Panther Metals Appoints Melissa Sanderson as Strategic Advisor for Government Relations and ESG
April 11, 2024 (Source) — Panther Metals PLC (LSE:PALM) the company focused on developing Canada’s next VMS camp and graphite deposit, is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Sanderson in the role of Strategic Advisor for Government Relations, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to the Company.
Melissa ‘Mel’ Sanderson combines over three decades of experience in geostrategic planning, Ethical Sustainable Growth (ESG), and cultural integration. Fluent in five languages Mel’s wide ranging expertise spans the mining industry, critical minerals strategy, international diplomacy, and sustainable development. Currently leading MECA Consulting and contributing her knowledge as a Professor at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, Mel holds significant roles on various public market Boards, driving ESG and decarbonisation efforts.
CEO, Darren Hazelwood, commented:
“The global macroeconomic resource dynamic has undergone a rapid transformational change over the last few years, with an increasing need to balance the supply of raw materials with the requirement to do so in a sustainable and ethical manner. These changes are materially impacting the junior exploration sector, and I believe it’s at this point that certain exploration companies such as Panther, will see a steep valuation renaissance as we successfully address the new paradigm.
We bear witness to an increasingly urgent governmental drive at international, national and provincial levels, to support the move to net zero via the discovery of sustainable resources. Against this backdrop, Panther Metals recognises that opportunities emerge during transformational periods, and embracing change and positioning at the forefront, is paramount to a successful growth business strategy.
Governments, manufacturers, major miners, and trading houses have all entered the market to support and address the burgeoning commodity deficits, offering both technical and financial support and moving explorers’ funding reliance away from the traditional equity markets.
Navigating the halls of power in Washington, Ottawa, London and Brussels, and understanding the nuances required to efficiently deliver positive results for a junior explorer is almost impossible and until now, only the mining majors have had a voice.
Our appointment of Melissa “Mel” Sanderson, a global ESG powerhouse with the political connections and business acumen to develop the required diplomatic connections, is at this point in our Company growth, extraordinary. In sporting terms, Accrington Stanley have just signed Lionel Messi!
Mel has already provided important guidance and support, and the whole Board looks forward to working together with her, on our journey of discovery at a time when Panther Metals emerges from some tough market conditions in great shape, and becomes more dynamic, flexible, and aggressive.
On behalf of the Company and our shareholders I welcome Mel into Panther Metals and thank her for joining us as Strategic Advisor.“
Further Information
Mel is focused on leveraging her extensive geostrategic training and experience in ESG to foster sustainable success in medium to large mining companies. Her previous US Foreign Service career achievements amongst others include: facilitating United States – Democratic Republic of Congo government relations; managing the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) reduction treaties in Russia; directing anti-drug measures in El Salvador; and ensuring Poland’s preparation for NATO membership.
Professional Experience:
· President, MECA Consulting LLC (6/2020 – Present): Specialises in government and public relations with an emphasis on ESG, DEI, and diplomatic relations for resource sector companies.
· Professor of Practice, Arizona State University, Thunderbird School of Global Management (05/2021 – Present): Educates future leaders about international organisations including the United Nations, African Union, and World Bank.
· Partner, Africa-US Business Opportunities (8/2020-Present): Identifies and assesses investment projects in Africa, fostering mutual prosperity.
· President, North America, American Rare Earths Limited (01/2023 – 10/2023): Oversaw investor relations, business transformation, and development.
· Freeport McMoRan Inc (5/2010 – 6/2020): Led international affairs, merging public and government relations with sustainable development.
· Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, Inc (9/2006 – 5/2010): Served as Vice President for Africa, establishing the government relations office in Kinshasa, DRC.
· US Foreign Service (1985-2006): Held various roles, focusing on counterterrorism, WMDs, trade negotiations, and more across diverse global postings.
For full disclosure purposes Melissa Sanderson holds the following current directorships and positions of responsibility.
| Advisor | Current directorships | Recent Memberships & Activities |
| Melissa Sanderson | MECA Consulting LLC (6/2020 – Present): PresidentAmerican Rare Earths Limited (11/2021 – Present): DirectorAuxico Resources Canada Inc. (09/2022 – Present): Non-Executive DirectorAdvance Metals (05/2022 – Present): DirectorCritical Minerals Institute (11/2022 – Present): Director | Chair, Arizona District Export Council (2016-2023)Chair, Mining Committee, Arizona Mexico Commission (2017-2023)Board Member, Arizona Council for Economic Education (2013-2023)Co-Chair, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (2017-2021) |
In relation to the appointment the Company today announces that Melissa Sanderson has been granted the following Options:
| Name | Number of New Options Granted | Exercise Price per Ordinary Share (pence) | Option Term from Grant Date | Total Options Held Following This Grant |
| Melissa Sanderson | 300,000 | 5.5 | 5 years | 300,000 |
Following these Options, the Company has granted options over an aggregate of 7,800,000 ordinary shares.
For further information please contact:
Panther Metals PLC:
Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive Officer: +44(0) 1462 429 743
+44(0) 7971 957 685
Brokers:
Tavira Financial Limited
Christopher James Kipling +44(0) 203 833 3743
SI Capital Limited
Nick Emerson +44(0) 1438 416 500
Axis Capital Markets Limited
Ben Tadd
Lewis Jones +44 (0)20 3026 0449
Notes to Editors
Panther Metals PLC is an exploration company listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. Panther is focussed on the discovery of commercially viable mineral deposits. The Company’s operational focus is on established mining jurisdictions with the capacity for project scalability. Drill targets are assessed rapidly utilising a combination of advanced technologies and extensive geological data to decipher potential commercial viability and act accordingly. Panther’s current geological portfolio comprises of three highly prospective properties in Ontario, Canada while the developing investment wing focuses on the targeting of nickel and gold in Australia.
Obonga Project
Panther Metals acquired the Obonga Greenstone Belt in July 2021 and have already identified five prospective primary targets: Wishbone, Awkward, Survey, Ottertooth and Silver Rim. A successful Phase 1 drilling campaign at Wishbone in Autumn 2021 revealed the presence of significant VMS-style mineralised systems on the property – the first such discovery across the entire greenstone belt. Intercepts include 27.3m of massive sulphide in hole one, and 51m of sulphide-dominated mineralisation in hole two. Both drill holes contained multiple lenses. Anomalous high-grade copper in lake sediment close to the target area has also been identified, increasing confidence in the prospectivity of the location.
Awkward is a highly anomalous magnetic target, interpreted to be a layered mafic intrusion and magmatic conduit based on mapped geology and airborne geophysics. Historic sampling in the area returned anomalous platinum and palladium (Pt, Pd) values, while historic drilling on the periphery of the target intersected non-assayed massive sulphide and copper (assumed to be chalcopyrite), non-assayed disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite in coarse gabbro, and non-assayed ‘marble cake’ gabbro (matching the description of the Lac des Iles Mine varitexture gabbro ore zone).
Two additional named targets, Survey and Ottertooth, both displays further coincident magnetic and electromagnetic anomalies and are adjacent to the contact between intrusive and extrusive mafic rocks. Historic drilling at Survey intersected several meters of massive sulphides in multiple intersections (main parts of the anomaly remain untested) while Ottertooth remains untested in its entirety.
Dotted Lake Project
Panther Metals acquired the Dotted Lake Project in July 2020, it is situated approximately 16km from Barrick Gold’s renowned Hemlo Gold Mine. An extensive soil programme conducted in 2021 identified numerous gold and base metal targets, all within the same geological footprint. Following the installation of a new trail providing direct access to the target location, an initial drilling programme in Autumn 2021 confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation within this system with anomalous gold continuing along strike and present within the surrounding area.
Manitou Lakes Project
The Manitou Lakes gold project is located approximately 300km’s east of Thunder Bay, Ontario and covers a total area of around 98sq km’s.
There are over 200 known gold occurrences on the Manitou Lakes project area with the wider Eagle/Manitou Lakes greenstone belt hosting numerous historic gold producers and is prospective for Archean age orogenic gold and associated base metal deposits.
Exploration work conducted by Shear Gold on the Project to date has identified numerous gold bearing structures and favourable geological host rocks through early-stage mapping and surface sampling. The work has focussed on two target areas, being the West Limb Gold Property and the Glass Reef Gold Property, both of which host historic gold mines which have never been systematically explored using modern techniques or drill tested
Fulcrum Metals Plc
Fulcrum Metals PLC (LON: FMET) is an AIM listed exploration company which finances and manages exploration projects focused on Canada, widely recognised as a top mining jurisdiction.
FMET currently holds a beneficial 100% interest in highly prospective gold and base metals projects in Ontario and Uranium projects in Saskatchewan.
Fulcrum’s strategy is to focus on discovery and commercialisation of its Projects through targeted exploration programmes. The primary focus is to make an economic discovery on the flagship Schreiber-Hemlo Properties and establishing the prospectivity of its wider Ontario and Saskatchewan portfolio with a view to securing potential joint venture and/or acquisition interest.
Panther Metals Plc own 20% of the issued share capital of Fulcrum Metals Plc and a 2% NSR on the Big Bear project.
Panther Metals Australia
Following the listing of Panther Metals’ Australian assets on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) in December 2021. The ASX listing has provided the Australian projects with the necessary capital to advance drill-ready targets focused on nickel and gold (within the Tier 1 Mining Districts of Laverton WA and in the NT). Through this spin-out Panther holds an attractive investment prospect, without any disruption to the Company’s capital structure and without any financial obligations.
Conclusion
Panther Metals understand that the commercial realities of building an exploration company requires expertise in geology, finance, and the markets within which they operate. The Company’s extensive network of industry leaders allows it to meet these objectives. Ultimately however, drilling success is the only route to discovery: the fundamental objective of any exploration company. Once Panther’s world-class geological team identify the anomalies, they work hard to get drilling. The drill hole is the only place where substantial and sustained capital growth originates and it’s with that operational focus Panther Metals will continue to advance.
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