Board of Directors

Mr. Higgins graduated in 1972 from the University of New South Wales (Sydney campus), majoring in geology. His international experience in the mineral resources sector has included 20 years with Shell/Billiton Group companies at senior executive levels. This included work in all facets of base and precious metals exploration and business development worldwide, and involvement in two major, multi-million-ounce gold discoveries from grassroots stage, one in Australia and the other in South Africa. Mr. Higgins went on to set up several junior exploration and development companies, two of which listed via RTO on the ASX and TSX-V.  Both companies made significant gold discoveries in West Africa.  In 2005 he co-founded, and was the Managing Director of IGPL, until the AIM listing of PAT in 2017.

Mark joined Panthera from an AIM-listed oil and gas producer where he has played a key role in resolving several complex legacy issues in India.  Prior to that role, Mark held executive roles at La Mancha Australia and First Quantum Minerals Ltd where he aided in the management and financing of several new project development opportunities, including in many challenging jurisdictions.  Mark commenced his career at Ernst & Young, stepping down as a Director in Ernst & Young’s Corporate Finance business.

Mark has considerable experience in the development and financing of new minerals projects, particularly in emerging economies.  He has held Senior Executive roles in a number of companies listed on the AIM, ASX, LSE and TSX. He has particular expertise in resolving complex commercial and legal matters including several international arbitrations.

Mr. Hargreaves has over 45 years’ experience in technical and managerial roles in the petroleum and minerals sectors in Asia and the Middle East for major companies as well as start-ups and independents including over 12 years of Board experience with petroleum, mining and environmental companies. Since 2009 he has been Research Director of Resources for Republic Investment Management, a Singapore based investment fund.

Mr Stein is a professional investor and executive specializing in the metals and mining sector and is currently the Founder, President and CEO of Kuya Silver, a Canadian-based public Company listed on the CSE. He is also a unit holder and acts as Portfolio Manager for Ore Acquisition Partners LP, a shareholder of Panthera Resources PLC. Previously, Mr Stein was President and CEO of Aberdeen International, a mining-focused investment Company, and before 2010 was a partner at Cormark Securities, where he was a gold and precious metals research analyst, Director and member of the executive committee. Mr Stein holds a Master of Science degree in Economic Geology and Bachelor of Applied Science in Geological Engineering from Queen’s University and is a CFA charter holder.

Ms. Apthorpe is a solicitor and Company secretary with over 20 years’ post-qualified experience and over 15 years of in-house experience in the mining sector across several jurisdictions. She is currently Group Corporate Counsel & Company Secretary of Capital Limited, a leading mining services Company listed on LSE’s main market.  She has extensive experience in fundraisings, due diligence exercises, acquisitions, strategic investments, project management and debt financing, in addition to the routine day to day commercial challenges faced in-house and as a Company secretary.  She was nominated and selected for the Top 100 Global Inspiration Women in Mining 2016 and formed part of the senior management team of Amara Mining plc from 2009 until 2016 when it was taken over by Perseus Mining. Ms. Apthorpe is also a Non-Executive Director of First Tin plc which listed on the main market of LSE in 2022.