The Sentient Group | About Us

Partners

Peter Cassidy
BSc (Hons 1st) Geology & Chemistry, PhD Coal Sciences, SA Fin
Peter has extensive experience in coal industry research, government supported industry development, the motor industry, finance and
portfolio management.

Prior to founding Sentient, Peter established AMP Life’s Private Investments division, which had over US$3 billion under management with separate teams focused on direct investments in natural resources, privatisation and infrastructure, leveraged buyouts and unlisted debt.

Peter is currently a director of Natural Soda Holdings, Inc., Natural Soda, Inc., Ivernia Inc. and various Sentient Group entities.
| TOP |

Colin Maclean
BA (Hons 1st) Geology
Colin has more than 15 years of field experience in mineral exploration and development in various ore deposit types in Australia, Southern Africa
and Western Europe, principally with the Exxon Minerals group.

Prior to founding Sentient he managed and exited a number of projects within AMP Private Investments’ portfolio, primarily in the coal sector. He also established AMP’s “quant” approach to the prices and markets of raw materials.

Colin is responsible for Sentient’s research and due diligence information systems and is currently a director of various Sentient Group entities.
| TOP |

Ben McKeown

Ben has worked in a variety of technical and commercial roles in both the mining and oil and gas industries (principally with BP and Total) throughout his career. Prior to joining Sentient in 2007, Ben was involved in investing in the mining and energy sectors, primarily with Actis, an emerging markets focused private equity group, where he was part of the minerals, oil and gas team, and was ultimately responsible for oil and gas investing.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining Engineering) from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London and an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.  He is a Chartered Engineer, and is a member of the Energy Institute and Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

As a Partner of Sentient, Ben has a focus on Latin America and energy.

Mike de Leeuw

Mike joined Sentient in 2001 as Group Chief Financial Officer and is Sentient’s Administration Partner. He has extensive experience in corporate finance, treasury, risk management, auditing, budgeting and taxation on a global basis. He previously had 15 years experience as CFO of a number of listed and unlisted mining companies.  Prior to this he worked for Deloitte internationally for six years.

Mike qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Australia and South Africa, has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours) from the University of Pretoria and a Masters of Applied Finance and Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. 

| TOP |

| INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS
| MARKETING
| ADMINISTRATION/FINANCE