The Board is responsible for the overall corporate governance, leadership and control of the Company including directing the affairs of the Company, setting and monitoring the Company’s risk management strategy (including ESG risks). The Board is committed to maximising performance, generating appropriate levels of shareholder value and financial return, and sustaining the growth and success of the Company over the longer-term.
Discover the board that’s guiding Yancoal to a future of growth and prosperity.
Gang Ru
Chairman and Non-Executive Director
Gang Ru is Chairman of the Board.
Mr Ru is the Chair of the Strategy and Development Committee, a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and the Audit and Risk Management Committee of Yancoal.
Mr Ru joined China New Technology Venture Capital Corporation in July 1994, and appointed as the Head of the Capital Market Research Center of Cvic Software Engineering Co., Ltd. in September 2000. From 2002 to 2008, he successively served as the Director and the Secretary to the Board of Directors of Shandong TV-NET Medium Development Co., Ltd. Mr Ru successively acted as the Supervisor, Chief Financial Officer and the External Director of Zibo Mining Group Co.,Ltd from 2008 to 2015. Mr Ru served as the Chief Financial Officer and External Director of Shandong Energy from 2015 to 2022. Mr Ru was appointed as the Deputy General Manager of Shandong Energy in March 2022.
Mr Ru graduated from Shandong University, he is a Professorate Senior Economist, Senior Accountant and Certified Accountant. Mr Ru holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and has rich experience in financial and capital management, corporate management, investment and financing.
Ning Yue
Co-Vice Chairman and Executive Director
Ning Yue is an Executive Director and Vice-Chair of Yancoal Australia Ltd.
Gregory Fletcher
Co-Vice Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director
Gregory Fletcher is Co-Vice Chair of Yancoal Australia Ltd.
Mr Fletcher is Chair of Yancoal’s Independent Board Committee and Chair of Yancoal’s Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Mr Fletcher was a Director of Gloucester Coal Ltd from 30 June 2009. He was appointed a Director of Yancoal after the merger of Yancoal and Gloucester Coal Ltd in June 2012.
Previously, Mr Fletcher was a senior partner of Deloitte for 16 years, specialising in external and internal audits and risk management, providing professional services to some of Australia’s largest listed corporations.
Additionally, he served as a Director of Railcorp up until the Railcorp Board was wound up on 30 June 2010 in line with the NSW Transport Administration Act.
Since 2009 Mr Fletcher has taken on Board and Audit Committee roles. Mr Fletcher holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Chartered Accountant.
Mr Fletcher is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of Yancoal.
Changyi Zhang
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Zhang started his career working at China Construction Bank in 1987 and joined China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“China Cinda”) in 1999. From 2008 to 2016, he served as the general manager of China Cinda Shandong Branch and the general manager of the Planning & Finance Department and the Finance & Accounting Department of China Cinda. In 2017, Mr. Zhang was appointed as the general manager of the Strategic Client Department IV of China Cinda, responsible for the overall work of the department, and led the completion of several overseas merger and acquisition investment.
Mr. Zhang is also currently the Chairman of Hebei Xinhua Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd.
Mr. Zhang graduated from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. He is a senior accountant with an MBA degree. He has rich experience in financial management, business management, investment and financing.
Mr. Zhang is a member of the Strategy and Development Committee of Yancoal.
Peter Smith
Independent Non-Executive Director
Mr Peter Smith was appointed a Director of Yancoal in 2024.
Mr Smith is Chair of the Health, Safety, Environment and Community Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
Mr Smith is a well credentialed resource industry director, with experience encompassing the gold, coal, metals and fertilisers sectors. He currently sits on the Boards of Evolution Mining Limited (ASX: EVN) and Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU); and was previously a non-executive Director of NSW Minerals Council and Western Metals Limited.
During his career, Mr Smith, held prominent senior positions with Rio Tinto, WMC Resources, Ensham Resources, Western Metals, Newcrest Mining, Israel Chemicals Limited, and Kestrel Coal Resources.
Mr Smith has a Master of Business Administration and Management from University of Southern Queensland.
Debra Bakker
Independent Non-Executive Director
Ms Debra Bakker was appointed a Director of Yancoal in 2024
Ms Bakker is Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Ms Bakker has experience encompassing precious metal, base metal and critical mineral mining, oil and gas development, shipping logistics, commodity trading and corporate financing. She currently sits on the Boards of IGO Ltd, X64 Ltd, Transhipment Services Australia, and Auramet Trading LLC.
During her career, Ms Bakker, held prominent roles in banking and finance, including: Head of Metals and Mining Origination in Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s Natural Resources Division; Risk Advisory at Kiodex, a provider of energy risk management solutions; and positions with Standard Bank and Barclays in London and Sydney.
Ms Bakker has a Masters of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Edith Cowan University.
Xiaolong Huang
Non-Executive Director
Mr Xiaolong Huang, Senior Economist, Master of Laws.
Mr. Xiaolong Huang is the Director and Secretary of the Board of the Yankuang Energy. Mr. Huang joined the predecessor of Yankuang Energy in 1999 and became the Securities Affairs Representative of Yankuang Energy in 2006. In 2008 and 2012, he took office as the Deputy-Director-Level Secretary of the Board Secretariat of Yankuang Energy and the Deputy Director of the Board Secretariat successively. He served as the Director of the former Shandong Energy Equity Reform and Restructuring Office in 2013, and a Standing-Director of the Board Secretariat of Shandong Energy in August 2020. In July 2021 and August 2021, he became the Secretary of the Board of Yankuang Energy and a Director of Yankuang Energy successively. Mr. Huang graduated from the University of International Business and Economics.
Mr Huang is a member of the Strategy and Development Committee and Health, Safety, Environment and Community Committee of Yancoal.
