Phu Bia Mining wins at the ASEAN Business Awards Lao PDR

Phu Bia Mining wins at the ASEAN Business Awards Lao PDR

On 4 February, PanAust’s Lao-registered company, Phu Bia Mining (PBM) received the 2021 Lao Special Award in Skill Development at the ‘2021 ASEAN Business Awards Lao PDR’ gala event, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Vientiane. The Award was presented by the Government of Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister, His Excellency Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune.

The ASEAN Business Awards Lao PDR acknowledge and recognise businesses that significantly contribute to the economic growth of the Lao business community. The Lao Special Award in Skill Development is given to Lao and Lao-based foreign companies that have raised the profile of Lao businesses regionally and globally and demonstrated how their operations contribute to human resource and skill development within the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

The Award adds to Phu Bia Mining’s prestigious 2018 ‘Friend of ASEAN’ and the ‘Friend of Laos’ Award that was presented to PanAust for its ongoing contribution to socio-economic development in Laos and the economic growth of the ASEAN region.

In Laos, PanAust’s commitment to developing and training Lao-national employees to improve their skills and competencies required to complete their job and help grow their career is seen in its internal and external programs. Established in 2013 in partnership with the Lao-German Technical College, the Company’s Apprenticeship Program is considered a beacon of this commitment. The program offers trades training in automotive electrical, heavy vehicle plant mechanical, metal fabrication and welding, fitting and machining, and electrical. At the end of 2018, 85 apprentices successfully obtained Australian Certificate III trade qualification and a Lao Ministry of Education and Sport’s higher diploma and have now worked at the Company’s mobile and fixed plant maintenance departments. In 2020, the program was reintroduced as an accelerated three-year program with 40 apprentices recruited from more than 3,000 applicants across Laos.

The Certification Assessment Program is another internal innovative training program for existing Phu Bia Mining employees. The program provided employees with development opportunities that were aligned with the Lao Ministry of Education and Sport’s Technical and Vocational Education Training Program and is also delivered in partnership with Lao-German Technical College. In 2020, 174 eligible Lao trade employees received a trade certificate to a Lao higher diploma in trades.

The Company’s in-house Supervisory Skills Training Program offers employees more than 80 hours of structured training and post-course assignments and exemplifies how Phu Bia Mining prepares its Lao-national employees for promotion to more senior roles. Annual internship arrangements for graduates from the National University of Laos also create an opportunity for hands-on experience and field visits to the Company’s Operations.

At PanAust, the Company recognises it has a significant role to play in developing skilled nationals of our host countries that can continue to participate in, and help grow, the national economy.

The award highlights how PanAust continues to partner with the Government of Laos’ Ministry of Education and Sports. It also honours the Company’s trainers and instructors. These men and women work tirelessly to impart their knowledge and experience to our Lao-national employees to help build their skills, which in turn ensures its operational standards continue to be met.

Mr Lei Feng

Non Executive Director
MBA, FCCA

Mr Lei Feng has over 20 years of financial management experience in various sectors including printing, packaging, shipbuilding, grain trading, mining and finance.

Mr Feng began his career in 2004 as a Financial Accountant at C & C Joint Printing Co., (Guangdong) Ltd., after completing a Masters of Business Administration degree between 2002 and 2004 at Sun Yat-Sen University.

After five years, in 2009, Mr Feng was appointed as Financial and Executive Manager at Heshan Innopak Co., Ltd. Since 2013, Mr Feng has held senior financial positions with various Guangdong state-owned companies regulated under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

In 2013, Mr Feng took up a new appointment as Financial Controller, at Guangxin Shipbuilding and Heavy Industry Co., Ltd and was appointed in 2016, as the Financial Controller with Donlink Group Co., Ltd.

In 2018, Mr Feng joined Guangdong Rising Holdings Group Co. Ltd., (GRHG) as the Deputy General Manager of the Finance Department and later in 2020 he was appointed as General Manager of Finance. In early 2022, Mr Feng took on his current position of General Manager of Guangdong Rising Investment Development Co., Ltd, with GRHG.

Mr Feng became a Non-executive Director of the PanAust Limited Board of Directors on 10 May 2022.

Mr Daling Zheng

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
MCom, MBA, PGDip

Mr Daling Zheng is PanAust Limited’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He has 20 years of experience in asset management and investment in China and internationally and holds a Master of Commerce (Applied Finance) from the University of Queensland, an MBA from Murdoch University, and a postgraduate diploma from the Queensland University of Technology.

Prior to joining PanAust Limited, Daling worked for Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonferrous Metal Co. where he was involved in mergers, acquisitions, and the asset management of international mines.

Daling’s previous experience includes as an investment approval officer in the Investment Management Committee of the China Ping An Group where he was responsible for the acquisition of global-listed companies and commercial banks, underwriting, investing in corporate bonds, and participating in Moody and Standard & Poor’s credit rating on Ping An Group. He has also been responsible for corporate banking at the China Minsheng Bank, and was an analyst in the energy and nonferrous metal industry at CITIC Futures.

Daling was appointed an Executive Director of PanAust Limited on 27 August 2018, Chief Financial Officer on 15 January 2019 and Deputy Chief Executive Officer on 23 July 2020. In 2022 Daling was appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PanAust Limited.

Mr Shu Yao

Chairman
BEng, MBA

Mr Shu Yao is a Mining Engineer with over 30 years’ of experience in mining operations and management.

Mr Yao joined Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet’s (Nonfemet) Fankou Mine – one of the largest lead and zinc producing mines in Asia – in 1989 as a Mining Technician. He would later serve as the Mining Manager, General Manager of the Mining Department, and Assistant General Manager during his 26 year tenure with the Mine.

In 2015, Mr Yao transitioned to work directly for Nonfemet as the Assistant President; General Manager of the Mineral Resource Department. While with the Company, Mr Yao would go on to hold the roles of Deputy President and Director, and Executive Deputy President and Director.

In 2020, Mr Yao transitioned to his current role of Chairman of Guangdong Rising Investment Development Co. Ltd; a first tier subsidiary of Guangdong Rising Holdings Group Co. Ltd.

Mr Yao became the Chairman of PanAust Limited on 11 May 2021.