Executive Leadership Team
Our Executive Leadership Team members lead and manage our operations.
Kedi Ilimbit
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Kedi holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the PNG University of Technology, a Diploma in Management (Front Line Supervision), a Graduate Diploma in Maintenance Management from Central Queensland University.
Kedi Joined OTML through the Graduate Development Scheme in 1995 to 2004 starting as graduate mechanical engineer and worked in various roles.
Kedi left in 2004 and worked at various mines (coal, iron ore, zinc, lead, silver, copper) in Australia performing in senior and managerial roles.
He returned back to OTML in Mid-2015 as Manager Mine Maintenance, prior to that he was employed as Manager Mobile Assets with Cliffs Natural Resources at their Koolynobbing Iron Ore operations in Western Australia.
Prior to his appointment as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, he was the Deputy CEO and General Manager Community & Operations Support, as well as General Manager Asset Management, and General Manager Processing.
Jesse Pile
General Manager Social Performance and Sustainability
Jesse is from Gumine, Simbu Province. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology out of University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), a Master of Science degree in Environmental Geochemistry (UPNG) and a Diploma in Management from Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE.
Jesse was the Deputy General Manager, Community and Operations Support and then he went on to being the Acting General Manager Community and Operations Support prior to his current role.
Jesse started his career with BHP Exploration, where he worked for 5 years before moving to Minorco Exploration, a subsidiary of Anglo America Corporation for 2 years and Misima Mines Limited for 1 year followed by a 2-year period of study from 2001 to 2002.
He joined OTML in January 2003 as Team Coordinator (Superintendent) Riverine Management and was in that role for 13 years until his appointment to the Environment Manager in March 2016.
Catherine Costello
General Manager Commercial & Chief Financial Officer
Catherine has over 25 years of international resource industry finance experience both site based and corporate positions. Within PNG, she has had experience with Lihir Mine, Porgera Mine, Misima Mine and Hidden Valley. She is passionate about developing people and mentoring and coaching the next generation of leaders utilising a collaborative and compassionate approach.
As well as operational finance roles, Catherine has extensive experience in corporate financing arrangements, corporate governance, restructuring and sustainability. She has been the CFO, Company Secretary and a Director for a number of listed ASX companies. Most recently she was CFO for a privately held Australian base metals company producing copper, zinc and gold, prior to completing a merger of the company with a listed Australian Copper mining company.
Catherine holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Queensland, Australia and a Masters of Science (Mineral Economics) from the Kalgoorlie School of Mines, Curtin University, Australia. She is also a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ and PNG CPA) and Chartered Secretary (GIA) and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Alan Bong
General Manager Strategy, Business Development & Optimization
Alan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mining Engineering from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. He is also a professional member of the Australian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (MAusIMM) and The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientist, Managers Australia (MAPESMA) and holds PNG Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency.
Alan has over 28 years of experience, holding senior operational, technical and management roles in the mining industry in Papua New Guinea and Australia. He is an experienced professional in Business Strategy, Technical Services and Project Management.
In his career, he has led, directed and managed multi-disciplinary teams in conducting business planning, due diligence, technical reviews and feasibility studies, project evaluation and contract mining, commodities include copper, gold, silver, zinc, nickel, cobalt, iron ore, and coal.
Alan commenced his early career in exploration with Highlands Pacific Ltd (HPL) at the Frieda Copper Gold Project before moving to Porgera Joint Venture open cut and underground mines in 1994. He later moved to Brisbane QLD to conduct Bankable Feasibility of Ramu Nickel Cobalt Project. After managing early pioneering and civil works for the new Kurumbukari mine and Basamuk Refinery in Madang, Alan left Ramu Nickel and joined Ok Tedi in 2000 and worked in various roles within Technical Services and Operations.
Alan moved to Tasmania Australia in 2005 and worked with a number of large mining and consulting companies including Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), Thiess and AMEC Consulting for more than 12 years before returning to Ok Tedi mine in 2017.
Prior to his appointment, Alan managed Strategic Projects including the Centre Pit Project and Engineered Waste Rock Dump (EWRD).
Alan currently resides in Brisbane with his family and hails from Telefomin, Sandaun Province.
Franz Hemetsberger
General Manager Engineering, Infrastructure and Projects
Franz has a deep urge to serve his country and Ok Tedi is an awesome place for him to serve.
Franz is from Enga Province with a missionary Father who instilled a strong sense of mission in his children.
Franz is an electrical engineer by profession and held several management positions at Newcrest’s Lihir Gold Operation including the Superintendent for Electrical & Instrumentation, Manager of Asset Management, Manager of Fixed Plant Maintenance and Manager of Operations Stability Transformation.
Franz studied engineering at the University of QLD through Porgera Joint Venture and worked in several of Barrick’s mines in Australia before coming to Lihir in PNG in 2011 where he worked for 12 years. He consulted for some time before joining OTML in July 2023.
Franz continues to use his technical and leadership ability to manage with a deep passion for training and development.
Franz has 3 children (Alois, Ilaila & Ezekiel) who all love playing soccer. He is married to Vagi who continues to inspire him through her work with Seven Sisters Foundation, an organisation that seeks to create a leadership pathway for women in PNG.
Ben Burger
General Manager Operations
Ben Burger is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in the mining industry.
Holding a degree in Minerals Process Engineering from the University of Queensland, Australia, Ben has held various significant roles in gold and copper operations across multiple countries including Australia, Peru, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Ben has served as the Senior Metallurgist at Batu Hijau copper mine in Indonesia from 2000 to 2005, gaining invaluable experience in Mine to Mill optimization. He then served as a Metallurgical Superintendent for Yanacocha Gold Mine under Newmont in Peru from 2006 to 2011.
He was Process Manager at Boddington Gold Mine in Western Australia from 2012 to 2013, before becoming the Process Manager at Porgera Gold Mine in Enga Province from 2016 to 2020.
From 2020 to 2022, amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben served as the Head of Development and Planning at Newcrest Lihir, overseeing medium and long-term strategic planning and project studies.
Before joining Ok Tedi, Ben contributed his expertise to MMG Dugald River Zinc Mine near Cloncurry in Queensland, where he served as Manager of Strategy, Innovation, and Technology. This role provided him with key insights into underground mining, geology, and diamond drilling management.
Ben is married with four teenage children and while he is based in Tabubil, his roots remain in Brisbane where his family resides.