Halgreen is a qualified mining engineer with degrees in engineering who has had more than 30 years’ experience in the coal business, including hands-on mine management, high-level executive management of a coal mining company and extensive business development.

Halgreen brings a strong record of achievement on major coal resource project developments, mergers, acquisitions and commercial negotiations across the Australian and international coal resources industry, according to chairman John Lester.

He worked for BHP Billiton and its associated companies for many years, including as vice-president business development for BHP Billiton Coal, executive director of Trans Natal Coal Corporation, and chief operating officer of Sasol Coal.

Halgreen is non-executive chairman of Bligh Resources Limited and an executive director of Summit Equities.

“International Coal is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to access Noel Halgreen’s vast experience and connections in the coal industry, both in Australia and internationally,” Lester said.

“The board also advises that Mr David Round shall retire from the board but will continue his executive functions with the company, including that of chief financial officer and company secretary.”

Round’s retirement from the board will allow him to attend to other non-executive functions he currently is engaged with.

“He was instrumental in managing the company’s exploration programs to date and also managed the negotiation of and concluded the company’s agreements with it joint venture partners ,” Lester said.