The leadership team offers a unique combination of experience and expertise that is ideally suited to the successful development and commercialisation of our lithium projects.
This includes some of the world’s leading lithium extraction and DLE experts, alongside wider industry, financial and commercial experience in Chile and more widely around the world.
Our Team
Steve Kesler
Independent Non-Executive Chairman
Committees: Remcom (Chair), Audit, ESG
45 years of executive and board roles experience in the mining sector across all major capital markets including AIM. Direct lithium experience as CEO/Director of European Lithium and Chile experience with Escondida and as the first CEO of Collahuasi.
Ignacio Mehech
Chief Executive Officer
Commercial/Operational/ESG
Former Country Manager for Albemarle in Chile up until 2024, managing a workforce of 1,100 employees and leading the strategy at the world’s largest lithium producer. Managed high profile engagements with investors, OEMs, NGOs, analysts, scientists and international government representatives. Native to Chile, Spanish speaking and fluent in English, Mr Mehech has deep leadership and project development experience in lithium production
Todd Ross
Independent Non-Executive Director
Commercial
Todd Ross is an Australian resident director with an extensive background in investment banking and project finance, having served as Managing Director, Head of Western Australia and Head of Metals and Mining at BNP Paribas. During his more than 20-year banking career, Mr Ross played a key role in the development of BNP Paribas’ position as a leading financier in the Australian lithium sector contributing to a number of major lithium mining project financings between 2016 and 2022 including a major transaction involving Pilbara Minerals.
Paul Atherton
Non-Executive Director
Committees: Audit (Chair), ESG (Chair), Remcom
Paul is a Chartered Accountant with experience in corporate finance with professional services firms and resource companies in sub- Saharan Africa. He was CFO then CEO at Heritage Oil (a FTSE 250 company) and after 18 years left to develop his interests as an angel investor and board director in a diversified portfolio of businesses in the resources, technology and healthcare sectors. He is Jersey resident and chairs the Audit & Risk Committee of the Board.
Nick Baxter
Head of Communications and ESG
Strategy and corporate communications experience, having worked with start-ups to FTSE100 and NASDAQ companies across media, environment, social and manufacturing industries. Previously held senior roles at award-winning ESG consultancy Blurred, Natural History Museum and Freuds Communications.
Guillermo Trujillo
Logistics and Administration Manager
29 years of experience in administration, finance and logistics management. Leading supply and logistics projects with minimal environmental impact in remote and difficult-to-access areas such as Antarctica and the high peaks of the Andes.
Geraldine Carmona
Finance Manager
Geraldine joins CTL as Finance Manager in Chile and is a Certified Public Accountant in both Venezuela and Chile. Geraldine gained extensive experience from her time at PwC and KPMG. Since moving from practice to industry, Geraldine has focused on working with environmental and renewable energy companies in Chile.
Dermot Boylan
Group Financial Controller
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Dermot brings extensive international, technical, corporate and commercial finance experience from the natural resources sector and more recently from within the small cap AIM-listed corporate environment.
Alvaro Florez
Legal Advisor
Alvaro Florez Keim is an attorney with over 15 years of experience, whose practice focuses on the mining, energy, and natural resources sectors, in corporate and project development matters. Before founding Kura Resources in 2017, Alvaro served as In-House Counsel for the multinational mining company Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (2011-2015). Afterwards, he joined the Energy, Mining, and Natural Resources Group of the Philippi, Prietocarrizosa, Ferrero DU & Uría firm as an associate (2015-2017). He also completed an internship in the Energy Projects Group.and Resources Natural of King & Wood Mallesons in the city of Brisbane (Australia, 2017).
Alvaro is a lawyer with a Bachelor of Laws from the Universidad de los Andes (2010) and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Queensland (Australia, 2017). He also completed a diploma in Environmental Law and Project Assessment at the University Finis Terrae (2011). He is an active member of CESCO since 2022.
Jason Baverstock
Executive Strategy & Development
Co-founder of CleanTech Lithium, 20 years of finance and mining sector experience in China, HK & Australia.
Gordon Stein
Chief Financial Officer
Commercial/Fundraising
Commercial CFO with over 30 years of expertise in the energy, natural resources and other sectors in both executive and non-executive director roles. A chartered accountant has worked with start-ups to major companies, including board roles of six LSE companies.
Marcelo Bravo
Technical Advisor
Expert with broad experience in providing specialised analysis of evaporation pond systems, processing plants and process design. Former head of processing at SQM’s Atacama project, the world’s largest lithium production base.
Aldo Boitano
Consultant
Operational/ESG
Co-founder of CleanTech Lithium, 25 years of management roles in the US & Chile, board member of the International Leadership Association. Pioneer in Chile’s solar industry with >800MW of projects deployed.