Key Officers

Chairman, Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA)

Mr. Antonio L. Co is a founding member and current chairman of the Philippine Nickel Industry Association after having been elected by the Board in September 2022.

Co’s expertise in the metal trade spans over 6 decades as he began his career in metal trading at the age of 14. Since then, he has ventured into metal manufacturing, starting his first steel manufacturing business, First Tandem Steel Corporation, in 1987.  

Co leads the Surigao del Sur based Carrascal Nickel Corporation (CNC) which he founded in 2007. CNC is primarily engaged exploration, mining, and exporting of laterite nickel ore.

His diverse business interests and investments extend beyond the steel and nickel mining industry, encompassing sectors such as general construction, shipping, hotel and resort.

He is currently the Chairman, CEO and President of various companies including Kafugan Mining, Inc., Sturdybuilt Construction and Development Corp., Landstar Earth Moving Corp., Grand Asia Metal Corp., Intermarine Lighterage and Shipping Corp., and Aqua Boracay Hotel and Resort Inc.

President, Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA)

Atty. Dante R. Bravo is among the founders of the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) and has been serving as the president of the association since 2017.

He is the president of Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI), a publicly listed company in the Philippines engaged in mining and the second largest exporter of nickel ore in the Philippines.

As president of PNIA, he continues to lead as one of the leading voices of the nickel industry in the country, consulted by private and public partners for matters concerning the industry.

Treasurer, Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA)

Atty. Ross Joseph J. Romanillos is a founding member and current Treasurer of the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA).

He has extensive experience of over 10 years in various leadership and professional management roles, particularly in surface mining and shipping operations.

Atty. Romanillos is currently the president and CEO of CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, as well as the president of CTP Shipping Lines since 2020. He previously served as the General Counsel of CTP Construction and Mining Corporation before being appointed as president.

CTP Construction and Mining Corporation is one of the recipients of the 2022 and 2023 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Awards (PMIEA) for its commitment to responsible mining and the implementation of pro-people, pro-environment, and science-based legislation.

Atty. Romanillos earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Perpetual Help–Rizal in 2001 and passed the bar exam the following year. He began his legal journey at Lim, Ocampo, and Candelaria Law Offices from 2002 to 2008. In 2008, he founded Flores Talens Romanillos Law Offices. He also completed the Strategic Business Economics Program at the University of Asia and the Pacific, earning a Certificate in Business Economics in 2020. Currently, he is pursuing a master's degree in business economics.

Apart from being a successful lawyer and businessman, Atty. Romanillos is also a member of prestigious organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

Executive Director, Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA)

Since taking the helm as Executive Director of PNIA in 2017, Ms. Olea-Capili has been instrumental in advancing the Philippine nickel mining industry. Her efforts have been pivotal in driving stakeholder engagement and shaping progressive discussions around mining policies.

Under her leadership, the association has initiated key programs such as the Nickel Initiative Business Conference and Stakeholder Roundtable Series, which has been fostering critical policy discussions and collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the industry's competitiveness. She also oversaw the publication of PNIA's 2020 SDG Report, the first comprehensive industry-wide report aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Prior to her role at PNIA, Ms. Olea-Capili dedicated over a decade to government service, focusing on policy advocacy, project management, and communications within various programs under the Office of the President of the Philippines. Her professional journey also includes serving as the Director for Public Affairs and Government Relations at Mindbench Philippines. Additionally, she was a Senior Public Affairs Officer at EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, the largest public relations agency in the Philippines, where she developed strategies and campaigns for multinational and local firms in highly regulated sectors.

Ms. Olea-Capili holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing, from Ateneo de Davao University (1999), and a Master’s Degree in Political Economy from the University of Asia and the Pacific (2024).