Meet Matt Allen, Chief Financial Officer of Global Lithium Resources.

“I enjoy the creativity and challenge of commercial transactions,” he says when asked what he enjoys most about his career. “Being able to identify opportunities, develop execution plans and implement complex transactions that lead to projects being realised is a big thrill. My strength is being able to understand businesses from ‘pit to port’ and get my head around the competitive advantages of a particular project or company in comparison to its peers.”

Matt joined Global Lithium as CFO in April 2023. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the resources finance sector across a range of commodities including rare earths and oil and gas, as well as significant experience in debt and equity funding solutions for resources development, the operation and management of listed public companies and the establishment of finance teams, systems and processes.

Matt began his career in the 1990s with an accounting cadetship in Sydney before moving to Perth in 1994. He started in professional practice with Hendry Rae & Court, and in 1998, qualified as a Chartered Accountant. His first role in commerce was as Financial Controller for Westralia Airports Corporation, where one of his achievements was setting up the corporate structures for the development of the property portfolio that is now the Horrie Miller Drive commercial precinct.

In 2001, Matt joined Woodside Energy during a crucial period when the company faced a hostile takeover from Shell. His initial roles were in the corporate team before moving into business unit managements teams. Based in Perth initially and later Dubai, he was responsible for investments in emerging economies such as Mauritania, Libya, Kenya, Sierre Leone, Liberia, and the Canary Islands, and also had roles within the flagship asset, the North West Shelf joint venture, operated by Woodside on behalf of major international companies.

After nine years with Woodside, Matt joined emerging junior Otto Energy in 2009. As part of the executive team, he played a pivotal role in optimising the company’s investments, executing the Galoc Phase II offshore oil field redevelopment and overseeing the divestment of the Galoc oil field in the Philippines. Subsequently as MD and CEO he oversaw the development of Otto’s US oil and gas business including the successful discovery and commissioning of a number of new projects in the US Gulf Coast and offshore Gulf of Mexico.

In 2021, Matt joined Hastings Technology Metals as CFO, where he played a crucial role in securing funding for the Yangibana Rare Earth Project and oversaw the acquisition of a cornerstone shareholding in Neo Performance Materials.

Matt jumped at the opportunity to join Global Lithium Resources when approached in 2023, attracted to the opportunity to contribute his skills to support the development of the company’s two core lithium projects.

“I’ve been fortunate to have worked across four different sectors, all with their own challenges,” he said. “I enjoy learning new things and my life experiences have lead me to lithium at this point.”

“I have a unique perspective having worked in the hydrocarbon sector, worked internationally extensively and been exposed to all aspects of the financial sector. I think that I have the right skills to contribute to getting Global Lithium through the next stages into a production company – which is the hardest journey for any junior company. There is a long list of juniors that don’t survive the gestation from explorer into producer – and there are many hard-earned scars from each project I’ve been involved with. I want to see GL1 succeed and deliver its two lithium projects into the global lithium chemicals market.”

Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, playing golf, travelling, reading and maintaining an active lifestyle.

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