Brian Thornton, a graduate in Economics from the Australian National University and an Associate of the Securities Institute of Australia, has a diverse background covering the public and private sectors.

In 1976 he was appointed a research economist at the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in Canberra (now ABARE) and in 1980 to the New South Wales Premiers Department as Trade and Investment Adviser, South East Asia and China.

Apart from a number of overseas assignments with the Government, he also directed a number of commercial undertakings and reviews including implementation of key elements of the Broken Hill Economic Review Committee’s findings and assisted with the evaluation and re-negotiation of New South Wales’ mining royalties applying at the time.

He has directed assignments and briefs for Government organisations and has been responsible for marketing and public affairs programs for a number of agencies.

He established Farrington Corporate Services in 1986.

His earlier experience covered media and government relations management, investor relations, the strategic planning and management of financial and corporate marketing campaigns on behalf of a large number of publicly listed Australian and overseas companies.

Over the last 10 years, he has focused exclusively on the mining and exploration sectors and has been engaged by some of Australia’s largest and most respected mining companies as an adviser.

Mandates have included advice on takeover and defence tactics and strategy, financial marketing campaigns relating to capital raisings – including floats, placements, rights issues etc, investor roadshows in Australia and overseas and corporate counsel.

Clients have included Anglogold Ashanti Australia, Goldfields Ltd, Delta Gold, Nuigini Mining, Highlands Pacific, Straits Resources, Zimbabwe Platinum Mines, Macarthur Coal, Tectonic Resources, Magnesium International, Emperor Mines and Bendigo Mining Limited.

In addition he has been responsible for the management and financial marketing of a large number of exploration, mining and technology IPOs in Australia ranging in size from A$5m to A$150m. These have included Ross Mining, Simsmetal Limited, Macarthur Coal, Nord Pacific Limited, Reliance Mining, KAZ, Queensland Gas, Discovery Nickel and most recently Quay Magnesium Limited.

The company continues to advise a significant number of listed mining companies operating throughout Australia, Indonesia, China, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Southern Africa. These clients are involved in gold, base metals, PGMs, coal and coal bed methane and bulk commodities.

Brian Thornton founded Farrington Corporate Services in 1986 and remains its Managing Director and major shareholder.

He has completed the Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment with the Securities Institute of Australia.