Novonix appoints new finance head amid graphite IPO plans

A bit of a shakeup in the executive ranks of Brisbane-based battery materials and technology company Novonix with industry veteran Robert Long appointed finance chief.

Battery material company Novonix appoints new chief financial officer.

A bit of a shakeup in the executive ranks of Brisbane-based battery materials and technology company Novonix. The changes will see Robert Long move into the chief financial officer role after more than 25 years of experience in finance and executive leadership with both public and private companies including Sanofi and Ernst & Young.

The company’s current chief financial officer Nick Liveris, the son of industrialist Andrew Liveris, will transition onto the company’s board as he moves to work full time at the Liveris Family Office. Novonix says that to ensure a smooth transition of the CFO role to Long in September, Ron Edmonds, a seasoned finance leader and board member, will take on the interim role of executive officer - finance.

Novoix announced plans earlier this year spin out its Queensland graphite deposits in a $20m listing as it focuses on its burgeoning operation in the US.

Novonix CEO Chris Burns. Jane Dempster/The Australian

ASX-listed Novonix and Lithium Energy say they will merge their adjoining graphite assets in Queensland into a new company called Axon Graphite.

Novonix chief executive Chris Burns says the new stand-alone company provided the opportunity to attract new development capital.

Lithium Energy and Novonix will each hold a 25 per cent cornerstone equity holding in the new company after the IPO. Novonix’s Mt Dromedary graphite deposit is adjacent to Lithium Energy’s Burke deposit 125km north of Cloncurry in North Central Queensland.

North Queensland is emerging as an important location for the production of critical materials for battery technologies in Australia. Veteran director Peter Turnbull was last month appointed to steer the IPO on the Axon Graphite board.

Noosa calling

We hear registrations are filling up fast for the second Noosa Mining Conference of the year, to be held from November 13-15 at Peppers Noosa Resort.

Conference organiser Phil Dickinson says last year’s November conference was a success and he expects the upcoming event, to be again sponsored by Canaccord Genuity and the ASX, to be even better. Two big mining conferences are now held each year in the tourism town, with the July event this year attracting more than 2,300 registrants both in-person and online.

City Beat hears Noosa Surf Club was heaving on the Thursday evening of the conference as mining entrepreneur Stephen Bizzell hosted the conference crowd, with attendees keen to get the inside word on the next ASX success story. Among the Brisbane attendees were silica sand heavyweight Diatreme Resources and lithium favourite Lake Resources.

Phil Dickinson, organiser of the Noosa Mining Conference

Fast food

7-Eleven Australia is expanding its Queensland network, with the opening of its latest store at 25 King Street, Bowen Hills, on Tuesday.

The store, one of the largest in 7-Eleven Australia’s network, will bring the brand’s Queensland numbers to approximately 222 stores by the end of August with 7-Eleven Kedron due to open on August 8 and Moffat Beach on August 15.

Japanese retail giant 7-Eleven International took control of 7-Eleven Australia in November 2023 in a $1.71bn buyout. According to 7-Eleven chief executive Fiona Hayes, the new format concept stores will feature extended food offering including the 7-Eleven Onigiri.

“As part of the 7-Eleven International network we are looking forward to working more closely with our international counterparts to grow our food offer,” Hayes says. “Without question, 7-Eleven Japan has one of the best food offers in convenience in the world, so their expertise will be invaluable in helping to set a new benchmark here in Australia.”

7-Eleven is expanding across Australia.