Aspire Mining

Board of Directors & Management

Mr Achit-Erdene Darambazar

Managing Director

Mr Achit-Erdene Darambazar was appointed to the Board of Directors as Managing Director of the Company on 7 December 2018 to concentrate on project financing and stakeholder relationship management. He holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and has extensive business experience in Mongolia where he has enjoyed success as Founder and Chairman of Mongolia International Capital Corporation LLC (MICC), a leading Mongolian investment banking firm.

Mr Michael Avery

Non-Executive Chairman

Michael (Mick) has been involved in the establishment and management of successful public and private companies in mining, exploration & development, mining consulting services and mining contractor services.

He is a 30 year plus mining industry veteran with a Bachelor of Mining Engineering and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a qualified Australian Coal Mine Manager and a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

He has worked for blue-chip mining and contracting companies (including Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Brambles) at operations and projects both in Australia and internationally.

These roles covered the full life cycle of open cut and underground mines from resource exploration and evaluation, through conceptual design, pre-feasibility, feasibility, construction, operation, and management.

He has also held executive level positions in the mining sector including being appointed as a Director on both public and private company boards and has held positions of Managing Director and Chairman. Mick has international experience in the mining sector outside of Australia including Mongolia, Indonesia, China, USA, South Africa, and Madagascar.

Mr Russell Taylor

Non-Executive Director 

Russell is a qualified and experienced Mining Engineer, Project Director, General Manager and Mining Executive with over 24 years of industry experience.

His employment history is with both large global resource companies and international mining contractors. Russell has experience in multiple commodities including coking coal, thermal Coal, PCI coal, mineral sands, copper/gold, iron ore and lithium. Russell has led international teams commissioning several open cut mines and associated major infrastructure to world class standards in Australia, Mongolia and India.

He is highly experienced in Operational Rescue Projects and has successfully turned around mines with quality assets, yet poor performance and negative margins.

Mr Boldbaatar Bat-Amgalan

Non-Executive Director

Mr Boldbaatar Bat-Amgalan has had senior roles in public relations and publishing and was previously a director of Erdenet Mining Company. He also previously held senior roles in the Government of Mongolia, including the State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the Communication Regulatory Commission.

Mr Samuel James Bowles

Chief Executive Officer

Mr Bowles has served the Company as the Chief Operating Officer since 16 March 2020 and has become the CEO as part of this restructure effective 16 May 2023. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from the University of New South Wales, and has over 20 years’ experience in technical, operational, and executive roles within the coal industry. Sam has been resident in Mongolia since 2010, during which time he has been responsible for managing coal mining, coal processing, coal transportation and logistics, and coal sales activities, including as Chief Operating Officer for Mongolian Mining Corporation and Mongolia Business Unit Head for TerraCom Limited. He is passionate about implementing world class and sustainable mining practices to the benefit to shareholders and the broader community.

Mr Jules Grove

Chief Financial Officer

Mr Jules Grove is Principal, CFO Advisory at Automic Group, and a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting). Over his career Jules has developed a broad skill set across strategic, operational, and commercial aspects of accounting, and brings strong technical experience. Jules is Big 4 trained, holding a senior position in external audit before moving to commercial roles including executive finance and CFO roles. He has a particular interest in supporting growth companies by providing insight through meaningful and robust accounting and finance processes.

Emily Austin

Company Secretary

Emily is an experienced Company Secretary and Corporate Governance Advisor to a portfolio of companies including ASX & NSX listed, incorporated overseas and within Australia, Unlisted Public and Private companies, Not for Profits and Charities in range of industries including Technology, Education, Health, Funds and Insurance, Finance and Treasury and oil, gas and mining. Emily is a member of the Governance Institute of Australia.