Austin Metals Taps Michael Moore to Drive Austin Gold Project Forward
Austin Metals has appointed seasoned mining executive Michael Moore as Managing Director to spearhead exploration at its flagship Austin Gold Project in Western Australia.
- Michael Moore appointed Managing Director effective 2 December 2025
- Moore brings over 20 years of global mining and executive experience
- Focus on advancing exploration at Austin Gold Project in Murchison region
- Performance rights tied to mineral resource milestones incentivize delivery
- Non-Executive Director Paul L’Herpiniere resigns but remains technical consultant
Leadership Change Signals Strategic Focus
Austin Metals Limited (ASX – AYT) has announced the appointment of Michael Moore as its new Managing Director, effective 2 December 2025. This leadership change comes at a pivotal moment as the company prepares to intensify exploration efforts at its Austin Gold Project, located in Western Australia’s prolific Murchison greenstone belt.
Mr Moore is a mining engineer educated at the Camborne School of Mines with over two decades of operational and executive experience spanning Australia, Indonesia, West Africa, and Europe. His previous roles include Managing Director of Golden State Mining Ltd and Chairman of First Development Resources Plc. His broad industry background and leadership credentials are expected to provide Austin Metals with the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of advancing a gold exploration project toward commercial viability.
Exploration Ambitions Backed by Incentives
The company’s board expressed confidence that Moore’s appointment will be instrumental in applying recent geological reviews to shape a robust exploration strategy. The Austin Gold Project, situated near the town of Cue, benefits from its proximity to notable discoveries such as Musgrave Minerals’ Cue Gold Project and Caprice Resources’ Island Gold Project, underscoring the region’s prospectivity.
Moore’s employment package includes a fixed annual remuneration of A$200,000 and a significant equity incentive plan. This plan grants him 60 million performance rights, divided into three tranches, each contingent on delineating increasing JORC-compliant mineral resources ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 ounces of gold or gold equivalent at specified grades. These milestones align Moore’s incentives directly with the company’s exploration success and resource development goals.
Governance and Continuity
Alongside Moore’s appointment, Austin Metals announced the resignation of Non-Executive Director Paul L’Herpiniere due to other commitments. However, L’Herpiniere will continue to support the company as a technical geological consultant, ensuring continuity in technical expertise during this transition.
Moore’s immediate priorities include leveraging the comprehensive geological review to design and execute exploration programs that could unlock the Austin Gold Project’s potential. His leadership is expected to accelerate the company’s progress toward defining a commercially viable resource, a critical step for shareholder value creation.
As Austin Metals embarks on this new chapter, the market will be watching closely to see how Moore’s experience translates into tangible exploration results and resource milestones in the coming months.
Bottom Line?
Michael Moore’s appointment sets a clear course for Austin Metals to unlock value at its Austin Gold Project through focused exploration and resource development.
Questions in the middle?
- What is the timeline for the upcoming exploration programs under Moore’s leadership?
- How will the performance rights impact shareholder dilution if resource milestones are met?
- What strategic changes might Moore implement beyond exploration to advance the project?
