The Hong Kong-based specialist brings more than 20 years of experience in commodity trading, marketing, offtake and financing, particularly in tin, tungsten and rare earths – the same suite of commodities in Critica's portfolio.
Ms Badenach spent 13 years at global commodity trader Noble Resources, where her most recent role was executive director, Metals & Mongolia. In that position, she managed international trading activities and negotiated marketing, offtake, financing and prepayment arrangements. Her board experience includes several listed and private resources companies, including Peak Rare Earths, Materra Metals and Xanadu Mines.
Critica chairman Tim Lindley said: "We are delighted to welcome a Director of Hannah's calibre to the Critica Board. Hannah has traded the commodities we intend to produce. She has a deep understanding of the tungsten, tin and rare earths markets and, importantly, the commercial mechanisms that protect and enhance shareholder value, from offtake structuring and pricing to prepayment, project financing and supply chain development."
In a strong show of alignment, Ms Badenach intends to receive her non-executive director fees in equity, subject to shareholder approval. The appointment is effective from October 1, with current director Jamie Byrde set to resign from the board on October 26.
The appointment comes as Critica advances both its key projects – the Mt Lindsay tin-tungsten project in Tasmania and the Jupiter project – towards commercial reality. Just last week, a new scoping study for Mt Lindsay delivered strong results.