Directorate Change

RNS Number:3859S
Van Dieman Mines plc
15 April 2008

15 April 2008

                              VAN DIEMAN MINES PLC

                   Board Changes and Changes in Shareholdings

Van Dieman Mines Plc (AIM: VDM), the AIM listed mining Company with 100% owned
tin - sapphire mines in Tasmania, Australia, ('Van Dieman' or 'the Company'),
provides the following corporate update.

   *Ron Goodman appointed Executive Director, Operations
   *Jim Semmens appointed Mine Manager, Operations
   *Van Dieman notified of a change in shareholding above 3%
   *Director Change


Ron Goodman Appointed Executive Director, Operations

As the Company's Scotia Project approaches commissioning targeted for mid-2008,
the Company is pleased to announce that Ron Goodman, previously a non-executive
Director, has been appointed as Executive Director, with responsibility for
Operations to oversee the bringing Scotia and Endurance Projects into
production. Ron brings over 35 years in the mining and mineral processing
industry experience to this executive management role.

The Board is confident that Ron will provide the necessary technical skills and
operational leadership that will allow the Scotia and Endurance Projects to come
into production in the near future.

In his new role, Ron has been asked by the Board to review the status of the
Scotia and Endurance Projects with regard the proposed commissioning of the
Scotia Mine targeted for mid 2008 and subsequent ramp up in production.

Mine Manager, Operations Appointed

Jim Semmens was recently appointed Mine Manager at the Scotia and Endurance
Projects and will report to Ron Goodman.

Jim Semmens has been associated with the Australian Mining Industry for the past
19 years. His experience in mining extends from the northern part of Tasmania
(in an underground mine) through to the northern part of Western Australia. Jim
is highly experienced in the operation of heavy plant and mine production
machinery, and he has had exposure to alluvial and sand mining projects.

Jim Semmens has been assisting Ron Goodman with the review of the Scotia and
Endurance Projects and supporting the work being undertaken by the various
external consultants who, in recent weeks, have visited the Scotia mine site and
plant and reviewed the overall mine plan.

Director Change

The Board announces it has removed Neil Kinnane as a Director of the Company.
Neil Kinnane will also be removed as a director of Van Dieman Pty Ltd (the
Australian operating subsidiary of the Company) and his service agreement will
be terminated.

Change in Shareholding above 3%

The Company has been notified that 37,350,000 ordinary shares, representing
24.2% of the voting rights in the Company formerly held by Markswift Limited,
have been transferred to three separate legal entities following a corporate
reorganisation of Markswift Limited. The Company has been further notified that
P.A. Biologicals Co. Limited, Vanya Management Limited and Illawarra Limited now
each own 12,450,000 ordinary shares in the Company, representing 8.07% of voting
rights in the Company. These companies' shareholdings in the Company represent
the holdings of the original founders of Van Dieman being Ken Frey, Managing
Director, and the two ex-Directors, Neil Kinnane and Clive Trist, respectively.

Progress Update

In the announcement dated 11 March 2008, it was reported Ron Goodman was asked
to assess the progress being made and report to the Board on the Scotia and
Endurance Projects in the key areas of resources / reserves, mine plan, plant
and processing operations, management / reporting structures, and security. The
findings from this review are being assembled with the help of external
consultants. The Board expects to set these out in an update to shareholders at
the end of April that will include comments on the mine plan and funding for the
Scotia and Endurance Projects, the commissioning and ramp up of production at
the Scotia Mine.

Enquiries

VAN DIEMAN MINES plc                    Tel: [phone]
Ken Frey, Managing Director             Email: [e-mail]

GRANT THORNTON CORPORATE FINANCE        Tel: [phone]
Gerry Beaney / Fiona Owen

FOX DAVIES CAPITAL LIMITED              Tel: [phone]
Richard Hail, Corporate Finance

BANKSIDE CONSULTANTS                    Tel: [phone]
Michael Padley / Libby Moss

Background on Van Dieman

Van Dieman is in the process of developing its alluvial tin, sapphire and
accompanying mineral deposits in the northeast of Tasmania, Australia where it
owns 15 exploration and retention licenses. Pre-production development Van
Dieman's Scotia tin and sapphire mine is currently well advanced and, once in
full production, Scotia will produce annually an estimated 700 tonnes of tin and
1.5 million carats of mine rough, gem quality sapphire.

A six-year contract is in place with tin smelter and refiner, Thaisarco, for the
off-take at prevailing London Metal Exchange prices of the Company's entire tin
concentrate output from the Scotia and Endurance mines expected to be 1,350 -
1,500 tonnes of contained tin per year. A joint venture marketing agreement is
also in place for the marketing of the Company's sapphire and spinel production.
Output of mine rough, gem quality sapphire from the Scotia and Endurance mines
is expected to be approximately 3 million carats annually.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END
BOAGUUCACUPRGWA