Jeremy Robinson is the Executive Director of RareX (ASX:REE), an ASX-listed specialist company focussed on developing Rare Earths deposits in Australia including Cummins Range Rare Earths Project in the East Kimberly region of Western Australia.

What is your journey in becoming an Executive Director/CEO?
My journey in resources started a long way back having been around mining and exploration my for most of my life with my father being a geologist and in the mining business. After leaving university with a commerce degree from the University of Western Australia I moved to Sydney for a brief stint as a mining analyst with a leading independent stockbroking firm. From there I spent approximately 15 years in junior and mid-cap resource companies across a variety of commodities and in a variety of roles but mostly focussed on Business Development so I got the chance to assess I variety of project which is most enjoyable. So then to cut a long story short I was between roles early last year and was asked to look for Rare Earth projects for an upcoming listing and the more I looked at the industry I decided it was a business I wanted to get involved and as it transpired the company asked me too stay on and run the company.

Tell us a bit about your business and how you are commercializing?
RareX is a Rare Earths developer located in Western Australia planning to deliver rare earth concentrate into refineries based around the world as the Electric Vehicle and Green energy revolution transforms the world with lower polluting technologies with the refined rare earths being used in Rare Earth Permanent Magnets. Since going public late last year RareX has been critically assessing its project at Cummins Range and building a team to assess the best path forward for its project. RareX has also been working with industry leading consultants and players in the rare earth business such as Talaxis Group which is a fully owned subsidiary of Noble Group limited. This relationship will help RareX navigate the Asian landscape and introduce us to end users and refiners of our product.

How are you managing with the current COVID-19 pandemic on both business and personal front?
On a business front COVID -19 has affected market sentiment in the short term although we all know how quick that can turn. Practically it has limited our ability to access certain areas of the state easily without certain practices and procedures in place designed to protect the communities in which we operate that have a higher indigenous population than say Perth does for instance. RareX has been preparing these procedures and all in all has probably delayed our proposed exploration program by 2 months but the field season is only just beginning so it won’t affect us in the long term. On a personal level I must admit I find it very hard working from home as I have two young children and also my wife is currently working from home.

What’s the most exciting thing about running your business?
Working in Rare Earths you are forced to be across all the latest technological developments as rare earths are critical components in a lot of these technologies – I quite enjoy that. I also like the time I get to spend in the Kimberley where our project is located as it is such an ancient and beautiful landscape. And then there is all the people you get to meet and interact with from the contractors and consultants we use to the shareholders we report to and keep up to date with the companies it’s all good stuff.

How do you measure success?
As a publicly listed company there is only one true measure of success and that is share price appreciation. Simple as that.

What do you think is the most important quality of being an Executive Director/CEO of a listed company?
Hard to say as haven’t been at it long but I guess what strikes me is the variety of people in the role and the ones I find most impressive are the CEO’s that have built their businesses from the ground up. But I guess I would have to say tenacity and the ability to just keep going. Communication is also important, if you can’t explain to people what you are doing then it probably isn’t going to work.

What is your favourite book?
I am currently reading a book called Rare Earth Frontiers by Julie Michelle Klinger which examines the history and geopolitical importance of the Rare Earths business across the globe. It is particularly good at explaining how the industry got to where it is today as essentially a Chinese monopoly which is something the west is now trying to address. I have not finished it yet as generally takes me awhile to get through a book so hopefully am a bit more enlightened at the end of it

What message do you want to send to our readership in Asia?
Asia is the epicentre of the Rare earths business so RareX so we hope to build a presence their both with attracting shareholders and ultimately selling our products. Stay tuned.

How can people connect with you?
Email:
RareX Website: https://www.rarex.com.au/