Board & Management

Interim CEO & Director

James holds formal qualifications in mining engineering with more than 40 years’ experience in the mining industry in Australia, the United States, Africa and Indonesia, including 14 years as Managing Director of ASX-listed Morella Corporation Limited.

He has successfully sourced, developed and operated numerous key global projects with a focus on lithium and battery minerals. He has an extensive global investment network to underpin the capital requirements for project investment and development.

He was appointed to the Board on 12 August 2013. On 27 August 2023, James was appointed as Interim CEO.

He also serves as a Director of Greenwing Resources Limited.

Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer

Paul is an accountant with over 40 years of commercial experience in various technical and management roles within the minerals, coal and petroleum industries. He has also had significant corporate experience in the management and governance of ASX-listed resource and mining companies.

He was principal of a corporate consultancy firm from 2001 until 2018, when he was appointed an Executive Director at Sayona.

Paul was appointed to the Board on 10 March 2000.

Non-Executive Director

A vastly experienced corporate lawyer, Philip has a particular focus on equity markets, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and ASX regulations and compliance. He also has extensive experience with cross-border M&A transactions, including those involving Australian, U.S. and Canadian companies.

As an independent Non-Executive Director, Philip will join Sayona’s Audit and Risk and Remuneration and Nomination Committees. He was appointed to the Board on 27 August 2023.

Non-Executive Director

A qualified mine manager with more than 40 years coal experience in Australia and Indonesia, Alan joined Sayona’s Board on 5 August 2013.

He has had key roles in the establishment of several large mining and port operations in both Australia and Indonesia.

Allan is a former Director and Chief Operations Officer of New Hope Corporation Limited and has led the development of significant operations including PT Adaro Indonesia, PT Indonesia Bulk Terminal and PT Mult Harapan Utama in Indonesia.

He also serves as a Director of Morella Corporation Limited (previously Altura Mining Limited) and Interra Resources Limited.

Chief Executive Officer, Sayona Canada

With more than 30 years’ experience in the mining industry, Guy is an exceptional senior mining executive who has held strategic positions in the largest mining companies in Québec and Canada.

During his career, he has served as Chief Operating Officer for ArcelorMittal Mines Canada, General Manager of Mining for Falco Resources, and General Manager of Mining for Goldcorp's Eleonore mine.

An engineer by training, Guy has also chaired the board of directors of the National Institute of Mining since 2018.

Guy manages all of Sayona's activities in Québec, including the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Hub and the Eeyou-Istchee James Bay Hub.

He was appointed CEO of Sayona's Canadian subsidiaries effective 1 January 2023.

Chief Financial Officer, Sayona Canada

A graduate of McGill and Concordia Universities, Sal has more than 25 years' experience in strategic positions with leading companies. Prior to joining Sayona, Sal Vitale was Vice President Finance at LSSV Capital. Before that, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Alliance Magnesium.

As CFO, he guided Transforce to multiply its annual revenues to over $1 billion by overseeing over 50 acquisitions. At Intertape Polymer, Sal Vitale helped grow annual revenues from $200 million to $1 billion.

Sal puts his business building skills to work for Sayona and its ambitions to become a world-class company, a leader in the energy transition of transportation.

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Sylvain has been in charge of Sayona's operations in Québec since autumn 2022. He is responsible for the Company’s three projects in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, as well as the Moblan and Lac-Albert projects.

A specialist in mine project management and continuous process improvement, he has extensive experience in operations management for both open pit and underground mines.

During his career, Sylvain has worked on several IAMGOLD mining projects, notably as manager of a major capital project at the Essakane mine in Burkina Faso, where 3,500 workers were under his direction. He has also managed copper and gold mines and projects in Québec, Ontario and the United States.

Executive Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer

Cindy has applied her energy and conviction regarding sustainability, societal impact and value co-creation for Sayona since 2021.

Always on the lookout for best practices from mining companies around the world, she works to build exemplary relationships between the company and the communities where it operates.

Cindy sits on the Board of Directors of Women in Mining in Abitibi and of Propulsion Québec, the electric and intelligent transportation cluster. She holds an MBA, with a specialisation regarding the mining industry.

Executive Vice President & General Manager, Eeyou-Istchee James Bay Hub

A manager with more than 30 years' experience, Manon Bérubé has developed extensive experience in project management in various industries, including aluminium, gold and energy. She has been responsible for the planning, design, construction and commissioning of projects totalling several hundred million dollars.

Since joining Sayona in 2023, Manon has held the position of Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the Eeyou-Istchee James Bay Hub, where her expertise and leadership are strategic for the development of mining operations in this region.

Having started her career at the Québec Ministry of the Environment, Manon has a particular sensitivity for the environmental impacts of the various projects she leads. She has therefore developed in-depth knowledge and skills regarding the environment and the various approaches to sustainable development in carrying out projects.

Manon is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and Professional Engineers Ontario.