THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHRISTOPHER GOSS
CHAIRMAN
Christopher is a minerals financier and economist, who ran business development for natural resources for the IFC. IFC is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group and is a major private sector investor in mining in emerging markets. He led IFC mining transactions in Africa, Russia, Central Asia, and Latin America. Prior to that, he advised African governments in natural resource policy and negotiations. From 2010-2017 he was on the board of and latterly Non-Executive Chairman of Triple Plate Junction, now Adriatic Metals listed on AIM in London. He led the IFC syndication of a $6bn loan to the major Oyu Tolgoi copper development in Mongolia, operated by Rio Tinto.
DIDIER FOHLEN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Didier has an engineering degree from the School of Geology and Mines, Nancy, France. He has 40 years of experience in natural resources, energy, and geoscience, including senior management positions in project finance, exploration, mine development, operations, and closure/rehabilitation. This included 15 years in the World Bank Group/IFC mining group working worldwide, three years with Orano Mines, managing new projects in Canada, Niger, and Namibia, as well as historical mines in the US and France. Over the last 12 years, held various top positions in Lydian International and was the Founder and then Executive Director of Tethyan Resources. He has about 8 years of working experience in Laos.
DR. RAEL LIPSON
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lipson is a consulting geologist and previously served as Chief Geologist for the Gold Fields Ltd. Denver office, with over 45 years of global exploration and mining experience. He assessed the geological potential of Au and Cu-Au deposits worldwide, from greenfields to producing mines, for JV or acquisition opportunities. He was a member of the discovery team of the world-class Black Mountain base metal deposits at Aggeneys, South Africa. Rael has served on the board of Golden Reign Resources (now Mako Mining Corp.) through both the exploration phase and the current successful mining and ongoing exploration phases of the high-grade San Albino gold deposits in Nicaragua. He also taught a graduate course on Exploration Targeting at the Colorado School of Mines.
TAN CHOON LENG
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Dr. Lipson is a consulting geologist and previously served as Chief Geologist for the Gold Fields Ltd. Denver office, with over 45 years of global exploration and mining experience. He assessed the geological potential of Au and Cu-Au deposits worldwide, from greenfields to producing mines, for JV or acquisition opportunities. He was a member of the discovery team of the world-class Black Mountain base metal deposits at Aggeneys, South Africa. Rael has served on the board of Golden Reign Resources (now Mako Mining Corp.) through both the exploration phase and the current successful mining and ongoing exploration phases of the high-grade San Albino gold deposits in Nicaragua. He also taught a graduate course on Exploration Targeting at the Colorado School of Mines.
DOUANGMALA PHOMMAVONG
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Ms. Douangmala is a leading Lao business figure with over 25 years of experience in tourism, hospitality, retail, and trade. She is Managing Director of EXO Travel Laos, Kamu Lodge, Monument Books, Villa Maly Hotel, and Duangmala Trading Sole Co., and plays an active role in national industry bodies. She serves as Vice-President of the Vientiane Capital Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Board Member of the LNCCI, Chairwoman of PATA Laos Chapter, and Vice-President of the Lao Association of Travel Agents. She also advises the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality on academic-industry collaboration. A long-standing champion of responsible tourism and private sector growth, she continues to shape Laos’ entrepreneurship and tourism landscape.
KHUANCHAI SIPHAKANLAYA
CHAIRMAN OF ANNAMITE RESOURCES LAOS
Khuanchai holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering from Bulgaria and has over three decades of experience in infrastructure, consulting, and government relations in Laos. He began his career as a Hydropower Engineer with Electricité du Laos in 1993, later moving into transport-sector consulting on construction and contract management. He founded Lao Consulting Group Ltd. (LCG) in 2000, now one of the country’s leading Lao-owned consulting firms, providing engineering, project management, and advisory services. He has collaborated with major international partners, including Tethyan Resources (formerly Eurasian Minerals), and currently works with SustainRisk on strategic projects in Laos. He is widely recognized for his extensive knowledge of government policy, regulatory processes, and investment facilitation in Laos.