CROSSLANDS' EXECUTIVE TEAM
Andrew Caruso
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Caruso is a qualified mining engineer and brings to the role nearly 20 years experience in the Australian and Indonesian mining industries.
Before his appointment as CEO of Crosslands, Mr Caruso was Managing Director at Australasian Resources where he was instrumental in the acquisition and development of the Balmoral South Iron project. Prior to that Mr Caruso has worked with Snowden Mining Consultants, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, BHP Coal, PT Inco Indonesia and the Robe River joint venture operated by Rio Tinto.
Roland Bartsch
Vice President Geology
Mr Bartsch has extensive experience on large exploration projects across several mineral commodities in Europe, northern America, Africa, south-east Asia and Australia and brings additional senior executive experience to the Crosslands team.
Mr Bartsch most recently worked with Perth based Strategic Minerals Corporation as the company’s technical director and exploration manager.
Mr Bartsch is currently managing Crosslands’ $23m exploration program being conducted on the company’s mid-west tenements and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgists.
Sanjay Bhartia
Chief Financial Officer
Sanjay Bhartia brings almost 20 years of international experience in mining, chemicals, manufacturing and soft commodities enterprises to Crosslands. Most recently, Mr Bhartia was Head of Financial & Commercial with ASX 300 company Aditya Birla Minerals. He has also served as Commercial Manager with Lotus 2000 in South Africa and Indophil Cotton Mills in the Philippines.
Mr Bhartia is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. His corporate management experience, in both public and private companies, operating in key domestic and export industries, will help ensure Crosslands remains competitive as we further strengthen our position within Western Australia’s iron ore sector.
Steve Cowley
Project Director - Mine
Steve Cowley is a mechanical engineer with more than 30 years' professional experience in the resources industry, overseeing large-scale design, development and expansion projects across most mineral commodities on several continents.
Most recently, Mr Cowley was responsible for the delivery of a $1.5 billion complex and remote green-fields copper-cobalt project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Cowley also has a strong iron ore background having spent 10 years in the Pilbara.
Mr Cowley has a Masters Degree specialising in Bulk Materials Handling and brings a wealth of experience to Crosslands' Jack Hills Expansion Project studies, design and execution.
Ernest Dempsey
Vice President Sales and Marketing
Ernest Dempsey brings to Crosslands more than 30 years of international experience in all commercial aspects of the iron ore industry and sees Crosslands as a catalyst for developing Australia’s mid-west region into a major supplier of iron ore.
Most recently a consultant to Mitsubishi Corporation, Mr Dempsey was Vice President Sales and Marketing for Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) from 1997 to 2004, and represented Rio Tinto’s iron ore businesses in Europe from 2004 to 2006 whilst on secondment from IOC.
He previously held sales and development positions with US-based iron ore producers Cleveland-Cliffs Inc and Pickands Mather & Co.
Geoff Fenton
Vice President Operations
Geoff brings to the Crosslands team more than 25 years experience in the resources industry in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland across gold, copper and coal. In his role as Vice President Operations, Geoff is responsible for Crosslands' Jack Hills iron ore operations, haulage and exporting activities.
Geoff has experience in all stages of project development and has worked for companies such as Placer Dome, Newcrest and most recently as Mine Manager at the Newmont Boddington Gold mine.
Geoff has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) with Honours from the University of New South Wales.
Neil Holland
Vice President Corporate Services
Neil Holland brings more than 30 years’ professional experience to Crosslands primarily in the Human Resources and Industrial Relations fields. Mr Holland joins the Crosslands team from Newmont Asia Pacific where he held the position of Senior Manager – Human Resources for seven years.
Mr Holland is a Certified Professional of the Australian Human Resources Institute. As Vice President Corporate Services, Mr Holland is responsible for the disciplines of Safety, Human Resources, Indigenous Affairs, Environment, Community and Government Relations.
Melissa Price
Vice President Legal & Business Development
Melissa Price brings excellent broad based commercial and legal skills to Crosslands, as well as the proven capacity to build strong working relationships within the organisation, with customers and the community.
Ms Price has over 15 years legal experience, both in Australia and overseas, including roles such as Senior Solicitor with Perth law firm Clayton Utz, where she advised on resources industry litigation.
Most recently Business Development Manager (Strategy and Business Development) at CBH Group, Ms Price was responsible for forming and driving the implementation of strategies, providing legal and commercial support and advice to CBH’s Asian flour mill investments, as well as serving as Company Secretary for the organisation’s Australian and off-shore subsidiaries.
Ms Price is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Her extensive commercial and legal expertise makes her an integral part of Crosslands' team, as we aim to substantially increase production and prepare for significant business and community growth.
