Highlights
Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR) appoints Coraline Blaud as non-executive director, following the resignation of Ed Turner
Blaud brings over a decade of geological experience across Africa, Europe, and Australia
Her leadership is set to support ongoing developments in Western Australian and Chilean exploration projects
Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR), listed under the broader materials category of the ASX 200, has announced the appointment of Coraline Blaud to its board as a non-executive director. This development follows the resignation of former director Ed Turner and marks a step forward in Lodestar’s efforts to reinforce its geological capabilities during a critical phase of project progression.
Lodestar Minerals focuses on the exploration of base metals and gold, operating in regions of Western Australia and Chile. The company’s project suite includes the Earaheedy, Ned’s Creek, and Coolgardie West projects in Western Australia, along with the Darwin project in Chile. These assets form part of the company’s growth plans within the dynamic and competitive mining segment of the ASX 200.
Coraline Blaud’s Geoscience Background
Coraline Blaud brings with her extensive field experience, gained over a decade in the junior mining sector. Her early career involved exploration activities across Africa and Europe, particularly focused on potash and lithium commodities. In 2016, she returned to Western Australia, contributing to resource development at the Abra lead deposit, a project that involved detailed exploration, resource definition drilling, and critical feasibility evaluations.
Blaud’s transition from early-stage exploration to advanced study phases has positioned her with a thorough understanding of project lifecycles. At Abra, she played a central role during multiple stages of the development pipeline, gaining experience that aligns with Lodestar’s current project maturity across its portfolio.
Leadership in Gold Resource Expansion
After her involvement at Abra, Blaud joined Kingwest Resources (ASX:KWR), where she assumed a leadership position in exploration activities at the Menzies and Goongarrie gold projects. At Menzies, she led a team that expanded resource estimation efforts and subsequently conducted a Scoping Study, further demonstrating her ability to guide resource advancement initiatives.
Her tenure at Kingwest reflects a strong command of gold project development, which aligns closely with Lodestar’s strategic focus across its Western Australian tenements and the recently added Chilean gold and copper assets.
Advancing Lodestar’s International Strategy
In December of the prior year, Blaud was appointed as Exploration Manager for Lodestar Minerals, overseeing field programs across its Australian base metal and gold assets. Her responsibilities have since expanded to include oversight of the company’s Chilean operations, where Lodestar recently secured new gold and copper tenements.
Since the end of the last calendar year, Blaud has served as a consultant geologist for Lodestar’s exploration efforts in Chile. Her appointment to the board formalizes her increasing role in strategic decision-making at a time when the company is looking to expand activities across international borders.
Executive Commentary and Strategic Outlook
Ross Taylor, Executive Chairman of Lodestar Minerals, noted that Blaud’s addition to the board strengthens its geological insight and ensures continuity in exploration execution. With her existing familiarity with the company's projects, Blaud is expected to support seamless progress across the board’s initiatives, especially as Lodestar advances the Darwin project in Chile and its key assets in Western Australia.
Lodestar’s leadership structure now reflects a deeper integration of technical expertise, designed to align with its exploration-driven mandate in both domestic and international jurisdictions.