Benjamin H. Cooper
Brighton-Le-Sands,NSW
Summary
Corporate strategist combining financial analysis, transaction execution and stakeholder management to improve company value. Work spans project origination, acquisitions, asset rationalisation, governance, resource development and negotiated access, with a track record of converting complex technical and financial information into clear decisions for boards and investors.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Strategic Advisor
Platinum Group Elements Limited
05.2018 - Current
- Lead a corporate advisory and investment company focused on business formation, capital strategy, acquisitions and the development of resources-sector opportunities.
- Directed public listing of Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited on Canadian Securities Exchange, raising and deploying C$18 million to support strategic growth initiatives.
- Continue to support Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited as Strategic Adviser, with the engagement scheduled through December 2027.
- Founded Vanicom Resources, acquiring and amalgamating two public companies and managing a portfolio of 12 nickel and PGE projects to enhance market presence.
- Led the exploration, discovery and development of four nickel resources with a combined Mineral Resource Estimate of approximately 10 million tonnes of nickel-copper-PGE mineralization.
- Managed permanent employees and specialist contractors across corporate, geological, technical, legal and project-delivery functions.
- Directed copper exploration and development operations as Executive Director of Stratyra Copper Corp Chile S.p.A..
Founding Director and Strategic Advisor
Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited
03.2017 - 09.2026
- Founded and led a publicly listed nickel, copper and PGE exploration and development company, overseeing corporate strategy, capital formation, governance, operations and stakeholder engagement.
- Raised a further C$14 million to explore, develop and expand the company's nickel assets, contributing to a new 10-million-tonne nickel-copper-PGE Mineral Resource Estimate.
- Invested C$1.0 million to secure options over Canadian nickel and PGE projects, then raised C$4.0 million in seed capital to acquire a public-company shell, complete the amalgamation, acquire the projects and fund contractual work programs.
- Reorganized capital and management structure, establishing multidisciplinary teams for executive management, legal, regulatory compliance, geology, mining, and exploration services across Ontario and Quebec.
- Reviewed and rationalized asset portfolio, commissioned modern geophysical surveys, and managed resource-verification programs along with technical studies and reports to enhance project viability.
- Oversaw metallurgical studies, renegotiated smelter offtake agreements, and developed on-site project infrastructure to support operational efficiency and project advancement.
- Led First Nations engagement and negotiations, securing access agreements to support project activities.
- Directed the modernisation of key mineral resources by acquiring and validating historical reports, drilling data and sampling records; strengthening contractor QA/QC processes; and developing integrated geological databases and 3D resource models.
- Identified and addressed deficiencies in drilling density, geological interpretation, data quality and modeling through targeted drilling, sampling, assaying and interpretation programs.
- Oversaw the construction of updated geological wireframes and domains and the publication of a modern NI 43-101-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate.
- Directed extension drilling that identified new mineralization beyond existing resource boundaries.
- Consolidated and upgraded geophysical and resource data into modern 3D models, enabling the reinterpretation of the portfolio's nickel, copper and PGE resources.
Executive Director
BioProspect Limited / MediBio Limited
04.2012 - 06.2017
- Raised A$3 million, recruited a world-class psychiatry leadership team, and oversaw groundbreaking validation trials of mental-health diagnostic technology.
- Raised further A$10 million to fund research and development, commercialization, and working capital.
- Structured and directed financing and acquisition of Invatec, integrating it into MediBio Limited to leverage its mental-health diagnostic technology.
- Originated the acquisition of Invatec, identifying its mental-health diagnostic technology as the company's leading biotechnology opportunity.
- Guided transition from diversified asset portfolio to focused biotechnology and mental-health technology strategy, positioning company for future growth.
- Led strategic review and rationalization of biotechnology portfolio, divesting non-core projects and unwinding retail marketing operations, commercial agreements, and supply and distribution arrangements to enhance overall focus.
- Managed the sale of a 25% shareholding, generating A$1.8 million in proceeds for BioProspect.
- Consolidated the company's oil and gas investments by negotiating a capital reorganization that exchanged the holdings for A$10 million in shares in Frontier Oil Corporation, a public unlisted company.
Executive Director
Winmar Resources Limited
04.2010 - 04.2011
- Secured mandates for up to A$40 million in proposed New York funding through CITIC, Rodman & Renshaw, and Burnham Securities to facilitate acquisition of Cazaly Resources' remaining interest in Winmar.
- Led the restructuring and recapitalization of the delisted St Istvan Gold Limited (ASX: SVG), assuming an executive role after raising A$800,000 through a placement.
- Executed transaction agreements, restructured the board, and initiated ASX relisting process to enhance the company's market presence.
- Raised A$1 million in pre-IPO funding, paid the initial project deposit and completed the corporate and regulatory work required for relisting.
- Led the preparation and launch of a new prospectus, raising a further A$6 million.
- Identified the Winmar iron ore project as a suitable cornerstone asset and negotiated acquisition and farm-in terms with Cazaly Resources Limited (ASX: CAZ).
- Took control of office and administration, repaid corporate debt, replaced management team, and terminated unsuitable legacy agreements to stabilize operations.
- Directed geochemical and geophysical programs with the joint-venture partner and oversaw 12,000 meters of step-out and infill drilling.
- Advanced the Winmar deposit toward a targeted 350-400 million-tonne JORC inferred iron ore resource.
Founder, Corporate Adviser and Director
Global Nickel Investments Limited
09.2007 - 12.2010
- Formed the company, developed its initial corporate strategy and raised A$500,000 in seed capital.
- Sourced initial project portfolio, negotiated joint ventures, legal agreements, and independent expert reports to establish a solid foundation for company operations.
- Managed the IPO prospectus and listing process, raising A$3 million and successfully listing Global Nickel Investments on the ASX in September 2007.
- Raised A$3.6 million for an associated company Metals Finance Corporation Limited within two months of Global Nickel Investments' listing.
- Executed underwriting and placement for company's initial option entitlement issue to secure funding.
- Rationalized project portfolio by terminating unsuitable joint ventures and satisfying earn-in requirements while prioritizing projects through targeted exploration expenditure.
- Sourced strategically complementary regional projects, including Mt Venn, to strengthen the company's asset portfolio.
- Directed geochemical and drilling programs, secured available farm-in equity, and established gold and base-metals prospectivity of principal tenements to enhance exploration strategy.
- Left board position to take on executive responsibilities at Winmar Resources Limited.
Education
High School Diploma -
Coorparoo Secondary College
Brisbane, QLD12-1988
Selected Career Highlights
- Raised more than A$200 million across equity markets and corporate transactions.
- Led six IPOs as principal and lead manager.
- Orchestrated three complete public-company reconstructions, from initial strategy and recapitalisation through governance renewal, asset acquisition and relisting.
- Advised, managed and directed emerging mining, biotechnology and technology businesses.
- Executed restructurings, mergers, acquisitions, amalgamations, asset sales and capital reorganisations.
- Built and managed multidisciplinary teams and specialist advisers across international jurisdictions.
- Developed projects from initial assessment and acquisition through financing, technical validation and commercialisation.
- Established enduring relationships with boards, management teams, investors, institutions, government departments, business partners and clients.
Core Capabilities
- Strategic advisory and business diagnosis
- Capital strategy, fundraising and investor engagement
- Corporate restructuring and turnaround execution
- Mergers, acquisitions and amalgamations
- IPOs, public-company administration and governance
- Project assessment, valuation and commercial due diligence
- Risk and opportunity analysis
- Transaction structuring and negotiation
- Asset rationalisation and divestment
- Resource project exploration and development
- Board and executive stakeholder engagement
- Multidisciplinary and international team leadership
- Mining and emerging-technology
Timeline
Strategic Advisor
Platinum Group Elements Limited
05.2018 - Current
Founding Director and Strategic Advisor
Class 1 Nickel & Technologies Limited
03.2017 - 09.2026
Executive Director
BioProspect Limited / MediBio Limited
04.2012 - 06.2017
Executive Director
Winmar Resources Limited
04.2010 - 04.2011
Founder, Corporate Adviser and Director
Global Nickel Investments Limited
09.2007 - 12.2010
High School Diploma -
Coorparoo Secondary College