THE
LITHIUM UNIVERSE TEAM
Lithium Universe (ASX: LU7) is headed by lithium trailblazer Iggy Tan and features industry expert Dr Jingyuan Liu. The team has a proven track record of building and operating lithium projects worldwide, including the successful development of the Mt Cattlin spodumene project and the 17,000 tpa Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant.
Board of Directors
Mr Gernot Abl
Non-Executive Chairman
Mr Abl is a professional investor and seasoned corporate executive with over 15 years’ experience working with ASX listed companies. He has a background in law and corporate finance and has advised on or been involved in over a dozen IPOs, RTOs and capital raisings on the ASX.
Mr Abl currently holds the role of Chairman of dorsaVi Limited (ASX:DVL), Nelson Resources Limited (ASX:NES) and Peako Limited (ASX:PKO). Previously the Chairman of Decidr AI Industries Limited (ASX:DAI).
Mr Harry Spindler
Non-Executive Director
Mr Harry Spindler is an experienced corporate professional with a broad range of corporate governance, capital markets, finance and ASX compliance experience spanning 24 years. He has extensive experience supporting ASX-listed companies through IPOs, reverse takeovers, capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions, and ongoing regulatory and statutory compliance.
Mr Spindler has held a number of company secretarial roles for ASX-listed entities across the resources, technology and energy sectors, with operations in local and international jurisdictions. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and an Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia
Mr Rohan Bone
Non-Executive Director
Mr Rohan Bone is an experienced mining executive with more than 18 years of international experience across Australia, Asia, North America and Europe in the mining and minerals industry. His career has included senior leadership roles across operations, strategy, business development, project development and commercial management in multiple commodities and jurisdictions.
Mr Bone is currently Chief Executive Officer of Infini Resources, where he leads the company’s uranium and lithium exploration activities across Australia and Canada, including corporate strategy, governance, investor relations, and project development.
Previously, Mr Bone held senior positions with Alcoa and Thyssenkrupp Mining Technologies, where he led major feasibility studies, operational strategy initiatives, business transformation programs, contract negotiations and commercial evaluations across global mining operations. Mr Bone holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) from Curtin University, a Master of Engineering Science from University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma in Regional Development from University of Western Australia.
Management & Advisors
Mr Iggy Tan
B.Sc MBA GAICD
CEO
Mr Iggy Tan, a trailblazer in the modern lithium industry, was among the first Australian mining executives to identify the significant opportunity in the emerging lithium-ion battery sector when he spearheaded Galaxy Resources Limited (Galaxy). Mr Tan is looking to replicate the success with Lithium Universe, having built Galaxy’s Mt Cattlin Spodumene Project and the downstream Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate project. He also acquired the James Bay Spodumene Project in Canada and the Sal de Vida Brine Project in Argentina for Galaxy. When he started at Galaxy, the company’s market capitalisation was less than A$10 million and rose to A$2.5 billion when the Company merged with Orocobre Limited in August 2021. Iggy's experience working with lithium dates back to the early 1990s when he briefly managed the Greenbushes Lithium Mine and commissioned the first Lithium Carbonate plant for Gwalia Consolidated.
Mr Tan has over 30 years’ chemical and mining experience and has been an executive director of a number of ASX-listed companies. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Cross, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently CEO and Managing Director of Altech Batteries Limited.
Mr John Sobolewski
Chief Financial
Officer
Mr Sobolewski’s experience in the lithium industry offers another valuable addition to the LU7 Dream Team. At Galaxy Resources, he played a pivotal role during the feasibility, funding, construction, and operation phases of the Mt Cattlin Spodumene mine and Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate refinery. He was also crucial in establishing teams and systems in Australia and internationally. His experience in financial modelling and debt modelling for both projects will be critical in Lithium Universe completing Definitive Feasibility Studies of the Québec Lithium Processing Hub concentrator and lithium carbonate refinery projects.
Mr Sobolewski is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His previous roles include Managing Director and CEO with Mintrex, CFO and Company Secretary with Mintrex, Galaxy Resources Limited and Vital Metals Limited, Financial Controller and Company Secretary with Croesus Mining NL and Group Accountant and Company Secretary with Titan Resources NL
Dr Jingyuan Liu
PhD AAICD
Chief Technical Officer
Dr Jingyuan Liu is widely regarded as a leading technical expert in the lithium industry. He previously held the position of General Manager of Development and Technologies at Galaxy Resources Limited, where he was responsible for overseeing the construction and commissioning of the Mt Cattlin Spodumene Project and the world-renowned Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate plant. Jingyuan also played a key role in designing the flow sheet for the Sal de Vida brine project. Following his work with Galaxy, he has acted as a special adviser to various lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide projects globally, including the Lithium Hydroxide Plant operated by Tianqi in Kwinana, Western Australia.
Dr Liu has over 30 years’ experience in project management, process and equipment design for minerals processing and in the chemicals, non-ferrous metals, iron & steel and energy industries, both in Australian and internationally. He was awarded a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Newcastle, Australia. He has worked in senior chemical engineering roles with leading companies such as Hatch Engineering and Metso Minerals in Australia and Malaysia.
Dr Liu is currently Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC) developing high capacity silicon anode lithium ion batteries.
Mr John Loxton
Head of Lithium
Carbonate Refinery
Mr John Loxton’s lithium experience commenced in 2010 with work on the Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant EPCM for Galaxy Resources in China where his responsibilities initially were at a Sponsor level, and further into the project he was Project Manager, managing the final stages of construction and commissioning.
In 2019, John was engaged by Tianqi Lithium as Head of Projects for the execution of their investment in a lithium hydroxide processing plant in Kwinana, Western Australia. John managed the commissioning of the first train achieving first product in 2021 and undertook execution planning and establishing a project team for an identical second train in 2022. Mr Loxton is a project manager with over 45 years of experience across a diverse range of energy, industrial, process, civil, and major infrastructure projects.
Mr Roger Pover
Head of
Processing
Mr Roger Pover has been appointed as Head of Processing and will lead the processing and concentrating strategy for the Apollo First to Market program. Mr Pover was previously Mt Cattlin Plant Manager who operated the Mt Cattlin operation for Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY). Roger was part of the commissioning and start up team and operated the plant for many years. Roger also directed all the optimisation modifications that were made at Mt Cattlin.
Mr Pover is also a veteran in the lithium industry, having commenced his career at Greenbushes lithium mine in the early 1990’s. Roger has a 45-year career in the mining and chemical processing industries involving mineral sands, alumina refining, lithium, iron, tantalum minerals and tin production.
Mr Terry Stark
BAppSc
Head of Mining
Mr Terry Stark, a mining engineer, has been appointed as Head of Mining. Mr Stark was previously Managing Director – Resources Division for Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX:GXY). Terry was responsible for all of GXY mineral resources assets such as exploration and mine operations. Terry oversaw the Mt Cattlin construction and subsequent successful start-up. He also managed the GXY James Bay project and had a good relationship with the local Cree Nation.
Mr Stark holds a Bachelor of Applied Science specialising in Mining Engineering.
Ms Victoria Vargas
BSc Economics (Hons) MBA
Director - Canada
Ms. Vargas brings to Lithium Universe Ltd over 25 years of experience in the North American capital markets, with a significant focus on the Canadian mineral sector. She began her career at Kinross Gold Corporation and joined Alamos Gold Inc. in 2004. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in enhancing investor exposure and facilitating the Company’s transition from the TSX Venture to the TSX. Prior to joining Alamos Gold, Ms Vargas worked for H2O Innovation, a Quebec-based company focused on providing best-in-class technologies and services for the water and wastewater treatment industry.
Ms. Vargas is highly skilled in sustainability and community engagement from both and operational and governance standpoint and has served on the health, safety, and corporate social responsibility committees at both the Chamber of Mines of Mexico and the Canadian Mining Task Force. Her extensive expertise extends across international projects in multiple jurisdictions, with a focus on mineral projects in Québec and Ontario.
Ms. Vargas is currently acts as the CFO of VMS Mining, a privately held company; VP of Investor Relations of Minera Alamos and a Capital Markets advisor to Wallbridge Mining. Victoria Vargas earned an MBA in Finance and a B.Sc. in Economics with Honors.
