Nelida Ancora
Nelida is an expert in sustainable development and social justice, with extensive experience working with government bodies, private companies, NGOs, and IGOs
After starting her career at the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), Nelida spent several decades working in Italy and across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Main areas: socio-economic development, private-public partnership, space-ICT applications. She has been CEO of a subsidiary of Italy’s State Mint, policy advisor to Italy’s foreign ministry, member of Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies (NEREUS), representing Regione Molise, president of the GEOSAT Molise Consortium.
In recent years Nelida has focused professionally on the mining industry, using her extensive experience to develop social and technological innovation strategies for international extractive companies.
Nelida participates in extensive voluntary work, including as the delegate for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue at the International Christian Union of Business Executives (UNIAPAC).
Nelida was born in Buenos Aires, moved to Italy when she was a child. She holds a law degree from Sapienza University of Rome.
Felix Pole
Felix is an accomplished business leader with more than 50 years of experience working in board and senior management positions in mining, aviation, and other industries.
After several decades successfully founding and operating aviation and oil and gas E&P companies in the Middle East and eastern Europe, in 1996 Felix began to focus on mining, specifically nickel, copper and cobalt. He has worked on mining projects across Africa and in countries ranging from Albania and Turkey to the Philippines and Australia.
Felix initially served as finance director of Titan Resources NL, a listed company that developed and operated the Radio Hill Mine in Western Australia, and developed the bacterial heap leaching process (BioHeap) for nickel and copper sulphides. He later became a director at Toledo Mining and chairman of European Nickel PLC, where he helped increase the company’s market cap from $50m to more than $300m in just three years.
Felix is currently chairman of Consolidated Nickel Mines Ltd (CNM), which operates the Munali Nickel Mine in Zambia. At CNM he has maintained his close 20-year relationship with China’s Jinchuan Group, the largest nickel producer in Asia.
Felix was born in Reading in the United Kingdom. He holds degrees in estate management and music.