Our People
Leadership Team
Our leadership team brings together decades of experience in drilling, resource exploration, and international operations across Africa, Asia, and beyond.
Governance
Board of Directors
Experienced leaders guiding Mitchell Drilling International's strategic vision and growth across global markets.
Nathan Mitchell
Chairman
Nathan has been associated with the drilling and resource exploration industry for most of his life. He commenced his career with Mitchell Drilling in 1989 and progressed to lead the company from the year 2000, heralding in a period of unprecedented growth. Under his leadership the company doubled in size to become Australia's largest privately owned drilling company, before being sold to AJ Lucas in 2008. Nathan then led an international expansion of the drilling business into Indonesia, India, China, Russia, USA and Africa.
Nathan is recognised as an industry leader with a proven track record in technical development and business growth. Nathan has significant public and private company experience and is currently chairman of Mitchell Services (ASX:MSV).
Nathan is also Executive Chairman of the Mitchell Group, an investment and project development company with various interests across the mining and resources supply chains.
Chris Baumann
Executive Director / General Manager
Chris is a commercially focused leader with broad experience in management, investment management and corporate finance. Chris leads the execution of the Mitchell Group strategy and management of group business operations. Chris has been involved in various capacities with Mitchell Drilling International since 2014.
Chris supports various functions within the wider Mitchell Group including capital raising, project financing, restructuring, and various other commercial and corporate transactions. Chris is deeply involved with supporting business growth across the Mitchell Group's underlying investments, across multiple industries including mining services, gas and power, infrastructure and health. Prior to joining the group, Chris was involved in commodities trading and brokerage, facilitating sales between major trading houses in China and India.
George Thomas
Executive Director
George Thomas is an experienced Leader and Manager with extensive experience in strategic business growth through providing commercially focused leadership within the mining, mineral exploration and heavy equipment industries. A highly experienced senior manager, George brings deep operational and commercial expertise, with particular strength in Mitchell Group's African businesses.
George joined the Mitchell Group in October 2011 as Regional Manager for Africa, where he played a key role in expanding the Group's footprint and supporting major projects across the continent. He was instrumental in establishing and running Mitchell Drilling International.
Operations
Executive Management Team
Day-to-day leadership ensuring operational excellence and business development across all our markets.
Robin Durant
General Manager – Commercial and Business Development
Robin brings more than a decade of experience in the drilling- and exploration industry to the boardroom table. Appointments to a range of positions and responsibility areas across the industry value chain have contributed to a broad spectrum of experience and skills on which he is able to draw.
Prior to entering the mining sector, Robin worked with a leading accounting firm for two years. This experience has stood him in good stead, as his key focus going forward is to expand Mitchell Drilling International's current operations into new jurisdictions. To date, he has successfully managed and executed numerous Drill Projects, with a total combined value of over $200 million.
Glen Velleman
General Manager – Operations, Africa
Glen joined Mitchell Drilling International early in 2018, and brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise. He has been involved in the drilling- and exploration industry for over two decades, allowing him to build knowledge and skills relevant to all facets of the business. Glen is a highly qualified HSEC (Health, Safety, Employment & Contract) Operations and Human Resource professional and has taken on the responsibility of managing the group's African Operations.