Duncan Chessell is a geologist with over 20 years of experience in business and mineral exploration. Duncan has worked in the Northern Territory, NSW, Papua New Guinea, and Alaska and has made several gold discoveries in the Tarcoola area of the Gawler Craton, South Australia. He is also a triple Mt. Everest summiteer and has guided the Seven Summits. He founded ASX-listed Northern Cobalt (ASX: N27/RML) in 2017, previously serving as Managing Director and Chairman.

He is a co-founder and board member of the (not-for-profit) Himalayan Development Foundation Australia (HDFA). HDFA has delivered community development projects focusing on education, livelihood improvements and health care to remote communities in Nepal since 2014.