candid thoughts from the amec conference.

Just as an aside.
I had a little chat with the Lads from SLR.
Are most of you aware that SLR went straight into Production running Resource through the mill not Reserve? I mean they wern't chasing money from the bank as they were debt free. Does this remind anyone of another company in the Gold mining sector starting with A.

How much detail do we need? Dont be desperate to impress Brokers, bankers, journos or any of the other parasitic organisms with the size of our...ahemm.... Reserve.

Heres another one. What about our Board? Its got three members on it. Ones the winner of multiple Golden Scribble awards....thats Ross Louthean the Journalist. Ones a Corporate Lawyer and the Other is the erstwhile JW, the AAM forums favourite rock licker.

Have a look at the SLR board. Peter Johnstons on it. For those who arn't from the Industry he's my no-nonsence old Boss from the NBU(WMC's Nickel Business unit).Heres a short bio on him.

Peter Johnston

Non-Executive Director
Click image to enlargeMR. PETER JOHNSTON
BA, FAICD, FAusIMM
Non-Executive Director
Mr Johnston's extensive management career spans 30 years. That time includes senior management roles at WMC Resources Ltd, Alcoa of Australia Limited and Lion Nathan Limited. Mr Johnston has been Chief Executive Officer of Minara Resources Ltd since 2001.

As Executive General Manager at WMC Resources Ltd for over 8 years, Mr Johnston was at various times responsible for nickel and gold operations, Olympic Dam operations, Queensland Fertilizers Ltd and human resources.

Mr Johnston is an Executive Council member of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, a Director of the Minerals Council of Australia and the Nickel Institute, and a member of the Australian Mines & Metals Association.

Now thats a pretty impressive Gentlemen to have on the Board of your emerging Gold Company. A1 desperately needs to get a lot more profesional and serious about its board of directors and its skill set.In a nutshell thats the difference in approach between A1 Minerals and SLR. As it stands A1 is not currently and will never be a direct pier of SLR without a Quantum change in Professionalism.

I spoke to Three Mining Journalists about Ross Louthean at AMEC. I thought his informal "pier review" was illuminating. I am at a complete loss to understand what his contribution to the Board is at present. Hes not a resource economist, he has no MBA, he has no history with any of the established mining Majors. This is simply a statement of fact. The other Board member is a corporate Lawyer. Even if he's a very good corporate lawyer we all have some degree of specialisation,what does he know about Goldmining?

The Board issue needs to be addressed and soon. I simply am not going to cop another batch of freebie options and cheap shares to the current directors when the companys terms of trade improve.

Ross Louthean turned his back on me after an introduction at Amec. I can asure the fair reader that I was brought up never to be overtly discourteous to anyone to whom I had cause to disagree. May I appologise if I have caused any direct offense to him, none was certainly intended.

Message to JW get some talent on the Board, you cant do it on your own. Heres some more AMEC feedback that had never occured to me. At least 4 people and 2 of them Industry scribblers remarked what a silly name A1 Minerals was. The gist of it was A1 panel and paint yes, A1 Plumbing yes and A1 Minerals.......no. I'm not sure I'm moved in any direction by the name but I'd thought I'd mention it.