Tivan Limited has added Major Michael Stone (Retd) to its Technical Advisory Group, leveraging his 25 years of Timor-Leste expertise to boost local engagement and strategic guidance for its copper-gold projects. This move bolsters Tivan’s in-country capabilities as it advances its Turiscai, Baucau, and Ossu exploration portfolio.
- Major Michael Stone brings deep Timor-Leste experience and Tetun fluency
- Appointment enhances Tivan’s local stakeholder engagement and risk management
- Projects cover 633km² across Turiscai, Baucau, and Ossu copper-gold sites
- Tivan maintains active in-country presence with local office and team
- Stone’s role aligns with Tivan’s focus on sustainable community and government collaboration
Veteran Leadership Joins Tivan’s Advisory Team
Tivan Limited (ASX:TVN) has enlisted Major Michael Stone (Retd), a seasoned Australian Army officer with over 25 years immersed in Timor-Leste’s political and social fabric, to its Technical Advisory Group (TAG). Stone’s appointment is a strategic nod to the increasing importance of nuanced local engagement as Tivan pushes forward with its copper-gold exploration projects in the region.
Stone’s credentials are formidable: fluent in Tetun and decorated with Timor-Leste’s Presidential Medal of Merit, he has operated at senior levels within the country’s government and security sectors. His extensive networks and cultural insight promise to deepen Tivan’s connection with local communities and authorities, critical for navigating the complex social and political landscape that underpins project success.
Expanding In-Country Capabilities Amid Growing Project Footprint
Tivan’s Timor-Leste portfolio spans approximately 633 square kilometres across the Turiscai, Baucau, and Ossu projects, all prospective copper-gold exploration sites. The Turiscai Project alone covers 344km² just 40km south of Dili, Timor-Leste’s capital, while Baucau and Ossu lie further east along established transport routes.
With its in-country office and dedicated local team, Tivan is actively building operational capacity and fostering community ties. Stone’s role will be pivotal in guiding engagement strategies, negotiation processes, and community interface, helping to mitigate risks and enhance social licence; a vital factor in a jurisdiction still emerging from underexploration despite its promising geology.
This appointment dovetails with Tivan’s broader efforts to advance its mineral resource ambitions, following recent milestones such as the Turiscai Project award in March 2025 and acquisitions of Baucau and Ossu in late 2025. It also complements Tivan’s ongoing work at other assets, including the Speewah Fluorite Project, where the company recently secured $16.3 million in tranche funding and government support from Japan and the US, underscoring its multi-commodity growth strategy.
Indeed, Tivan’s expanding portfolio and strategic hires reflect a company positioning itself not just for resource discovery but for sustainable development and stakeholder collaboration, a theme echoed in its $16.3 million tranche funding announcement that highlighted government backing and community initiatives.
Bridging Military Experience and Community Development
Stone’s background uniquely blends military leadership with community development and veteran rehabilitation. As founder of the Timor Awakening Program, a joint Australia-Timor-Leste initiative focusing on veteran mental health and social solidarity, he brings a human dimension to Tivan’s technical advisory framework.
His military service included peacekeeping and security sector reform during critical periods in Timor-Leste’s recent history, providing him with firsthand insight into the country’s challenges and opportunities. This experience is expected to enhance Tivan’s ability to navigate local political, social, and cultural dynamics as it seeks to advance its projects responsibly.
Stone’s appointment signals Tivan’s recognition that successful mining ventures in emerging jurisdictions require more than geological expertise; they demand deep local knowledge and trusted relationships. His role will be to advise on strategic pathways and support operational teams, ensuring Tivan’s projects align with community expectations and government frameworks.
Bottom Line?
Tivan’s addition of Major Stone underscores its commitment to embedding local expertise and social insight as it advances Timor-Leste’s underexplored copper-gold frontier.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Major Stone’s local networks influence Tivan’s stakeholder negotiations and project timelines?
- What milestones should investors watch for in Tivan’s Timor-Leste exploration progress over the next 12 months?
- Could Tivan’s approach to community engagement set a benchmark for mining projects in emerging jurisdictions?