Board of Directors
Chairman - Linda Sanders (Diploma of Journalism)
Linda has more than 35 years of experience as a communications executive and journalist. She is currently providing investor and stakeholder relations, marketing and communications management to Chatham Rock Phosphate. She has been a director of Aorere its inception in 1989, retiring as its chair in 2012. She has been a director of Chatham Rock Phosphate since 2008 and is also a trustee of various Golden Bay community organisations.
She participated in the Institute of Directors' 2013 Mentoring for Diversity programme, which identifies women candidates suitable for large New Zealand companies. Linda has also been a financial columnist for national current affairs magazine The Listener. Her background as a journalist includes roles as business editor of the Evening Post and economics and deputy business editor of The Dominion. She has also been a communications manager for Telecom New Zealand and the Department of Building and Housing, as well as a range of consultancy positions.
Managing Director - Chris Castle (BCA, ACA, CFIP)
Chris is a chartered accountant with nearly four decades experience in the investment and corporate finance sectors. Chris was a founding director of Spectrum Resources and Premier Mining Securities and has held directorships in ten NZX listed companies. His mining and mineral exploration background includes a series of projects with AMOIL NZ, Kanieri Gold Dredging and Australian Anglo-American.
His investment sector experience includes Brierley Investments and the Regina Confections/Charter Corporation group. He established Aorere (formerly Widespread) in 1989 as an aggressively focused investor and share trader. He is also managing director of Chatham Rock Phosphate, a non-executive director of TSX.V listed Asian Mineral Resources, and Akura Ltd.
Director - Jill Hatchwell (BCA, ACA)
Jill Hatchwell is a formation director of Aorere and was appointed as a director of Chatham Rock Phosphate in 2008.She is an executive director of Nevay Holdings, a financial advisory consultancy established in 1988 that advises a range of clients in the private and public sector.
Jill has an extensive background in financial and corporate management, including roles as company secretary and executive director of Charter Corporation and group accountant at Brierley Investments. Her other directorships include the newly merged Service IQ, the industry training organisation (ITO) for the Aviation, Travel, Tourism, Museums, Hospitality, Retail and Wholesale sectors of New Zealand’s service industry.
Meetings of Directors
The board meets monthly, with some meetings held by conference call to reduce travel costs. The board has two sub-committees (audit and remuneration) that meet whenever required.
Operations
The company is managed by Chris Castle. The relevant terms of his management contracts are:
Chris Castle is contracted to Aorere with respect to company management services and oil, gas and mineral exploration activities. Responsibilities include strategic development, management, company administration, preparation of management accounts, regular reports to the board, portfolio management, investment research, liaison with brokers, investor relations and share-broker contact, maintenance of the website, USX related continuous disclosure, statutory filings, etc
These services are provided by Chris Castle directly under one contract with the base fees for the services Chris Castle provided directly to Aorere being $12,000 plus GST per annum.
The independent directors will review the contract annually.
