So, end 2018 its anounced the German export banks have a mandate...

So, end 2018 its anounced the German export banks have a mandate to organise debt finance i.e. Highly likely project will be funded on reasonable terms (but watch this space re equity component)  and the Germans will manage/build/guarantee the entire project, and a couple of months later we attract a high quality chairperson.

Kind of sounds like what Paul and Rex said all the way along, its difficult to attract a quality candidate until there is a high degree of certainty re project going ahead and succeeding.

Good luck to the new chair, he sounds highly qualified and is now in the enviable position of sharing the credit for bringing the project to fruition, in time.