Hearts & Mines

ivy & gecko
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Not just another mining podcast... Hearts & Mines looks beyond share prices, production guidance, and the latest advances in mining technology. Instead, we explore the human side of the industry — showcasing the achievements, practices and insights of company directors and executives who are passionate about leadership, culture and improving the experience of people working in mining. Join us as we explore an often underrated, but critical, dimension of the resources industry. Our guests share personal stories, experiences and lessons that are rich in substance and offer insights into our own development as leaders and professionals. These are the stories of mining people who understand that leadership is ultimately about people — building trust, engaging stakeholders, creating healthy cultures and bringing out the best in those around them. Hosted by Stuart Chandler, Nathan Giglia, Alana Bray-White and David Beilby, Hearts & Mines brings together candid conversations, personal stories, and practical insights from some of the industry's most interesting leaders. If you have a story to tell and would like to join the conversation, we'd love to hear from you. Contact info@ivyandgecko.com.au to register your interest. Hearts & Mines is recorded at Podwave Studios in West Leederville. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in ’Hearts & Mines’ are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only.

  1. 4d ago

    Old Friends, Honest Stories & 50 Conversations: David and Stuart's View on Hearts & Mines

    In this special mini episode of Hearts & Mines, the tables are turned as David is interviewed by his longtime friend and colleague Stuart Chandler, Senior Client Partner at ivy & gecko. Having worked together for more than 20 years across executive search, the pair reflect on why David and Alana Bray-White, ivy & gecko’s Managing Director, started the podcast, why vulnerability sits at the heart of every conversation, and what sets Hearts & Mines apart from more technical mining podcasts. David then turns the questions back on Stuart, exploring what makes a candidate truly memorable, why strong executives can struggle when a company's growth phase doesn't match their experience, the people who have shaped his career, and the lessons from Patrick Lencioni's Getting Naked. The conversation also looks ahead to ivy & gecko's future as a boutique firm, the upcoming magazine celebrating 50 Hearts & Mines conversations, and Stuart's plans to launch a podcast of his own. A warm and genuine conversation between two old friends who clearly enjoy working together. David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko Timecodes: (00:00) Why David Started Hearts & Mines (02:05) Vulnerability and Leadership Stories (03:20) Stuart's Path Into Executive Search (04:30) What Drew Stuart to ivy & gecko (05:55) What Makes a Candidate Memorable (06:50) When Good Candidates Fail (08:00) The Advantage of a Boutique Firm (09:15) People Who Shaped Stuart's Career (10:35) Running, Hiking and Recharging (11:15) What's on Stuart's Bedside Table (12:40) The Future of ivy & gecko (14:35) Making a Remote Team Work (16:00) Celebrating 50 Conversations (17:20) Stuart's Podcast Plans   Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only. #HeartsAndMines #ivyandgecko #ExecutiveSearch #MiningIndustry #MiningLeadership #Leadership #Recruitment #BoutiqueFirm #WorkplaceCulture #CareerAdvice #Vulnerability #TeamCulture #AustralianMining #Resources #Podcast

  2. 5d ago

    The Leadership Skills Mining Executives Miss with Dominic Piper

    In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by first-time co-host Nathan Giglia to speak with Dominic Piper, editor of Australia's Paydirt and Gold Mining Journal. A multi-award winning journalist with more than two decades covering the international resources sector, Dominic has built his reputation on the junior and mid-tier end of the market, writing without fear or favour and travelling to the places most people would never put on an itinerary.   This is a rare look at the industry from the other side of the microphone. Dominic talks about growing up working class in the northeast of England, the screenplays he has been quietly writing for years, and why the junior sector runs almost entirely on force of personality. He is candid on the Peter Principle in mining, why brilliant geologists are so often set up to fail as leaders, the two decisions he got wrong and what they taught him, and why permitting gridlock is really a problem created by the majors. Along the way there are Kalashnikovs at a West African border post, a warning about what happens when a company elevates itself onto a new share register, and a thoughtful case for why the breakdown of community is the biggest risk the world is ignoring.   David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko   Timecodes: (00:00) Intro (00:40) Meet Dominic Piper, multi-award winning mining journalist (03:45) Africa Down Under, from 60 delegates to 1,400 (05:50) Darlington to Perth, and wanting to be a journalist at nine (10:25) The secret screenplays and the characters of the junior sector (16:00) Clarity of purpose when you control none of the variables (18:25) The Peter Principle, good geologists and unprepared leaders (21:35) Leading through COVID by stripping back to fundamentals (26:25) Two failures, the gold conference and a personnel call (29:15) Hiring for a unicorn or a dinosaur (32:30) Kalashnikovs, bribes and border posts in West Africa (34:35) Culture in a small team, and attracting people to mining (39:25) Permitting, the majors and mining's chance to be the good guys (44:00) M&A, Northern Star and the Elliott effect (47:40) Rapid fire, hope, community and the leader he'd most like to meet   Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only. #HeartsAndMines #MiningPodcast #DominicPiper #Paydirt #GoldMiningJournal #AfricaDownUnder #MiningLeadership #JuniorMining #WesternAustralia #ResourcesSector #MiningNews #MiningIndustry #Leadership #NorthernStar #MiningJournalism

  3. Sep 20

    Identity, Trust & Authenticity: Julissa Shrewsbury's View on Mining Leadership

    In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David sits down with Julissa Shrewsbury, founder and managing director of New Work Consulting, to explore a side of mining leadership that rarely gets airtime: identity. Julissa helps leaders and organisations close the gap between the brand a business claims and the way its people actually show up, and she works closely with the resources sector.   This is a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about what leadership brand really means, why so many technically brilliant mining leaders struggle with the human side of the role, how AI slop is quietly eroding trust, and why the leaders of the future will need to be, in Julissa's words, demonstrably human. A warm and insightful discussion about authenticity, self-awareness, and the power of showing people what they are truly capable of.   David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko   Timecodes: (00:00) Cold open: identity, AI and leadership (00:42) Meet Julissa Shrewsbury and New Work Consulting (01:50) Argentina, Portugal and a family built on migration (05:55) The teacher who first reflected on her potential.  (08:00) Why an outsider was drawn to mining leaders (10:20) The technocrat's leap into leadership and the role of trust (12:40) What leadership brand actually means (15:25) Coaching leaders to be authentic but responsive (18:20) Winning over sceptical teams and developing the whole person (23:00) Executive versus board: two professional identities (27:05) Mining's image problem and individual reputation (29:30) AI slop, the sea of sameness and eroding trust (33:40) Building leadership identity in the next generation (36:30) Julissa turns the tables on David (41:10) Rapid-fire: hope, risk and advice to a 20-year-old self   Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only. #HeartsAndMines #MattAllen #AndeanSilver #CerroBayo #SilverMining #MiningLeadership #JuniorMiners #ASXMining #ChileMining #ResourcesSector #MiningCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #AIinMining #PerthPodcast #MiningPodcast #CriticalMinerals

  4. Sep 13

    People, Progress & Not Confusing Speed: Matthew Allen's View on Mining Culture

    In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by Matthew Allen. A self-described "reformed oil and gas guy" and accountant by training, Matthew has spent his career deliberately stepping out of big-company comfort and into junior explorers and developers across oil and gas, rare earths, lithium and now silver, working on every continent along the way. He currently leads the restart of the historic Cerro Bayo silver-gold mine in southern Chile. This is a candid conversation about what genuine leadership looks like in small companies where there are no egos and everyone has to row in the same direction. Matthew and David explore why failure is the best teacher, why humility and authenticity matter more than authority, the challenge of selling mining as a career to the next generation, operating responsibly in remote South American communities, and where AI is genuinely reshaping how a small-cap miner works. A warm, generous and thoughtful discussion from a leader who has never been afraid to take on a challenge. David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko   Timecodes: (00:00) Cold open & preview (00:45) Introducing Matthew Allen, MD & CEO of Andean Silver (01:50) Country NSW childhood, cadets and a fighter-pilot dream (05:05) Rugby league, sports management and lessons for listed companies (07:00) Resilience, learning to fail, and the $27M dry hole (09:25) Tracing family history back to 1066 and Gallipoli (11:55) Family life, and raising a creative, dyslexic daughter (14:30) What effective leadership really takes: vision, execution and people (19:00) Culture "complement" over culture "fit", humility and small teams (22:50) Andean Silver and restarting the Cerro Bayo mine in Chile (27:30) Chilean workforce laws, diversity and social licence (33:50) Asking the right question, and the legacy of Sir Charles Court (38:35) Selling mining as a career and fixing it through education (42:00) AI as a productivity tool and the silver supply deficit (49:55) Decision-making: the call to sell Otto Energy's only producing asset (52:55) Rapid-fire round and advice to his 25-year-old self   Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only. #HeartsAndMines #MattAllen #AndeanSilver #CerroBayo #SilverMining #MiningLeadership #JuniorMiners #ASXMining #ChileMining #ResourcesSector #MiningCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #AIinMining #PerthPodcast #MiningPodcast #CriticalMinerals

  5. Aug 30

    Vulnerability, Vision & Values: Brendan Tritton's View on Leadership That Lasts

    In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by co-host Stuart Chandler to speak with Brendan Tritton, MD and CEO of Valiant Gold. A country kid from WA turned mining engineer, Brendan has moved from underground crews to the private sector and now into the public arena, leading the restart of the Comet and Reedy gold operations spun out of Westgold. This is a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what genuine leadership looks like at the helm of a newly listed junior, why connecting with people as humans comes before strategy, and how to manage complexity and uncertainty when you are building systems and culture from scratch. Brendan shares the "prove you wrong" moment that shaped his drive, the value of vulnerability and servant leadership, and why 80% is sometimes good enough to keep momentum. A genuinely warm and insightful conversation from one of WA's emerging mining leaders. David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko   Timecodes: (00:00) Cold open: proving them wrong and connecting as humans (01:55) Welcome to Brendan Tritton and co-host Stuart Chandler (02:25) A WA country upbringing and the "prove you wrong" moment (07:00) Falling in love with mining and underground camaraderie (09:20) What leadership means: leader-leader over leader-follower (11:05) Empathy, humility and exposing vulnerability (14:05) The navigation exercise: ego, pausing and adjusting (17:25) Managing the restart of Comet and Reedy (18:55) ASX listing and the path back to production (23:20) Pitching the value proposition of a new junior (29:55) Listening well and hiring for authenticity over the CV (35:25) The biggest challenge: attracting young people into mining (38:20) Approvals processes and WA slipping down the rankings (40:10) AI at Valiant: building without legacy systems (42:35) Rapid fire: hope, highlights, advice and a warm wrap   Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only. #HeartsAndMines #ValiantGold #MiningLeadership #ASX #GoldMining #JuniorMiner #WAMining #MiningPodcast #Westgold #ResourcesSector #Leadership #MiningEngineer #CometGold #MiningCulture #GoldProducer

  6. Aug 16

    Introverts, Interest Rates & Inspiration: Sara Prendergast's View on Authentic Leadership

    In this episode of Hearts & Minds, David is joined by Sara Prendergast, Chief Financial Officer of ASX-listed gold producer St Barbara. Sara's finance career has spanned Gold Fields, Xstrata, BHP Billiton, Glencore and Orica, taking her through remote mining towns across Western Australia and Queensland before landing her at the top of St Barbara's finance function, where she's steered the company through a major restructure, selling its Leonora asset to Genesis Minerals and refocusing on projects in Papua New Guinea and Nova Scotia. This is a candid conversation about the formative experiences that shaped Sara as a leader, from a challenging childhood in regional Victoria to a dyslexia diagnosis at university that changed the trajectory of her academic and professional life. Sara talks openly about leading through ambiguity, why authenticity matters more than natural charisma for introverted leaders, how she screens for resilience when hiring, and what the mining industry needs to do to inspire the next generation into a career in resources. Sara was named an Exceptional Woman in Mining by the Minerals Council of Australia and one of the Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining. David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko Timecodes:  (00:00) Cold open (00:50) Welcome to Hearts & Minds (01:45) Growing up in Gippsland (02:50) Family hardship and early responsibility (03:45) Diagnosed with dyslexia at university (04:55) Managing dyslexia as an executive (06:25) Why she chose a career in mining (07:15) Life in remote mining towns (08:15) Family life and how she recharges (09:05) Her sons' path into mining (09:40) What leadership means to her (12:00) Leading as an introvert (14:00) Challenges as CFO of St Barbara (16:30) Attracting talent to a company in transition (18:25) Screening for resilience under VUCA conditions (19:50) The value of battle scars and failure (21:15) The biggest challenges facing Australian mining (23:05) Inspiring the next generation into mining (26:05) Rapid fire questions (34:00) Closing thoughts   Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only.   #HeartsAndMinds #MiningPodcast #StBarbara #ASX #WomenInMining #AustralianMining #GoldMining #MiningLeadership #ResourcesSector

  7. Aug 2

    Risk, Resolve & Reinvention: Alex Rovira's View on Mining Leadership

    In this episode of Hearts & Minds, David is joined by Alex Rovira, Managing Director of Brightstar Resources. A former professional rugby player and investment banker at Canaccord, Alex made the leap from advising mining companies to running one, and in just three and a half years has grown Brightstar from a handful of employees to a company with a resource base of roughly four million gold ounces, on track to become a mid-tier producer. This is a wide-ranging conversation about the courage required to build a business from near-nothing, the value of vulnerability and self-awareness at the top, and why "no cowards ever make history." Alex opens up on Brightstar's five core values, how the company competes for talent against the majors, using AI responsibly in a fast-moving business, and the toughest issues facing Australian mining today. David and Alex also swap notes on the art of assessing character when hiring, and Alex turns the tables to ask David how he reads people in a search process. David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko Timecodes: (00:00) Cold open: "No cowards ever make history" (00:55) Welcome & rugby banter with David (01:30) From investment banking to MD of Brightstar Resources (02:10) Growing up in Perth, family & Hale School (04:00) Life outside work: family, surfing & flying (04:48) What leadership means to Alex (06:32) Selling the vision: courage & risky M&A decisions (08:00) How an investment banking background shapes a mining exec (09:24) Vulnerability, trust & self-awareness in leadership (11:08) Key challenges at Brightstar: the war for talent (12:10) The pitch: juniors vs. majors for top executives (14:45) Incentivising people: STIs, LTIs & alignment (16:52) Defining workplace culture & Brightstar's five values (19:22) Deciding under volatility and uncertainty (20:18) The biggest challenge facing Australian mining (22:52) How Brightstar is adopting AI (25:00) Alex turns the tables: recruiting for senior mining roles (29:43) Rapid fire: hope, ambition & advice (39:24) Final advice to his 20-year-old self Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only. #HeartsAndMinds #BrightstarResources #AustralianMining #GoldMining #WAMining #MiningLeadership #MiningPodcast #JuniorExplorer #ASX #GoldPrice #MiningExecutive #Leadership #CorporateCulture #InvestmentBanking #Perth #WesternAustralia #MiningIndustry #ExecutiveLeadership #MidTierProducer #MiningTalent

  8. Jul 20

    Taxes, Falling Rankings and the Blue-Banded Bee - Tania Constable's View on Mining Policy - Special

    Recorded in Canberra, this special edition of Hearts & Mines features ivy & gecko's Managing Director Alana Bray-White and co-Founder David Beilby, in conversation with Tania Constable, CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) — our nation's peak body representing the mining industry on federal policy, taxation and regulatory matters. Returning to the Hearts & Mines platform following her 2025 appearance, Tania provides a timely update on key policy and investment issues shaping the future of Australia's resources sector. The discussion explores the MCA's Hands Off Our Fuel campaign, proposed capital gains tax changes and their potential impact on junior explorers, industrial action in the Pilbara, and Australia's declining competitiveness as a destination for global mining investment. Alana, David and Tania also examine the industry's evolving relationship with Traditional Owners, the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across exploration, operations and regulatory approvals, and the policy settings needed to rebuild investor confidence and strengthen Australia's position as a leading global mining jurisdiction. A thoughtful policy-driven discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing Australia's most important industry, featuring insights from one of mining's most respected policy leaders with contributions from the Founders of ivy & gecko, Australia's #1 firm for mining executive and board search. David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko   Timecodes: (00:00) Cold Open – Australia's Falling Investment Rankings (00:45) Welcome to a Special Edition, with Tania Constable (01:26) Tania's Role as CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia (02:38) Mining as the Backbone of the Australian Economy (05:12) The Hidden Impact of Mining on Regional Communities (06:58) The "Hands Off Our Fuel" Campaign Explained (09:26) Fuel Tax Credits vs the Renewables Transition (16:52) Three Policy Changes to Rebuild Investor Confidence (18:22) Activism, the McPhillamys Project & "Weaponised" Approvals (21:07) How Proposed CGT Changes Threaten Junior Explorers (23:27) The Evolving Relationship with Traditional Owners (28:52) Top Business Risks Facing Miners in 2026 (29:55) The Competition for Talent in the Resources Sector (32:58) AI, Automation & the New Era of Mining Technology (35:06) How the MCA Is Using AI Internally (37:17) Using AI to Fast-Track Regulatory Approvals (38:56) What Success Looks Like for Mining in 10 Years (41:52) Final Thoughts & Sign-Off Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines Recorded and produced by Podwave Studios:https://podwavestudios.au/ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only. #HeartsAndMines #MiningPodcast #TaniaConstable #MineralsCouncilOfAustralia #AustralianMining #MiningPolicy #FuelTaxCredits #CapitalGainsTax #Pilbara #WesternAustralia #ASX #JuniorExplorers #AIinMining #NativeTitle #ResourcesIndustry

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Trailer

About

Not just another mining podcast... Hearts & Mines looks beyond share prices, production guidance, and the latest advances in mining technology. Instead, we explore the human side of the industry — showcasing the achievements, practices and insights of company directors and executives who are passionate about leadership, culture and improving the experience of people working in mining. Join us as we explore an often underrated, but critical, dimension of the resources industry. Our guests share personal stories, experiences and lessons that are rich in substance and offer insights into our own development as leaders and professionals. These are the stories of mining people who understand that leadership is ultimately about people — building trust, engaging stakeholders, creating healthy cultures and bringing out the best in those around them. Hosted by Stuart Chandler, Nathan Giglia, Alana Bray-White and David Beilby, Hearts & Mines brings together candid conversations, personal stories, and practical insights from some of the industry's most interesting leaders. If you have a story to tell and would like to join the conversation, we'd love to hear from you. Contact info@ivyandgecko.com.au to register your interest. Hearts & Mines is recorded at Podwave Studios in West Leederville. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in ’Hearts & Mines’ are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only.

Information

  • Creator
    ivy & gecko
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Hearts & Mines

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