Amundsen has more than 30 years experience in the global resource industry, including 28 years with BHP Billiton, where he held numerous positions in business development, finance, planning and strategy.

During his time with BHP, Amundsen held senior business development roles in BHP Billiton’s carbon steels materials group, including coking coal.

He also spent seven years on the board of Brazilian iron ore producer Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton.

His latest role was as chief executive officer and managing director of FerrAus, which was recently taken over by Atlas Iron.

New Age Exploration chairman Edwin Stoyle said he was delighted to welcome Amundsen to the board.

“We are extremely pleased at securing Mike as a director of NAE,” he said.

“Mike’s appointment will significantly strengthen the Board as NAE is entering a transformational growth period on the path to coking coal production by 2013.”

The Melbourne based company has acquired a handful of thermal and coking coal projects in Colombia over the past twelve months.

It is currently preparing to start a phase 1 drilling program at its La Miel thermal coal project in Colombia’s Cesar Basin.

The company is aiming to move from a coal explorer to producer via the Terranova coking coal mine in the Subachoque Valley.

The mine already produces 25,000 tonnes per annum but NAE plans to ramp it up to 365,000tpa by January 2013.