Board of Directors
Maurice is the Managing Director of Lipari Holdings BV and has been active in the diamond industry for over 37 years. He started his career in the diamond industry in 1985 in his family’s trading company which was incorporated in Antwerp by his father in 1956. Aftergut N. & Zonen b.v.b.a. became one of the largest family-operated rough diamond trading companies in the industry under the leadership of Maurice, with group sales in excess of US$100M.
Luiz holds a PhD in kimberlite geology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and was the South American Technical Director for De Beers for 15 years from 1985 to 2000. Post De Beers, Luiz held the position of Director of the Brazilian Geological Survey where he developed and implemented the national geological mapping program for a period of 3 years. Following his time at the Geological Survey, Luis held the position of Regional Manager for BHP Billiton, where he was responsible for the evaluation of mineral deposits in South America. Currently Luiz is President and CEO of Rio Grange Mining Company which is developing a heavy mineral deposit in the south of Brazil.
Augusto is the Chairman of the Standard & Chartered Bank in Angola and is the Managing Director of SOPEMI, the Angola-registered operating company for the Tchitengo property. Previously he was Vice President of ESCOM in Angola, and was President of BHP Billiton’s operating company in Angola during the time that they were developing the Tchegi kimberlite property. Previously he also held positions with Endiama, and the Angolan Ministry of Mines where he was a Director. Augusto is a Mining Engineer with a degree in Business Administration.
An experienced financial executive with 38 years’ experience, Bruce held the position of Vice President and CFO of Mountain Province Diamonds, which owns a 49% interest in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine in Canada, and Kennady Diamond Inc. During his career in the mining industry, Bruce has been directly responsible for arranging over US$525 million of senior debt financings, including US$370 million in senior financing for the construction of the Gahcho Kué diamond mine. Bruce is currently the Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer at Roscan Gold Corporation, a TSX-V listed company developing gold deposits in west Africa.
Paul is a leading global diamond industry analyst specializing in diamond supply/demand fundamentals. His research and analysis on the diamond industry is used by financial institutions, management consulting firms, private and public corporations, governments, intergovernmental organizations and universities including: HSBC, Fidelity Investments, UBS, Scotiabank, KPMG, Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group, De Beers, ALROSA, Rio Tinto, The International Monetary Fund and the governments of Canada, South Africa and Botswana.
A fellow of ICA (England and Wales) and a CPA CGA, Frances is currently VP and CFO at Adventus Mining Corporation, a company listed on the TSX-V with copper-gold projects in Ecuador, one of which has just completed a Feasibility Study and is progressing to mine construction decision in 2022, and zinc-lead projects in Ireland. Frances has years of senior executive positions in diverse sectors – telecommunications, information technology and publishing, with the last fifteen years in the mining sector.
A graduate of law from the University of Rio de Janeiro with an M.A. in comparative law from the New York University, Dr. Hermano has over 38 years of experience in the areas of corporate and commercial law, including mergers and acquisitions. He is a senior partner at the law firm Villemor Amaral Advogados, a well established law firm based in São Paulo which was formed in 1909.