- 01Axel REE appoints Noeber Orsine and Laura Rocha to strengthen its Caladão team.
- 02Their expertise will support Woolrich studies and in situ recovery field validation.
Axel REE (ASX: AXL) has appointed two experienced mining executives to support the next stage of development at the company’s Caladão rare earth element-gallium project in Brazil.
Operations manager (Brazil) Noeber Orsine and chemical process engineer Laura Rocha are expected to add a suite of rare earths project delivery and processing expertise.
Axel REE is currently advancing hydrogeological characterisation, metallurgical optimisation, and planning for a controlled in situ recovery field validation program at the Woolrich ionic-clay rare earth deposit.
Mr Orsine has more than 25 years’ mining project development, delivery, and operational leadership experience with global critical minerals and rare earth mining company Serra Verde Group, global engineering and project delivery group Ausenco, and Australian-based explorer Latin Resources, which was acquired in 2025 by Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS).
He has also held senior roles at Syrah Resources (ASX: SYR) and Alcoa Australia (ASX: AAI), with his experience spanning graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and alumina across project delivery, operational readiness, commissioning,- and operations.
Brazil Operations Co-Ordinator
At Axel, Mr Orsine will co-ordinate the company’s Brazil operations and external technical partners, with immediate priorities including hydrogeological investigations, detailed project planning, and delivery preparations for the Woolrich validation program.
Former Axel operations manager José Sousa has transitioned to the role of geology and database manager, reporting to Mr Orsine and retaining responsibility for drilling programs and geological data integrity.
Ms Rocha has 15 years of processing and engineering experience, with previous roles at Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX: BRE), Aclara Resources, and Serra Verde.
She has been assisting Axel’s metallurgical program with technical reviews and coordination of laboratory test work to assess rare earth leaching and mixed rare earth carbonate product characteristics.
Her expertise will support process optimisation, test work interpretation, and integration of metallurgical data into planning for the Woolrich program.
Complementary Expertise
Axel managing director Dr Patience Mpofu said the new appointments would add complementary expertise to the management team as the company prioritises the advanced Woolrich deposit.
“Noeber’s experience [with Serra Verde] in delivering a large-scale Brazilian ionic clay rare earths project from development through start-up is particularly relevant to Axel as we move towards field validation at Woolrich,” she said.
“Together with Laura’s proven rare earth process engineering background and our existing geological team, we are building the multidisciplinary capability needed to advance Caladão methodically and responsibly.”
“Our focus is on integrating geological, metallurgical, and hydrogeological work into a well-planned program that generates the technical evidence needed for the next stage of development.”
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