About

Changing
the Future

Our Purpose

To enable the energy transition by radically transforming mineral processing through science and innovation.

Our Strategy

We leverage our deep expertise in plasma physics and power electronics to build disruptive technologies that make mining more sustainable and productive. By collaborating with our future customers and globally leading research institutions we are able to rapidly advance solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems.

Our Values

Speed

We are agile and seek the fastest path to success by focusing on what matters most.

Curiosity

We are constantly learning and value diversity of experience and thought.

Impact

We take science out of the lab and into the field, to solve the biggest problems facing our customers and help build a better world.

Combating climate change

The only way to avoid the worst impacts of climate change is to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from 51 billion tonnes a year, where they are now, to net zero – and we need to do it by 2050. That means we need unprecedented technological transformations in almost every sector of modern life and will require large amounts of capital investment over the coming decades. This includes a dramatic change in the way we produce and use energy. Enabling this transition requires a step-change in the production of minerals that are the building blocks of the global economy and critical for the development of efficient energy solutions.

Challenge accepted

We need the most ambitious innovation program the world has ever seen to build and scale clean technologies that can compete with the ones we’re using now. The challenge of producing more minerals while reducing emissions is not possible without radical innovation and new technologies must be rapidly developed and deployed. I-ROX is using pulsed-power technology to more efficiently extract critical minerals and materials, which will reduce the carbon footprint of mining and offer substantial energy savings, cost benefits, and higher mineral recovery.

Proven power

Decades of technology development provide the foundation from which I-ROX is making the next leap forward. The depth of expertise our team has gained from many years spent building and commercializing pulsed-power applications at I-Pulse, allows us to take this same underlying technology and shape it to meet the needs of the mining industry.

The underlying fundamentals of pulsed power are well proven and our team of physicists and electronic engineers are uniquely capable of scaling this technology into a commercial application. In addition, our ongoing collaborations with leading experts from around the globe, enable us to leverage diverse thinking and find the best solutions to meet our customer requirements.

Our People

I-ROX has strategically assembled a pioneering team of technology innovators, bringing together a unique group of specialists with deep expertise in pulsed-power technology and mining. This elite team is at the forefront of engineering a groundbreaking shift in the mining industry, aiming to revolutionize it by significantly reducing energy consumption and eliminating emissions.

Through their innovative work, I-ROX is set to exponentially enhance the efficiency of comminution in critical mineral processing that is essential for the energy transition. The team’s focus is not just on redefining mining operations – it’s about setting a new standard for sustainability and responsibility in one of the world’s most crucial industries.

Leadership

Laurent
Frescaline

President
Laurent Frescaline is the co-founder of I-Pulse with over 30 years of experience in advanced electrical engineering. He is the founder and was CEO (1997–2006) of International Technologies for High Pulsed Power (ITHPP), a successful high-technology, electrical engineering company specializing in high voltage, high pulsed-power applications, with high-energy density expertise for international governmental agencies. In 2005, he decided to develop and promote civilian commercial applications of pulsed power by co-founding I-Pulse.

Nathan
Flaman

Managing Director
With 20 years of leadership in mining and energy across four continents, Nathan brings a unique perspective to help I-ROX grow in the most impactful way. Prior to joining I-ROX, Nathan was Head of Innovation at BHP. He started his career in the nuclear sector and his experience spans business strategy and transformation, marketing, investor relations, and corporate development.

Philippe
Monjaux

General Manager & Technical Director
Philippe is an accomplished technical director with 35 years of experience in research & development with the French Atomic Energy Commission and French Ministry of Defense Research Center. He has been involved with innovative high pulsed power (HPP) research and collaboration with leading international facilities for many years, including the Sandia National Lab in the US and High Current Electronic Institute in Tomsk.

Romain
Pecquois

Head of Pulsed Power
Romain is a highly skilled electrical engineer with over a decade of experience in pulsed-power technology, R&D, and its applications in various industrial sectors. Previously a post-doc researcher at the French Atomic Energy Commission, he earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) where his doctoral research, funded by the French Ministry for Defense, received the highest level of distinction for its contribution to the development of high-power electromagnetic sources.

Julien
Deroy

Head of Simulation
Julien is a PhD-level expert in plasma physics with over 15 years of experience in advanced technological R&D with a focus on pulsed-power comminution and has spearheaded the development of new processes and applications for pulsed-power technologies across multiple sectors. Julien studied at the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique in France, where he completed his doctoral research at the Plasma Physics Laboratory (LPP), and has published multiple pulsed-power academic research papers.

Mathieu
Siguier

Head of Comminution
Mathieu is a senior geologist with over 15 years of global experience in R&D with a focus on mineral exploration and processing to optimise the drilling, crushing, grinding, and analysis activities for pulse power comminution. He honed his skills at leading pulsed-power companies I-Pulse, I-Cube, and Bmax, and was previously an exploration geologist at SOGEFIMA in France and CAS Global in Australia.

Board

Robert
Friedland

I-Pulse
Robert Friedland is the Chairman & CEO of I-Pulse which he co-founded in 2007 to develop innovative commercial applications for pulsed-power technologies across industries, including mining and manufacturing, to aid the global energy transition. Robert also leads Ivanhoe Capital which has specialized in the provision of venture capital and project financing for a roster of international business enterprises since its founding in 1987, including Ivanhoe Mines, Ivanhoe Electric, Pure Lithium, and VRB Energy. Robert has been inducted into both the American Mining Hall of Fame and the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.

Laurent
Frescaline

I-Pulse
Laurent Frescaline is the co-founder of I-Pulse with over 30 years of experience in advanced electrical engineering. He is the founder and was CEO (1997–2006) of International Technologies for High Pulsed Power (ITHPP), a successful high-technology, electrical engineering company specializing in high voltage, high pulsed-power applications, with high-energy density expertise for international governmental agencies. In 2005, he decided to develop and promote civilian commercial applications of pulsed power by co-founding I-Pulse.

Dr Rick
Spielman

I-Pulse
Dr Rick Spielman brings over 40 years of experience in high-voltage pulsed-power design & engineering, hypersonic flow, and fusion research. He was the Chief Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories where he led the successful design and development of the Z Machine – the most powerful pulsed-power accelerator in the world. Dr Spielman was previously at Idaho State University as a Professor of Physics and Director of the Idaho Accelerator Center. He is currently a Professor of Physics in the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester and in 2023 was awarded the Erwin Marx award for contributions to pulsed-power technology.

Bradley
Doig

I-Pulse
Bradley is a seasoned business executive with over 32 years of experience across the mining, finance, and investment sectors. He started his illustrious career at Billiton Ltd. (now BHP), evolving through significant roles at Kleinwort Benson Ltd., The International Bank of South Africa, and Mercantile Bank, before moving into strategic positions at the IQ Business Group, and co-founding Decorum Capital Partners. Bradley also co-founded Petmin Limited (raising over $200m in capital), then incorporated and developed Petmin USA Inc. as the President and CEO. Presently, Bradley serves as COO at I Pulse Inc. and is a NED at African Gold Acquisition Corp.

Gaëtan
Bonhomme

Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Gaëtan was co-founder and CTO of Kurion (a VC-backed Cleantech Startup) from 2008 to 2016 and is now a principle investor in Climate Tech at Breakthrough Energy Ventures in Europe. Through Gaëtan’s leadership, Kurion was able to successfully deploy its technology in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima crisis and the company was ultimately acquired by Veolia. Prior to Kurion, Gaëtan worked in technology development and industrial innovation at Saint-Gobain in the US and in France. Gaëtan holds several graduate degrees, including a PhD in Materials Science working on the industrial applications of quasicrystals and an MBA from MIT Sloan where he was part of the first Entrepreneurship & Innovation cohort.

Karl
White

Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Karl leads the Capital Formation effort at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and sits on the boards of Baseload and KoBold Metals. Karl is an experienced institutional asset management professional with broad global investment experience. In addition to experience at major firms like Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Putnam Investments, Karl was also Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer for the ~$2 billion MBTA Retirement Fund. Karl earned a BS degree in Pharmacy from Florida A&M University’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and received his MBA in Analytic Finance and Statistics from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.

Catherine
Raw

BHP
Catherine is BHP’s Chief Development Officer and has global accountabilities for Group strategy, decision evaluation and capital planning, prioritisation and allocation, corporate business development, mergers and acquisitions, and BHP Ventures. Prior to joining BHP, Catherine held roles at SSE plc, Barrick Gold and BlackRock. With a background in geoscience, fund management, finance and operations, Catherine has a demonstrated track record as a strategic and commercially oriented executive able to execute growth opportunities globally. Catherine is a CFA Charterholder and holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, and an MSc in Mineral Project Appraisal from Imperial College.