Jon Dugdale and Luke Smith make up the small yet experienced management team of Asian Lion. The management team is also able to call upon the expertise provided by the Lion Manager to analyse and evaluate opportunities, where appropriate.
The Manager of Asian Lion identifies, researches, reviews and recommends resource projects for investment to the Asian Lion Investment Committee. Each project is individually discriminated on country risk, seeking countries with the best geology and opportunities combined with the lowest political/economic/legal risk.
Jon Dugdale BSc (Hons), MAusIMM
President, Asian Funds
Jon Dugdale graduated as a geologist with first class honours from the University of Melbourne in 1986, before joining WMC where he spent 7 years in exploration and mine geology in Western Australia and North Queensland. Jon then joined Mining Project Investors (MPI) in 1993, spending 12 years with the group in WA and then Victoria, responsible for project generation and management initially in WA, then eastern Australia. During this period, a number of discoveries were made by the MPI exploration team, including Silver Swan nickel deposit in WA and Golden Gift in Stawell. The takeover of MPI Mines saw Jon move to Leviathan Resources as Manager Exploration, responsible for building and managing the exploration portfolio in SE Australia.
Luke Smith BE (Mining)(Hons), MComm (Finance)
Vice President, Asian Funds
Luke Smith graduated with honours in Mining Engineering in 1999 from the University of NSW. Upon finishing his degree, he joined MineConsult as a Mining Engineer, working on numerous projects, including due diligence, feasibility studies and mining contracts within Australia and overseas. Luke completed a Masters of Commerce (Finance) in 2004.
Luke joined the Lion Manager in July 2004 and was subsequently appointed Assistant Manager of the African Funds. In 2007 Luke was appointed Investor Relations Manager of Lion Selection Limited.
In November 2008 Luke was appointed Vice President of Asian Lion.
Lion Manager – Executives
Robin Widdup
Robin Widdup is a geologist by training and has worked in the Zambian copperbelt, for the National Coal Board in the United Kingdom and for Mt Isa Mines in Australia. He joined J B Were & Son as a mining analyst in 1986 and subsequently became Manager of Resource Research. Robin left J B Were in early 1997 to establish Lion Selection Group.
Mike Brook
Mike Brook joined African Lion in March 2001 from institutional broking firm J B Were Limited, where he was a resource analyst for eight years. Mike specialised in the research of emerging resource companies in a variety of commodities, including gold, base metals and mineral sands. Prior to this Mike held mine geology positions, including Chief Geologist at the Mt Isa Copper operations, and geological and mine planning positions in USA and South Africa. Mike has responsibility for new investments across the Lion Group.
Chris Melloy
Chris Melloy is a mining engineer with experience in both operations and finance. He spent 11 years with MIM’s Mt Isa operations in planning, operating and senior management roles followed by 10 years as a mining analyst researching the base metals sector for J B Were & Son. Chris is an alternate director of AFL2 and a director of AFLM. Chris also sits on the AFL2 Investment Committee.
Peter Maloney
Peter Maloney has held senior executive positions with financial and commercial responsibility with several Australian companies, including WMC Limited, FH Faulding & Co and Santos Limited. He has been a director of several private and public companies, and is currently Chairman of Sedimentary Holdings Ltd. Peter joined Lion Selection as Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary in October 2003.