Copyright ©2026 Danakali Limited
Board and management
Highly qualified Board and management team committed to promoting best standards of corporate governance and delivering Danakali’s strategy in line with shareholders’ and Eritrea’s long-term interests. Extensive sector and regional expertise generate confidence that the Colluli Project is executes in the most responsible and sustainable manner.
Board
Seamus Cornelius
Executive Chairman
Mr Cornelius is a corporate lawyer and former partner of one of Australia’s leading international law firms. He has a high degree of expertise in cross-border transactions, particularly in the resources and finance sectors.Mr Cornelius has been based in China since 1993 and brings more than 20 years of corporate experience in legal and commercial negotiations. He has also advised global companies including major resource companies and banks on their investments in China and advised Chinese State-owned entities on their investments in overseas resource projects. Mr Cornelius is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of Buxton Resources Ltd (appointed 29 November 2010), Element 25 Ltd (appointed 30 June 2011), and Duketon Mining Ltd (appointed 8 February 2013).
Paul Donaldson
Non-Executive Director
Over 30 years’ experience in senior management at BHP, Danakali and Pacific National. Mr Donaldson held a series of senior management roles spanning over 20 years with BHP Billiton where he managed large scale open-cut mining operations, headed the BHP Carbon Steel Materials Technical Marketing Team, managed the Port Hedland iron ore facility, as well as key roles in product and infrastructure planning across large scale supply chains.He also has extensive experience in high level business improvement and logistics from base metal operations and a high degree of integrated supply chain management, technical operational management and frontline leadership experience in the steel industry.
Zhang Jing
Non-Executive Director
Ms Zhang joined the board in June 2016, and has previously held investment and project managerial roles in public listed companies in China. She has more than 15 years of international trading and business development experience in China.Ms Zhang holds a Master’s degree in International Consultancy and Accounting form the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.
Chinekwu Duru
Non-Executive Director
Ms Duru is Senior Vice President & Lead Counsel at the AFC.
Ms Duru is a transactional lawyer with over 18 years of experience in infrastructure financing across various sectors (Natural Resources (Critical Minerals & Energy Resources), Transport (Port & Logistics), Heavy Industries and telecoms, Power, Project Development, Sovereign Lending, Debt Capital Markets (Funding, and OTC Derivatives) Financial Advisory, Syndications and Trade Finance transactions). She was the lead counsel on the first gold mine in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, where she advised on the debt ( Senior, Mezzanine and Insurance wrap) and equity ( stream financing and vannila equity) investment of AFC into these assets.
Company Secretary
Ms Melissa Chapman
Joint Company Secretary
Technical Background: Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA), Bachelor of Commerce, AGIA/ACIS, GAICD
Relevant Experience: Over 17 years’ experience in the provision of accounting, finance and company secretarial services to public listed and private resource companies in Australia and the UK.
Ms Catherine Grant-Edwards
Joint Company Secretary
Technical Background: Chartered Accountant (ICAA), Bachelor of Commerce
Relevant Experience: Over 14 years’ experience in external audit and the provision of accounting, finance and company secretarial services to listed resource companies.
Executive Team
Greg MacPherson
Chief Financial Officer
Greg MacPherson is a qualified and experienced Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of success in finance, commerce and governance across diverse industries. He has a proven ability to develop and execute financial strategies to drive economic value for shareholders. Greg has a deep knowledge of accounting, taxation, and compliance practices across multi-jurisdiction and is highly skilled in risk management which directs the strategic activities of the company.
Mr MacPherson has strong governance competencies and is a graduate of the Institution of Chartered Secretaries and was a Board member and Chairman of the Risk and Audit Committee for the Phola Coal Processing Plant, a joint venture with BHP
Mr MacPhersons began his career in the Assurance & Advisory division of KPMG, before moving into commerce where he later joined Anglo America to establish the joint venture company Anglo American Inyosi Coal. He has significant experience in working in joint venture companies in Africa and instituting the financial and commercial structures for these businesses. Greg later immigrated to Australia where he held various financial positions and later joined Danakali in 2018.
Greg was part of the team which secured the US$200 million debt financing for the Colluli potash project in Eritrea and was the team lead on the disposal of Danakali’s interest in the Colluli Project for AU$240 million and the returning of AU$162 million to shareholders after taxes
Seyhan Acarlioglu
Head of Exploration
Seyhan Acarlioglu is a highly qualified and experienced geologist with over 17 years of expertise in gold and base metal exploration and mining across Turkey and Africa. He has a proven track record of leading successful exploration projects, ranging from regional-scale targeting and evaluation to prospect-scale field operations and drill core appraisal. Skilled in managing Porphyry Cu-Au, Epithermal Au, Orogenic Gold deposits, and Pb-Zn deposits, Seyhan combines technical excellence with strategic leadership to drive resource discovery and development.
An accomplished professional with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master’s degree in Geology, Seyhan has worked closely with industry-leading experts in Porphyry and CRD deposit systems. His expertise in project management, financial oversight, and regulatory compliance has been instrumental in advancing exploration programs while optimizing budgets and timelines.
Seyhan’s passion for geology and commitment to excellence make him a valuable asset to the mining and exploration industry, capable of contributing significant economic value and consistently delivering results that exceed expectations.