Axel REE Appoints Critical Minerals Executive to Lead Commercial Development of Caladão Project

Axel REE (ASX: AXL) has appointed critical minerals executive Dr Patience Mpofu to the role of managing director to lead the development of its flagship Caladão rare earths project in Brazil.

Dr Mpofu is a globally-recognised mining executive and director with more than 25 years’ resources sector experience in the areas of metallurgy, operations, corporate strategy, capital markets, and stakeholder engagement.

She holds a doctorate in clay mineral processing and has extensive technical expertise in clay-hosted mineral systems including rare earth metallurgy directly relevant to Axel REE’s planned in-situ recovery (ISR) field trials at the Woolrich deposit.

In 2019, Dr Mpofu’s leadership in mining was recognised with CEO Global’s award for Most Influential Woman in Business and Government – Mining across Africa.

Deep Executive Résumé

Dr Mpofu has held executive roles at South32 (ASX: S32) and Anglo American and is currently a non-executive director of Orion Minerals (ASX: ORN).

She has helped Orion advance its Prieska and Okiep copper projects in South Africa through bankable feasibility studies and strategic financing initiatives including a US$250 million funding and offtake agreement with Glencore.

Dr Mpofu is also founder and chief executive officer of advisory firm Insight Mining Experts, which focuses on ESG frameworks, sustainability, circularity, and critical minerals strategies for governments, investors, and mining companies.

The firm has contributed to global critical minerals policy initiatives including the European Union, World Economic Forum and B20/G20 Energy Transition Taskforce.

Key Time for Caladão

Axel REE non-executive chair Paul Dickson said Dr Mpofu’s appointment comes at an important stage in the company’s evolution Caladão transitions from exploration toward technical and commercial development.

“Patience brings an exceptional combination of technical expertise, commercial capability, ESG leadership, and capital markets experience aligned with our strategic direction as we progress the Woolrich deposit toward field recovery trials,” he said.

“Her deep understanding of clay-hosted mineral systems, metallurgical processing and sustainable critical minerals development, combined with her global stakeholder network and financing experience, makes her well-suited to lead our company through this next phase [and] we are confident her leadership will strengthen our development pathway and positioning within the global critical minerals sector.”

Dr Mpofu said she was “honoured to join Axel REE at such an important stage in its growth journey.”

“I believe the company is well positioned to advance as a strategically relevant critical minerals developer, and I look forward to working closely with the board and management team […] as we progress its rare earths and critical minerals portfolio through its next phase of development.”