Southern Cross Gold Appoints Ryan Austerberry as COO
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Southern Cross Gold has appointed Ryan Austerberry as chief operating officer. Austerberry brings extensive experience building and operating underground gold-antimony mining operations directly comparable to the company’s flagship Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project.
“Ryan’s appointment is strategically significant for several reasons. He brings direct, hands-on Victorian experience operating one of the world’s closest analogues to Sunday Creek. The geological similarities between Costerfield and Sunday Creek are strong, and Ryan has successfully navigated the technical and operational challenges that we expect to encounter. His demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, safety, and disciplined production management aligns with the culture we are building at Sunday Creek. This operational discipline will be invaluable as we advance Sunday Creek,” said Michael Hudson, president and CEO.
“Ryan’s expertise in antimony production positions us exceptionally well to capitalize on the strategic value of Sunday Creek’s dual gold-antimony profile. His deep understanding of antimony markets, processing, and offtake relationships developed through years of managing the Western world’s largest antimony producer, will be instrumental as we engage with governments and strategic partners seeking secure antimony supply chains,” added Hudson.
“Ryan’s appointment underscores the calibre of talent our project attracts and the seriousness with which we are approaching mine development. His experience building and operating a directly analogous gold-antimony mine in Victoria gives us confidence that we can successfully execute our vision of developing Sunday Creek into a premier gold producer with strategic antimony production,” concluded Hudson.
As COO and a member of Southern Cross Gold’s executive leadership team, Ryan Austerberry will be responsible for advancing Sunday Creek from exploration through to mine development and operations. His appointment marks a pivotal milestone in the company’s evolution from a pure exploration company into a mining company capable of developing one of the Western world’s most significant gold and antimony discoveries.
Austerberry’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the company, just days after Victoria granted a work plan approval for the Sunday Creek exploration tunnel. This approval marks a significant milestone in the company’s progression from exploration success towards mine development. Over the past three years, Southern Cross Gold has systematically demonstrated one of the Western world’s most significant gold and antimony drill discoveries. With underground access now approved, Austerberry’s extensive experience in underground gold-antimony mining operations becomes immediately relevant.
Austerberry brings more than 20 years of mining operations experience, most recently as chief operating officer at Alkane Resources, which included responsibility for the Costerfield underground gold-antimony mine in Victoria, Australia. Prior to his COO role, he served as general manager of Costerfield, where he played a major role in the mine’s expansion and modernization. At Costerfield, Austerberry successfully managed the transition from multiple ore sources, oversaw the Brunswick processing plant operations achieving high recoveries, and maintained an outstanding safety and environmental record. His tenure saw the successful management of complex geological and operational challenges inherent to underground vein mining while maintaining operational excellence and profitability.
Prior to rejoining Costerfield, Austerberry served as general manager of Björkdal gold mine in Sweden and held positions including corporate manager of Technical Services at Mandalay Resources. His operational experience spans multiple jurisdictions including Australia and Sweden, with expertise across both development and production stages of mining.
Austerberry holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, a Graduate Diploma in Mining from the University of Ballarat, and an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business. He is a Chartered Professional in Mining with the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“This marks the beginning of Southern Cross Gold’s evolution from an exploration success story into a mining company. With Ryan’s operational leadership, combined with our exceptional drill results, strategic land position, strong balance sheet, and supportive regulatory environment, we are well-positioned to advance one of the Western world’s most significant gold and antimony discoveries toward production,” said Hudson.
Southern Cross Gold controls the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project located 60 km north of Melbourne, Australia. Sunday Creek has emerged as one of the Western world’s most significant gold and antimony discoveries, with exceptional drilling results. Sunday Creek’s strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile, with antimony contributing approximately 20 percent of the in-situ value alongside gold.
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