyne Island aluminium smelter. Jonathan then worked for Schroders in the UK and in Hong Kong where he also focused on large infrastructure and energy projects including large power station projects in Portugal and the UK as well as port and energy projects across Australia and Asia. Following this Jonathan worked with Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong focusing on raising equity capital for telecoms and technology companies. Jonathan was then recruited by JPMorgan to join their equity team in Hong Kong, which he ran until 2007. During this time he worked on numerous transactions across different industries.

 

Mr Gary Kuo
Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer

Mr Kuo has more than 10 years’ experience in international import & exporting, commodities trading, international business development and strategic alliance planning. Before MGT Resources, he was the vice general manager for BAAO Mining which is a Chinese raw material trading company based in Tianjin, China.

Having bases in both Australia and China, Gary specializes in dealing with corporations in the mining & steel production sector. He works closely with his wide network of corporate and governmental contacts in countries such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

 

Mr George Monemvasitis OMIE Aust, MAICD
Non-Executive Director

Mr. George Monemvasitis is an engineer and corporate investor. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Sydney, Mr Monemvasitis has over 10 years experience in engineering analysis of resource sector capital raising both within Australia and China . A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mr Monemvasitis brings a wealth of technical knowledge and corporate governance.

 

Mr. Li Hai Jun
Non-Executive Director

Mr Li holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from the Beijing Architecture Engineering University, China. He has worked for one of the biggest state owned company which has imported plant and equipment for more than 280 projects for the nation in the iron & steel sector and other industrial sectors. Since 1989 Mr. Li has worked for a subsidiary company under Thyssen in Germany and then moved to Singapore to work as the Managing Director of Golden Mall Enterprise until 1999. Mr. Li has rich experience in connecting foreign companies with Chinese enterprises and ever been involved in more than 30 big projects with success. At present Mr. Li is the Managing Director of Unico Development Limited in Beijing providing consulting services to clients globally

In recent years Mr. Li has assisted Australian resources companies in establishing relationship with customers in China leading to a number of successful projects.

 

Mr. Robert Vagnoni
Independent Non-Executive Director

Mr Vagnoni is a mechanical engineer with 28 years in the global mining and construction industry and has extensive experience in corporate, project development and implementation of a diverse range of projects in Australia and overseas. He has held senior executive roles with major mining companies and engineering consultants specializing in project development and management, feasibilities, plant design and commissioning. He was a co-founder of publically listed mining companies, Murchison Metals and Extract Resources.

 

Mr. Damien Leibel
Project Director (MGT Mining Limited)

Damien Leibel is a mine geologist with specialist knowledge in GIS / GPS, Grade Control, mine planning and modelling. Upon graduating from James Cook University in Townsville with a Bachelor of Science (Geosciences), Mr. Leibel gained valuable experience in mining exploration work as a field manager before becoming a mine geologist team leader at Century Zinc Mine, the world’s second largest Zinc/Lead mine.

 

Ms. Jacqueline Butler
Chief Financial Officer

Jacqueline Butler qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountant, England and Wales (ICAEW) whilst working and training at Arthur Andersen in London. Prior to that Jacqueline graduated from the University of Exeter, UK with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Geography.

Jacqueline has worked within the UK and Europe in various financial roles before coming to Australia in 2005. Prior to joining MGT Resources Ltd, Jacqueline was an Associate Director at a boutique Chartered Accounting firm, Azure Group Pty Ltd, in Sydney where she acted as CFO for a variety of clients including those in the resource sector.

 

Mr. Alex Moody
Company Secretary

Alex holds a Bachelor of International Relations from Bond University, Queensland. Upon graduating, Alex was hired in the field of mining and earthmoving equipment financing.

Alex brings the experience of owning and operating his own business for several years.

A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Alex is currently completing his MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management.