Veteran Earth explorer and minerals technologist, Keenan Jennings has become the first appointee to South Australia tech firm Fleet Space Technologies’ experts-in-residence program.
Fleet Space said the former vice president of metals exploration at mining major BHP would be among an internal group of industry experts that would support and advise Fleet Space’s roadmap to “transform mineral exploration globally”.
The high-profile start-up identified Rio Tinto, Core Lithium and Barrick Gold, but not BHP, among at least 35 companies using its ExoSphere mineral exploration solution for sub-surface surveys on five continents. Fleet Space last year completed a A$50 million series C equity funding to advance development of the technology and expand its market penetration.
The company said its XIR (experts-in-residence) program would enhance its efforts to design and deliver practical solutions tailored to the needs of global exploration customers “as the mining sector continues to evolve”.
“I’m honored to join Fleet Space to help build a more sustainable path to scale mineral discovery globally and find new solutions to old problems with the company’s groundbreaking space-enabled exploration solution, ExoSphere, and patented seismic technology offerings,” Jennings said.
He was described as a lifelong explorer whose career had taken him to the “technological frontier of mineral exploration, leading geochemical and geophysical research programs, in addition to driving the development of ML-enabled search space analysis”.
Fleet Space also aims to be a provider of off-Earth exploration and other technologies. Co-founder and CEO Flavia Tata Nardini said Jennings’ appointment was part of efforts to “propel our ascendancy to the forefront of mining innovation globally”.
“As we chart a new course for the mineral exploration industry, humanity must take full advantage of the latest innovations in space technology to accelerate discovery and reduce environmental impact,” she said.
“The road to renewable energy requires a major expansion of critical mineral exploration – and how fast we get there depends on our commitment to innovation, speed, sustainability, and building a brighter world for future generations.”
