# David Palmer

Chief Technical and Operating Officer – Base Metals

## Career chronology

- **As reported at 2026-10-31; dates where documented in findings: South32** — Chief Technical and Operating Officer – Base Metals. [FY2026 annual report](<https://financialfilings.com/filings/south32-limited/annual-report/2026/57660055/>) (Printed pp.143-144)

## Education and qualifications

### Issuer-reported qualifications [palmer-education]

As reported in annual report · issuer reported · low materiality

Issuer reports a mineral-processing engineering degree from Queensland and MBA from Melbourne; independent credential checks incomplete.

**Attribution:** Responsibility not applicable. Issuer biography, not independent verification.

**Relevance:** Professional training and experience.

[FY2026 annual report](<https://financialfilings.com/filings/south32-limited/annual-report/2026/57660055/>) (Printed pp.143-144)

## Business failures and setbacks

### Cannington quarter operating setback [palmer-cannington]

September quarter 2026 · issuer reported · medium materiality

South32 reported payable zinc-equivalent production at Cannington fell 27% from the June to September 2026 quarter as paste-backfill availability delayed access to planned stopes. It retained FY2027 production guidance. Palmer took on the base metals operations remit on 1 September 2026; the company report does not attribute the shortfall to him.

**Attribution:** Role overlaps event; causation unproven. Operations remit began during the quarter; no individual cause has been established.

**Relevance:** Relevant to base-metals operational oversight.

[Quarterly report September 2026](<https://www.sharedata.co.za/sens.asp?id=563572>) (Cannington operating performance); [FY2026 annual report](<https://financialfilings.com/filings/south32-limited/annual-report/2026/57660055/>) (Printed p.143-144, appointment)

## Suitability for the current role

### Experience and responsibilities [palmer-fit]

As reported through August 2026 · analyst inference · low materiality

Joined South32 as Chief Technical Officer on 3 August 2026; responsibility expanded to base metals on 1 September. Previously Anglo American technical leadership, including Africa and Australia. The relevance to the present role is an analyst inference; company descriptions do not measure individual delivery.

**Attribution:** Responsibility not applicable. Issuer biography and analytical inference; exact prior dates are incomplete.

**Relevance:** Relevant to the current assigned mandate.

[FY2026 annual report](<https://financialfilings.com/filings/south32-limited/annual-report/2026/57660055/>) (Printed pp.143-144)

## Evidence gaps

- Independent verification of education, qualifications and any current professional registration remains incomplete.

- Full person-specific searches of each employer, court, regulator, sanctions, safety and environmental records are incomplete; no clearance is implied.

- Exact past role dates, individual contribution and responsibility are not fully established.