Our Team
Verdant Minerals is led by a multidisciplinary team of mining, finance, and infrastructure professionals with deep experience in developing complex resource projects across Australia and internationally.
Board of Directors
Chairperson
Carmel Daniele
Carmel is the Founder and CIO of CD Capital, with over 30 years’ experience in mining investment and corporate advisory. She held senior roles at Newmont Mining and Normandy Mining, where she led major global M&A, including the US$24 billion merger that created the world’s largest gold company.
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Before founding CD Capital in 2006, Carmel worked in corporate finance at Deloitte and as an investment advisor to RAB Capital. She holds a Master of Laws (Corporate & Commercial) and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Managing Director
Chris Tziolis
Chris has more than 20 years’ experience in mining and infrastructure, previously holding senior roles at Rio Tinto and serving as Chief Development Officer of Energy Resources of Australia.
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Before joining Verdant in 2012, Chris worked with McKinsey & Company on strategy and performance improvement for global mining clients. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds an MBA, an MA in International Relations, and a BSc in Chemistry.
Director, Head Technical & Senior Resource Geologist – CD Capital
Garry Hemming
Garry is an experienced geologist and project developer with over 30 years in exploration, feasibility, and production across multiple commodities, including gold, base metals, and rare metals.
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He has managed listed resource companies and led exploration programs from discovery through production. Garry holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Geology) from the South Australian Institute of Technology and is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Non-Executive Director
James Whiteside
James brings extensive agribusiness and fertiliser industry experience as the current CEO of AUSVEG and former executive at Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL).
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He established and led Quantum Fertilisers, IPL’s global trading joint venture in Hong Kong, and has served as director and chairman of Fertilizer Australia and the International Fertilizer Association. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Non-Executive Director
Alan Grace
Alan is a chemical engineer with 35 years’ global experience designing, constructing, and operating chemical manufacturing facilities. He previously served as President – Global Manufacturing for Incitec Pivot Limited (ASX: IPL).
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Alan directed two AU$1 billion plant projects in Queensland and Louisiana and oversaw integration of Southern Cross Fertilisers following IPL’s acquisition from BHP. He was also a director of Fabchem China Ltd.
Non-Executive Director
The Hon Helen Coonan
Helen has had over 40 years professional experience including senior leadership roles in Executive Government and Ministerial supervision of key government agencies.
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She has served as Chairman of public companies and of industry and regulatory bodies.
Helen is the immediate past Chair of the Minerals Council of Australia , the peak representative body for Australia’s world leading minerals sector.
Non-Executive Director
Ryan Arrold
Ryan has over 25 years’ experience in international debt and equity markets, project finance, and infrastructure. He previously served on the board of the Australian Rail Track Corporation, overseeing multi-billion-dollar projects including Inland Rail.
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Ryan began his career as a lawyer and banker in Tokyo, Sydney, London, and New York, later moving into the power and commodities sectors. He developed, financed, and operated power stations across the Asia-Pacific and founded Aspen Nutritionals, later sold to Lactalis. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Laws and Master’s degrees in Criminology and Laws from the University of Sydney.
Executive Team
Chief Financial Officer
Callan Harding
Callan is a finance and resources executive with over 20 years’ experience across mining, processing, and infrastructure funds management.
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He has held finance and commercial roles with Rio Tinto and Infrastructure Capital, specialising in business development, corporate strategy, and project financing. He holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (QUT) and a Master of Commerce (UQ).
Project Director
Mark Skelton
Mark Skelton has extensive experience in the resources industry; enjoying an international career with BP Plc in downstream and upstream projects and operations; executive roles in project delivery and general management with Fortescue Metals Group; global consulting with an engineering services company and continues to provide expertise as a Non-Executive Director, and through his own consulting company.
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He is a chartered engineer with a strong business focus, who has had a diverse career in senior leadership positions including major projects, engineering, HSSE, business development, maintenance and supply chain management. His extensive experience has included project development from concept through execution with a focus on building business value through by creating a vision for success and creating engagement and alignment to deliver better outcomes.
Chief Geologist
Susan Dippel
Susan has 30 years’ experience as a geologist from greenfields exploration to mining (open cut and underground) in a diverse range of commodities including phosphate, coal, gold, mineral sands, base metals and diamonds at sites across Australia. She also has experience in tenement management, geological database implementation and administration, and groundwater geophysics.
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She holds a BSc (Hons 1) in Geology from the University of Newcastle (NSW) and an MSc from James Cook University (Qld), gained from a research project looking into the mineralogical, geochemical and radionuclide characteristics of phosphogypsum slurry and hemihydrate/dehydrate solids.
Susan also holds post-graduate qualifications in Mining (Geotechnical) Engineering from the University of NSW and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the International Association of Hydrogeologists. She is a Fellow of the Geological Society of Australia and a Competent Person for phosphate under JORC.
