Bronwyn Barnes
CEO: Ivanhoe Atlantic
‘I think Africa, at the moment, is a really interesting place to be, particularly as a US company’
ROBERT Friedland is continuing to expand his mining legacy in Africa with Ivanhoe Atlantic, his iron ore venture. Run by Australian Bronwyn Barnes, Ivanhoe Atlantic is advancing the development of its 85%-owned Kon Kweni Iron Ore Project in Guinea. The spotlight has been on iron ore in Guinea of late, due to the development of the massive Simandou deposit, but Kon Kweni is modest by comparison.
The shovel-ready project has a resource of 751.9 million tons of direct shipping ore, including 209Mt at 67.8% iron, making it one of the world’s highest-grade undeveloped iron ore projects. In 2024, Ivanhoe Atlantic announced the creation of the Liberty Corridor, a multi- user infrastructure corridor connecting Guinea and Liberia. Ivanhoe Atlantic already has an approved mining convention and permit in place and recently completed environmental and social impact studies and submitted permit applications to the relevant authorities in both Guinea and Liberia.
“I think Africa at the moment is a really interesting place to be, particularly as a US company,” Barnes told a conference in Perth last year. “The Trump administration is very focused on increasing its profile and access to resources in Africa. We’re working very closely with the US administration on the Liberty Corridor, which will connect Guinea into Liberia and create a new infrastructure corridor for materials to come out through that part of West Africa.” In January, the company opted against an Australian listing in favour of the US where capital is more plentiful.
LIFE OF BRONWYN
Barnes was appointed as CEO of Ivanhoe Atlantic in late 2022. She has more than 25 years’ experience in resources, including extensive experience working in Africa in government and stakeholder relations. She was named Outstanding Woman in Resources in Western Australia in 2015 and National Exceptional Woman in Resources in 2016 and was inducted into the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019. In her current role, Barnes divides her time between London, Washington DC, Conakry and Perth. She also chairs gold explorer Indiana Resources and oil developer Finder Energy.
