Peter Kane

Interim CEO

Peter is the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Aston.

He is a mining engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in the mining industry throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Peter began his career with BHP Iron Ore in Western Australia and then transferred to BHP Coal in Queensland where he held various operational roles over a 10 year period.

He then held senior executive roles at the Leighton Group for another 10 years, working in mine contracting and operations in Central Queensland and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, culminating in a role as General Manager of East Coast Australia and New Zealand.

As Chief Operating Officer for Macarthur Coal, Peter oversaw all operational aspects and project development.

In February 2011, Peter was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Boardwalk Resources, a private mining investment entity founded by Nathan Tinkler and containing a suite of coal development assets across Queensland and New South Wales.

Peter has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining), is a graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Garry Wayling

Interim CFO

Garry is interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Aston.

Garry has more than 30 years’ accounting and business experience. He held partnership roles at Arthur Anderson and Ernst & Young, and retired in 2010.

He is highly regarded as a specialist in emerging growth and private equity-backed businesses, with particular expertise in capital raising, IPOs, due diligence, valuations and governance reviews.

Garry holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a chartered accountant, a registered company auditor and a graduate from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Melissa Swain

Company Secretary and General Counsel

Melissa Swain is the Company Secretary and General Counsel of Aston.

Before joining Aston, Melissa was part of the corporate group at leading law firm, Freehills.

Melissa has significant experience in both public and private transactional work, predominantly in the coal sector. Melissa has been involved in advising a number of international and domestic mining companies on matters including joint ventures, farm-ins, takeovers and foreign investment. Melissa has also been involved in capital raisings and project finance across a range of industry sectors.

In addition to her transactional experience, Melissa has previously worked on-site with a number of her clients assisting with corporate governance and company secretarial matters.

A graduate of The University of Queensland, Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Laws with first class Honours and the University Medal.

Ross Brims

General Manager – Technical

Ross Brims is Aston’s General Manager – Technical.

Ross is a geologist with 32 years experience in the coal industry, ranging across exploration geology, technical marketing support, managing a coal processing facility and all facets associated with the evaluation, design and construction of CHPPs.

Prior to joining Aston, Ross had 14 years coal handling and preparation experience with Sedgman. During this period, Ross developed and managed a remote project design and implementation unit, managed various construction projects, commissioned a number of processing facilities and most recently as General Manager Business Development, played an integral role in the international expansion of Sedgman into Africa, India, Colombia and Mongolia.

Early in his career, Ross completed seven years as a coal exploration geologist in both a working mine environment and in “greenfield” exploration, for both Thiess and Rio Tinto Coal. Other roles included managing coal analytical laboratories and the development and operation of a fine coal recovery plant.

A graduate of Queensland University of Technology, Ross holds a Bachelor of Science (Applied Geology) and has undertaken post graduate studies in Mineral Economics and Coal Utilisation.

Lance Muir

General Manager – Maules Creek

Lance Muir is the General Manager – Maules Creek.

Lance has more than 20 years experience in the coal industry and has held a wide range of senior positions. Prior to joining Aston, Lance worked for Vale Australia and Shenhua Watermark Coal in senior infrastructure/corporate roles and is very familiar with the recent developments in the Hunter Valley coal chain.

Lance’s previous experience includes roles with Camberwell Coal, where he was General Manager from 1997 to 2006. Lance also carried out the marketing function for Camberwell and has significant experience in marketing semi-soft and thermal coals into South-East Asia.

Following the integration of Camberwell with Glennies Creek to become Integra Coal, Lance joined Camberwell’s major shareholder, Toyota Tsusho Mining, as a Director and was responsible for overseeing Toyota Tsusho’s business interests in Australia as well as business development in Australia and South-East Asia.

Lance also held roles at BP Coal at Howick and at Oakbridge’s Corporate and Bulga Operations.

Lance has previously held a number of senior industry positions as a Director – Newcastle Coal Shippers, Alternate Director – PWCS, Alternate Director – National Mining Industry Skills Council and Member – New South Wales Minerals Council Executive Committee.

Cameron Foot

General Manager – Mining

Cameron Foot is the General Manager – Mining.

Cameron has extensive experience in mine operations, technical mine planning and tendering, mine feasibility studies, production optimisation, contract development and project execution. Cameron has more than 28 years experience in mining, bulk earthmoving and construction.

Prior to commencing with Aston, Cameron held executive management roles with Leighton Contractors for a period of 12 years where he oversaw the business development of its mining business in the Australian eastern region with a particular focus on open-cut coal operations. Cameron was responsible for the development and start-up of five major greenfield/brownfield open-cut mines with a range of clients.

Cameron has also held roles at Normandy, MIM and Rio Tinto Coal. Cameron has worked for major mining houses and leading contractors in both mine operations and technical roles such as Technical Superintendent, Technical Manager, Coaling Superintendent, Overburden Superintendent, Drill and Blast Engineering, as well as Contractor Management.

Cameron is a qualified engineer with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and a Graduate Diploma in Mining from the Ballarat School of Mines.

David Smith

General Manager – Finance

David Smith is the General Manager – Finance.

Before joining Aston in June 2010, David was Chief Financial Offi cer and Company Secretary of Peplin, an ASX listed and US Securities and Exchange Commission registered biotechnology company. His experience at Peplin included public and private capital raisings, securing debt facilities and culminated in the successful sale of Peplin to LEO Pharma.

Prior to Peplin, David held roles with Enertrade as Senior Analyst and with Duke Energy International as Group Corporate Accountant in London and Brisbane. David started his career with Ernst & Young, working across industries within the audit and advisory practice.

A graduate from The University of Queensland, David holds a Bachelor of Commerce. He is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants, and holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Accounting.