TSX-V-listed CoTec Holdings and Aim- and TSX-V-listed Mkango Resources have appointed Linda Lourie as an advisory board director for their joint venture (JV), HyProMag USA, effective June 24.

Lourie is currently a principal with WestExec Advisors, the Washington Circle Advisory Group; a member of the US Export-Import Bank’s Advisory Subcommittee on Strategic Competition with the People’s Republic of China; and serves as commissioner on the Atlantic Council’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare, among other affiliations.

She was previously the assistant director for Research and Technology Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Lourie has also served as Department of Defence associate general counsel and the general counsel of the Defence Innovation Unit.

CoTec CEO Julian Treger posits that her experience will complement the roll out of HyProMag’s technology in the US.

“The JV bankable feasibility study is making excellent progress and Linda’s significant experience will provide strong direction for the board and help to drive HyProMag USA’s strategy of securing potential US government funding and long-term commercial relationships in the US market,” he says.

“We see a very significant opportunity in the US market and look forward to working with Linda, CoTec and HyProMag USA as we move into the next phase of growth. HyProMag USA provides a cost effective and energy efficient solution for the liberation and short loop recycling of rare earth magnets, helping to unlock the supply chain and creating a new domestic source of rare earths for the US,” Mkango CEO Will Dawes avers.

“HyProMag USA is well placed to help secure the US a long-term, secure and sustainable supply chain for rare earth magnets through the patented hydrogen processing of magnet scrap technology. I look forward to joining the HyProMag USA board and working with the team to grow the company while making US permanent magnet supply chains more resilient,” Lourie says.