The Board & Management Team
The Board, which has over 100 years’ experience in mining and natural resources development, financing and corporate management, aims to utilise its experience and knowledge to deliver on the Company’s strategic growth objectives and build shareholder value.
Meet our leadership team
BOARD
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Non-Executive Director
Mr Khwaja has over twenty years' experience in commerce and has established leading positions in a number of companies as a Founder, Partner and CFO. Ali brings deep experience of investing and operating across emerging markets, especially in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia as well as European and USA public markets. He is one of the founders of Oxford Frontier Capital, a company builder that owns successful ventures in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan including KTrade Securities. Previously he was a Partner at Autonomous Research and prior to that was Group CFO and Board Director of AIM listed SafeCharge International Group (acquired by NUVEI). Ali has been one of the top ranked analysts at Berenberg, Kudu Emerging Markets and UBS. He is an alumnus of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
As a qualified PhD geologist, Dr. Bisnath has over 28 years' experience in the mining industry with a focus on geological exploration. He started his career with Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited in South Africa and has spent most of his professional life within the African Continent.
Dr. Bisnath spent three years as a Lecturer in the Department Geology, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ('UKZN') in South Africa. His advisory contributions in guiding various projects to success showcase his ability to navigate complex multi-commodity projects at different stages of their development. Awarded by the University of Cape Town, his Ph.D. research delved into continental geodynamics and evolution, showcasing his profound commitment to advancing geological understanding. Furthermore, his understanding of geological dynamics, coupled with his hands-on field experience across Africa, including the DRC, makes him an invaluable member of the Critical Metals team.
Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Mr Tshienda is a UK national of Congolese origin who divides his time between the UK and the DRC. Mr. Tshienda is an accomplished mining professional with extensive expertise in natural resource management, mining governance, and international business economics, particularly within the DRC. He holds a degree in Economics & International Business and a Master of Arts in Global Affairs as well as Diploma in Natural Resources Management & Governance. In the past he has performed a consulting role for the DRC Mining Cadastre.
Mr. Williams has held senior leadership positions across multiple industries, geographies and sectors including manufacturing, telecommunications, agriculture, and chemical production. His experience includes strategic restructuring, project financing, and guiding companies through periods of operational and financial transformation. Notable achievements in his career range from facilitating complex M&A transactions to overseeing critical international projects spanning the UK, France, the USA, and Africa. He holds a Business Studies Honours Degree and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
STRATEGY
Critical Metals is focused on acquiring and developing brownfield mining opportunities in the critical minerals sector, as defined by the United States and European Union critical minerals list.
The Board believes there are significant opportunities in the high-value critical metal space as demand increases and supply constraints are accentuated. Critical metals demand is being driven by both the traditional sectors, including high-tech manufacturing and defence, as well as fast-growing developing markets including wind turbines, electric vehicles, next-generation batteries, solar cells and energy-efficient lighting.
The Company is focused on advancing low CAPEX and OPEX near-term production opportunities in order to generate short-term cash flow and build significant value for shareholders. This includes projects where the Board believe assets have been overlooked and under-analysed. Critical Metals’ primary geographic focus is Southern Africa, although individual projects will be assessed on their own merits.
Testament to this strategy, Critical Metals is currently developing the previously producing Molulu copper cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is focussed on returning the mine to production, targeting 120,000t/per annum of Copper Oxide Ore. Alongside this, the Company maintains an active growth strategy and through its extensive contact base is actively evaluating opportunities in commodities including tantalum, niobium, antimony, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements.
Critical Metals is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.