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(Sharecast News) - Alba Mineral Resources has engaged Vivien Johnston Glass as its specialist 'mine-to-market' supply chain consultant for refined gold products, it announced on Friday.
The AIM-traded firm said the appointment was in line with its plans to advance its commercialisation strategy in readiness for future gold processing and production at its Clogau-St David's Gold Mine in Wales.
It said Glass had more than 20 years of experience in the jewellery industry, having gained an honours degree in silversmithing and jewellery from the Glasgow School of Art, and being the former head of design for an unnamed commercial jewellery design brand.
With an "extensive and influential" network, it described her as an expert in the responsible sourcing of precious metals, diamonds, and gems.
Glass has first-hand experience of the "ethical luxury consumer market", having founded her own brand in 2006 to pilot a sustainable business model promoting positive ethics in mining and jewellery using materials exclusively from traceable and ethical sources.
Since then, she has consulted for a number of clients, including major luxury jewellery houses, independent brands, diamond producers, junior mining companies, manufacturers, and international brand agencies.
"I am delighted to welcome Vivien to the team - I cannot think of anyone better to help us to maximise the commercial opportunities presented by this unique project," said executive chairman George Frangeskides.
"In tandem with her strong commitment to ethics and sustainability, Vivien's experience supporting other similar businesses including Scottish commercial gold producer Scotgold Resources makes her ideally placed to help us to deliver an outstanding commercial strategy for Clogau."
Alba said Glass was the chair of the Jewellery Ethics Committee UK and Ireland between 2011 and 2015, and ethics manager for the Gemmological Association of Great Britain between 2013 and 2016.
She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and in 2021 launched her own boutique consultancy, Johnston Resources.
Glass gained "substantial" relevant experience with Scotgold Resources between 2011 and 2022, during which time she supported the company from a successful planning application outcome to its commercial production phase, including the negotiation of premiums, placing 100% of its gravity gold production, creating a chain of custody process, coordinating the marketing and auction of investment gold, and building a route-to-market for alloyed gravity gold for the fine jewellery market.
Her role with Alba would be "wide-ranging", the board said, encompassing the fostering of partnerships and offtake discussions with jewellery brands, manufacturers, and designers; managing stakeholder relationships, including harnessing the "already considerable" support for the mine within the local community; and supporting Alba's planning process towards permission for full-scale commercial production at Clogau.
A key aspect of Glass' role would be to devise and pilot a provenance-proofed, traceable 'mine-to-market' supply chain for gold produced at Clogau, which would underpin the company's ability to command a premium price for its products.
"I am thrilled to work with Alba - each mine is different and presents unique challenges and opportunities in the creation of a verifiable route-to-market," Vivien Johnston Glass said.
"The history and heritage of the Clogau-St David's Gold Mine, the cachet and prestige surrounding Welsh and particularly Clogau gold, and Alba's position as the only possible future producer of that gold, all make for a very exciting proposition.
"I look forward to supporting Alba as it advances its commercial strategy, leveraging my experience in the industry to foster partnerships with luxury brands and to implement a mine-to-market verification process for Alba's gold production, which will be essential both to ensure an ethical supply chain and to secure the best possible returns for this unique product."
At 1239 GMT, shares in Alba Mineral Resources were up 4% at 0.12p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
