About Us
Origins
Power Resources was founded by a management team who share a passion to end inequality in critical metals supply chains. We pursue a business model which brings innovation and knowledge transfer to the communities where the resources originate.
Values
Enshrined within our founding principles are three core values:
- Protect and improve human rights
- Create fair value and transparent supply chains
- Strive to create zero-carbon-zero-waste mining and refining processes
Strategy
We utilise our in-house, industry know-how to maximise recovery rates, expand product offerings, and optimise costs to bring stability, transparency, and value to our clients' supply chains and local communities.
Leadership Team
Keith Baptist
Chairman
Having begun his finance career in mining in 1970 with Inco Canada, (now Vale), Keith subsequently undertook a range of finance and executive roles all within the mining and natural resources sector. He has global experience at the board level, having been based at various times in Canada, Indonesia, the UK, Chile and Ghana.
He has worked primarily in both base precious metals business for companies such as Vale, Barrick, Billiton, Resolute and Newmont.
After he retired in 2014, he became involved in Christian based charity work, which has engaged him with work in India, Pakistan, Rwanda and Macedonia.
Joining the founding members of Power Resources, Keith came out of retirement to provide independent oversight for the company as well as facilitate its links to charitable work to transform communities.
Ray Power
CEO
Ray started his career in defence communications after studying with Royal Air Force Pilot and Flying Scholarships. His work largely focused on the Balkan region, with some time spent in the Middle East.
Changing careers, he went on to create a successful mining consultancy during the last 15 years where his passion for innovation saw him pursue investments in developing new mineral beneficiation technologies and metallurgical processes.
Having spearheaded the design and construction of experimental chemical refining processes, in both rare metals and base metals, he went on to lead the acquisition of a powder metallurgy R&D business based on the Fray-Farthing Chen process in the United Kingdom.
Ray subsequently led the management buyout of African based mines and manufacturing assets to found Power Resources International and pursue his passion for technology and community transformation.
Dr Matevz Pavlic
Sector Chief - Mining
Responsible for overseeing all mining, geotechnical, social, and environmental works within the African operations, Matevz specialises in tailings dam construction, environmental monitoring systems and landslide prevention and mine design.
He graduated from the University of Ljubljana in 2005 and completed his PhD in 2016 focusing on artificial intelligence in mine modelling.
His pursuit to take advanced technologies from conception to the field is closely linked to his desire to transform mining and its overall environmental footprint.
Coming from Slovenia, claimed by National Geographic as the World’s Most Sustainable Country, Matevz makes it his personal mission to bring his national character of sustainability to Power Resources and overturn the traditional views of mining clashing with environmental management.
Chantal Kabagambe
Director - Rwanda
Chantal joined the team as a Director of the Rwandan entities in November 2021. As an entrepreneur in the travel and tourism sector she has more than a decade of executive level management experience in East Africa. She has Bachelors in Travel and Tourism Management from Mount Kenya University and an MBA from Cornell University.
With a passion for community development Chantal spends much of her free time motivating and inspiring individuals to develop their potential in leadership roles.
Chantal is married with four children.
Vladimir Kolevski
Group Finance Manager
After completing his studies with a Masters Degree in European Economy, Finance and Institutions, at the University of Rome, Italy, Vladimir went on to work in tax advisory, auditing, legislation and corporate services at KPMG as well as qualifying as a Certified Accountant.
Moving on to a role as a Tax, Legislation and Finance Analyst in a US electronics manufacturing firm, Vladimir continued to pursue the direction of finance in manufacturing by leading a finance team and as a Financial Controller of a large automotive production facility prior to taking up his role as Group Finance Manager in Power Resources Intentional.
Originating from Macedonia, Vladimir is a keen skier in the Winter months and hiker in the Summer.
Sammy Kayitare
Safety & Security Manager
Having first served in the military, Sammy was subsequently contracted into the private sector where he has since spent over 25 years in senior roles of safety and security.
Specialising in risk management , Sammy has managed security operations around East Africa, as well as nationally, in Rwanda, for large corporates including banks, as well as international organisations, amongst which have been foreign Embassies.
Sammy holds a Bachelors degree in Public Administration and Local Governance. He is a keen sportsman and enjoys the outdoors.
Alice Kampire, ACCA, CPA(R)
Chief Accountant
Alice began her career as an auditor and later, senior auditor, with the Rwandan Revenue Authority nearly 20 years ago.
As a chartered accountant, Alice spent nearly ten years working increasingly senior roles until she took on a senior role in the Rwandan Transport Development Agency.
Her specialisations are in tax, auditing and internal controls.
Alice is married with 4 children and in her spare time she enjoys spending time family and friends, going to the gym and hiking.
Primož Meze
Head of Sales & Traceability
Primož gained his management experience in a drilling services business in Europe prior to becoming a co-founder of a geotechnical investigations and design services company in Slovenia. Having led the start-up in a business development role, Primož was responsible for expanding the company internationally, first in the Balkan region and, later, into Africa.
Having developed new markets, he led the opening of new trading lines in East Africa in support of the PRI’s refinery investment. The requirement for conflict free mineral traceability within the company supply chain saw Primoz develop an in-house chain of custody system in line with OECD requirements, to guarantee that all mineral trade in PRI is of known and ethical provenance.
Primož holds a BSc. in Economics, majoring in International Business, and manages the expansion of PRI's supply chain network and traceability systems with the Responsible Minerals Initiatives.
In his spare time he’s a keen sportsman and family man.
Blaz Praznik
Mining Engineering Manager
Prior to becoming the Mining Engineering Manager in Power Resources, Blaz first qualified as a Chartered Geological Engineer and Expert Associate at the Civil Engineering Institute of Slovenia. He then went on to Project Managing multiple geological engineering projects in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Leading teams of geologists on exploration projects and infrastructure development projects, including a large scale hydro-power plant development, Blaz has successfully managed a wide range of multi-cultural teams in complex projects.
He is married with two children and enjoys skiing and hiking in his free time.
Damjan Ulamec
Mining Operations Manager
Damjan became a Chartered Geological Engineer in 2011 having already been working within the Building and Civil Engineering Institute in Slovenia.
He went on to co-found a company developing and managing geophysics projects around the world, including the Middle East, South America and Africa.
Specialising in heavy machinery operations, complementing his breadth of geological knowledge, Damjan is responsible for overseeing day to day mining operations and ensuring the highest safety standards are adhered to throughout the exploration and mining activities.
With a strong sene of adventure, Damjan enjoys traveling and staying active outdoors.
