Jakeman, who has worked in the Australian coal mining industry for more than 35 years in companies such as BHP, Shell Coal and Rio Tinto, was instrumental in installing longwalls at Anglo’s Moranbah North mine in Queensland.

He was responsible for the production of more than 40 million tonnes per annum of thermal and coking coal for domestic and export markets in Queensland and New South Wales at Anglo.

Since leaving the company, Jakeman has provided strategic and risk management advice to several private and listed companies in the resources and financial services sectors and headed Carabella Resources from its initial public offering through to August 2011.

More recently, Jakeman has been appointed associate director responsible for coal and energy for China House Consultancy, a firm with offices in China, Hong Kong and Australia.

In addition, he has been part of several industry and government groups, such as the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland and the Queensland government’s Safety in Mines Legislation Review Committee.

Pan Asia chairman Domenic Martino said: “The appointment of Mitch to the board as our project nears development phase adds important technical capability.

“This will help us deliver the low cost, high calorific value TCM project in a manner that makes best use of shareholder capital and delivers a clear value proposition to potential off-take partners and investors at the project level.”