AIC Mines is guided by an experienced team focused on implementing corporate governance, risk management frameworks, and our strategy for growth
Our Executive Leadership and Senior Management are supported by a majority-independent Board committed to sustainable shareholder value growth.
Aaron Colleran
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Aaron has extensive experience in public markets mergers and acquisitions and strategic planning in the mining and exploration sectors. Prior to joining AIC Mines, Aaron was a founding member of the leadership team of ASX-listed Australian gold mining company Evolution Mining Limited, having managed its business development and investor relations program from inception through to 2018. He was instrumental in the multiple merger and acquisition transactions that created Evolution Mining, now one of Australia’s largest gold mining companies. Originally an exploration geologist, he worked as a mining analyst with stockbroker Eyres Reed Limited before moving into investment banking with CIBC World Markets and Standard Bank Plc. In 2006 Mr Colleran set up a consultancy providing corporate advice to junior and mid-tier exploration and mining companies.
Tim Benfield
Chief Operating Officer
Tim has over 30 years of experience in the mining sector and has held a range of senior roles including Chief Operating Officer, General Manager Operations and Chief Engineer within copper and gold mining companies. Most recently he was Chief Operating Officer with Fetch Metals, leading the development studies for the White Range Copper Project, located south of Cloncurry. Prior to this he was General Manager Project Development with Aeon Metals at the Walford Creek Copper Project, located north of Cloncurry. Tim was Chief Operating Officer with ASX-listed Kingsgate Consolidated from 2012 to 2016 where he oversaw gold mining operations in Australia and Thailand. Prior to this, Tim was General Manager of the Pajingo Gold Mine, located in North Queensland, from 2009 to 2012. Mr Benfield holds a diploma in Mining Engineering from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA from Murdoch University. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
John Callagher
Chief Financial Officer
John has over 25 years’ experience in senior financial, commercial, and corporate finance focused roles. John has held senior roles in large ASX listed companies, privately backed businesses and in corporate advisory. Before joining AIC Mines, he was CFO with Aurora Healthcare, where he established the Group’s stand-alone finance function and led asset divestment and debt refinancing processes. John was the General Manager Finance at Whitehaven Coal, an ASX100 company, for 8 years, and prior to that he was the Group Financial Controller at Aveo, a large, listed property group. John was a director with advisory firm KPMG in Sydney and London, focussing on mergers and acquisitions.
Michael Taylor
Executive General Manager Exploration
Mike joined AIC Mines in mid-2021. Prior to joining us he was Country Manager Australia for Teck Resources Ltd. Mike has over 25 years’ experience in base and precious metals exploration and mining. He has a track record of exploration success and was a joint recipient of the AMEC Prospector of the Year 2016 Award for the discovery of the Teena Zn-Pb Deposit in Queensland. Mr Taylor has also worked in North America and Asia both in exploration and business development. Mike holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science with Honours.
Audrey Ferguson
Company Secretary and General Counsel
Audrey is a qualified solicitor, an experienced company secretary and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has more than 25 years’ experience in legal and company secretarial roles. Before joining AIC Mines Audrey was General Counsel and Company Secretary for Bindaree Food Group. Prior to this role she held a range of legal and corporate roles with Rio Tinto in London and Sydney across the copper, diamonds, minerals and energy businesses.
Sebastian Casey
Executive General Manager People and Safety
Seb has over 19 years’ experience in corporate services spanning human resources, safety and environmental, social, and corporate governance. Seb has previously held similar roles with Oz Minerals, Evolution Mining and First Quantum Minerals. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.
Josef El-Raghy
Non-Executive Chairman
Mr. El-Raghy has extensive experience in developing and managing gold companies. Previously, he was Chairman of Centamin Plc, where he led its transformation from a junior explorer to a successful gold miner. Under his leadership, Centamin financed and developed Egypt’s first large-scale modern mine, the Sukari Gold Mine, which began production in 2009 and now produces ~500koz of gold annually. His tenure at Centamin provided deep expertise in project development, operations, and international capital markets.
He also has a decade of stockbroking experience, having been a director at CIBC Wood Gundy and Paterson Ord Minnett. He is currently also the Executive Chairman of Wia Gold Ltd.
Aaron Colleran
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Colleran has extensive experience in public markets, M&A, and strategic planning. He was a founding member of Evolution Mining, leading business development and investor relations from 2010 until 2018, playing a key role in its growth into one of Australia’s largest gold miners.
Originally an exploration geologist, he later became a mining analyst at Eyres Reed and moved into investment banking with CIBC World Markets and Standard Bank Plc.
Linda Hale
Non-Executive Director
Ms. Hale has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services, stockbroking and mining sectors. Previous roles have included Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Company Secretary and consulting in organisational change and project management. Ms. Hale holds a Bachelor of Business Degree, is a member of CPA Australia and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Brett Montgomery
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Montgomery has extensive experience in public company management in both executive and non-executive roles. Mr. Montgomery is currently Chairman of ASX-listed Asara Resources Ltd and Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Tanami Gold NL. He was previously Managing Director of Kalimantan Gold NL, and a Director of Bard1 Life Sciences Limited, Grants Patch Mining Ltd, EZA Corporation Ltd and Magnum Gas and Power Ltd.
Jon Young
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Young is Chairman of FMR Investments Ltd (AIC Mines’ largest shareholder) and is a Director of Wealth Management at Canaccord Genuity Financial Limited. Mr. Young has over 30 years’ experience in financial services. Mr. Young was previously a non-executive director of ASX-listed Greenstone Resources Limited and Breakaway Resources Limited.