Management Team
Gordon Ward - Chief Executive Officer
Peter Whittall - General Manager Mines
28 years of substantial mining experience including manager of underground coal mines for BHP Billiton in New South Wales, development of the greenfield Dendrobium mine for Illawarra Coal, and operation of the Tower and Appin coal mines in NSW.
Angela Horne - Financial Controller
Formerly finance manager at Top Energy Limited and management accountant at New Zealand Refining Company.
A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1995.
Doug White - Operations Manager
Doug was most recently the Deputy Chief Inspector of Coal Mines with the Department of Mines in Queensland, where he was a member of the board of examiners and Coal Mining Advisory Council. Prior to this, he was the relief General Manager for Peabody Energy's Australian operations. Doug has managed a number of large mines in Queensland both long wall and board and pillar. He has over 30yrs underground coal mining experience. Doug also has extensive knowledge of and a senior qualification in risk management.
Hélène Ambler - Relationships Manager
An 18-year background in journalism including eight years in Parliament's Press Gallery.
Most
recently, a Ministerial Press Secretary with the National Government
following two years as a key member of the National Party media unit in
Opposition and Campaign Press Secretary to Bill English.
Michael Lerch - Underground Mine Manager
28 years experience in the industry. Has worked as a Deputy and Undermanager for the majority of his career, with 10 years in board and pillar operations. Most recently an Undermanager and relief Mine Manager at Peabody's Wambo mine in New South Wales.
Nick Gribble - Engineering Manager
23 years mining experience in Central Queensland including the last year as mine services supervisor at the Oki North mine.
Previously the mine's electrical engineering manager for 9 years.
Ivan Liddell - Environmental Manager
One of the first Pike River staff members in 2005.
11 years in environmental management in the dairy industry and previously Waikato regional environment manager for Fonterra Co-Operative Group.
Dick Knapp - Human Resources Manager
An 8 year background in human resources management, concentrating on developing human capital, and 10 years in strategic management consultancy across a range of activities.
Neville Rockhouse - Safety & Training Manager
21 years in underground and open-cut mining operations in Australia before becoming professionally qualified in safety management.
National operations and continuing professional development manager for the NZ Institute of Safety Management and the vice-president of the International Safety and Health Practitioner Organisations.
Pieter van Rooyen - Technical Services Manager
14 years of minerals exploration and mining experience on heavy minerals, gold, iron ore and coal projects in South Africa, Tanzania and Namibia. He holds an Honours degree in Geology and a Masters degree in Mineral Resource Management and is a registered Professional Earth Scientist with SACNASP since 2005.
Previously Technical Services Manager since 2006 for Exxaro Resources Pty Ltd
Bob Reynolds - Consulting Marketing Adviser
17 years in coal marketing, securing coal export contracts for a diversified customer base, including major Japanese, Indian and Korean steel mills.
Previously, 19 years in coal mining management and engineering.