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At Best Startup Canada we track over 100,000 Canadian startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top British Columbia based President operating in the Natural Resources space. If you think a President is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.ca.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
D. James Slattery
Senior Vice President and CFO of Capstone Mining Corp
Jim Slattery is a Canadian Chartered Accountant with over 34 years of financial and executive management experience. Prior to Capstone, Jim spent eight years as the CFO of Inmet Mining Corporation, a Canadian-based global copper and zinc producer. Before joining Inmet, Jim held various senior management roles, including Vice President and CFO for Wescast Industries, a publicly traded automotive parts supplier, and CFO for Canadian General Tower Ltd., a privately owned manufacturing business. He has broad management and corporate finance experience, including jointly developing and executing Inmet’s integrated growth strategy and leading financing activities for mine development projects totalling over $5 billion. Jim started his career with Ernst & Young, progressing through a number of roles in Canada and Europe from 1981 to 1997.
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About Capstone Mining Corp: Capstone is a Canadian base metals mining company, with three producing copper mines: Pinto Valley in the US.
Shahram Tafazoli
Founder, President & CEO of Motion Metrics
Shahram Tafazoli is the Founding CEO of Motion Metrics Int’l, a private Canadian corporation dedicated to improving safety and efficiency of terrestrial mining using AI, rugged embedded vision, and cloud computing. Motion Metrics has deployed its innovative solutions in more than 60 large mining operations around the globe, digging copper, iron, gold, diamond, coal, and nickel. Shahram holds bachelor and master’s degrees from Sharif University of Technology in Iran and a PhD from the University of British Columbia (UBC), all in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) with a focus on robotics and machine vision. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia’s ECE department and has offered various graduate-level courses. He has a passion for technology and has invested in a number of technology startups, including several ventures from Creative Destruction Lab. He is co-inventor of international patents with other engineers from Motion Metrics and recently received the UBC Applied Science Dean’s Medal of Distinction. Shahram has a passion for space technologies and is keen on applying them to terrestrial applications.
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About Motion Metrics: Motion Metrics is a Canadian mining technology company that uses artificial intelligence to improve mine safety and energy efficiency.
Simon Ingram
President & CEO of Reservoir Minerals
Dr. Ingram currently serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Reservoir Minerals. Dr. Ingram was a founding director of Reservoir Capital (TSXV: REO) and has 20 years international experience in the exploration and mining industry. He is the founder and principal of a resource services firm, through which he has provided technical and managerial expertise to exploration and mining companies worldwide, throughout the project cycle from early-stage exploration projects to feasibility studies, mine start up and production. Projects that Dr. Ingram has been a consultant and advisor to include; Petropavlovsk Plc (LSE: POG), a London-listed mining and exploration company with its principal assets located in Russia, Anglo American Zambia copper mine production and expansion, Rio Tinto Technical Services for resource definition to mine start up in the Middle East and the resource expansion, mining start up and subsequent sale of a polymetallic mine in Armenia for a private Swiss company. Dr Ingram holds a B.Sc. (Hon) in Exploration and Mining Geology and Ph.D in Mineral Resource Evaluation from Cardiff University.
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About Reservoir Minerals: Reservoir Minerals is a mineral exploration company.
Tim Fletcher
Vice President of Reservoir Minerals
Tim has over 30 years of experience in international exploration with emphasis on exploration for porphyry and epithermal copper-gold deposits. Tim recently focused on the Tethyan Belt for Barrick Gold, and prior to that worked in South America with Magma Copper, Homestake Mining and Mount Isa Mines. Tim joined Reservoir in 2013 as a consultant. Tim has a Ph.D from Aberdeen University and is a Chartered Engineer through the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
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About Reservoir Minerals: Reservoir Minerals is a mineral exploration company.
Chris MacIntyre
Vice President of Reservoir Minerals
Mr. MacIntyre currently serves as Vice President Corporate Development. Mr. MacIntyre also presently serves as Vice-President of Corporate Development of Lara Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: LRA), whereby Mr. MacIntyre’s primary responsibilities include corporate and project finance, strategic development, and corporate communications. His promotion from Manager of Corporate Development to Vice-President of Reservoir Capital and Lara Exploration Ltd. followed his role of Manager, Corporate Development with Universal Power Corp. (TSXV:UNX) from October 2008 until March 2010. Mr. MacIntyre holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from the Queen’s School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
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About Reservoir Minerals: Reservoir Minerals is a mineral exploration company.
David Moore
President of Northwest Copper
Moore joined Serengeti in 2004 and since that time, has lead a team that has raised over $35 million in exploration funds and discovered two significant mineral deposits. This success was recognized by AMEBC co-awarding him the prestigious Prospector of the Year for 2011. Prior to joining Serengeti, Moore had a 30 year career with a major mining company, where he participated in the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits in several countries. He brings experience and expertise ranging from grassroots prospecting to international exploration, business management and development, as well as a proven ability to recognize exploration targets of high potential and transform them into successful projects.
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About Northwest Copper: Serengeti acquires & explores Cu-Au deposits in the Quesnel Trough and Stikine Arch, BC.
Timothy C. Watson
Senior Vice President, Project Development of Teck
Tim Watson was appointed Senior Vice President, Project Development of Teck in August 2007. Prior to joining Teck, Mr. Watson served as the Chief Operating Officer, Power and Process Division with AMEC. He worked with the company in various other capacities during his tenure from 1999 to 2007. His career in the engineering and construction side of the mining business spans over 30 years. Mr. Watson holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. He is currently a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC.
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About Teck: Teck is a diversified resource company with business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy.
Dale E. Andres
Senior Vice President of Teck
Dale Andres was appointed Senior Vice President, Copper in June 2013. Prior to his current role, he was Vice President, Copper Strategy and North American Operations. Mr. Andres has over 22 years of progressive operating, project and management experience in base metal and gold mines in both North and South America, and Australia. He joined Teck in August 1995 and has held a number of positions in the company, including Vice President, International Mining and General Manager, Underground Operations. Mr. Andres holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. He is currently a member of the Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of B.C. and the Canadian Institute of Mining.
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About Teck: Teck is a diversified resource company with business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy.
Marcia M. Smith
Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs of Teck
Marcia Smith was appointed Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs of Teck in January 2012. She joined Teck in 2010 as Vice President, Corporate Affairs. Prior to joining Teck, Ms. Smith was Managing Partner for National Public Relations in British Columbia and its predecessor company, Labrador Communications, from 1993 to 2010. Ms. Smith has also worked for the Governments of Ontario and British Columbia as an advisor to cabinet ministers in a variety of portfolios. Ms. Smith holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Political Science from Laurentian University.
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About Teck: Teck is a diversified resource company with business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy.
Donald R. Lindsay
President and Chief Executive Officer of Teck
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About Teck: Teck is a diversified resource company with business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy.
Alex Christopher
Vice President, Exploration of Teck
Alex Christopher joined Teck’s Exploration Group in 1984 and was appointed Vice President, Exploration in July 2012. He has held a number of positions in the company, including most recently that of General Manager, New Ventures within Teck’s Corporate Development Group. Mr. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Geology from McMaster University and an Environmental Biology Technology Diploma from Canadore College. He is currently a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. and the Association of Mineral Exploration B.C. where he was previously a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Christopher is on the Board of Directors of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and is a Director of Horizonte Minerals Plc.
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About Teck: Teck is a diversified resource company with business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy.
Dean Winsor
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer of Teck
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About Teck: Teck is a diversified resource company with business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy.
Paul Benson
President & Chief Executive Officer of SSR Mining
Mr. Benson serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors. He has been employed at Silver Standard since August 2015 and brings to the company 30 years of experience in various technical and business capacities. Most recently, Mr. Benson was CEO and Managing Director of Troy Resources Limited. Prior to that, for 20 years he held a number of executive and operating roles in Australia and overseas with BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Renison Goldfields. Mr. Benson holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Exploration Geophysics and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining, both from the University of Sydney. He also earned a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia and a Sloan Masters of Science in Management from the London Business School.
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About SSR Mining: SSR Mining Inc. is a Vancouver-based mining company focused on the operation, development, exploration of precious metal projects.
Jonathan Gilligan
Vice President of Technical & Project Development of SSR Mining
Dr. Gilligan is our Vice President, Technical and Project Development and has 30 years’ experience in the mining industry. Prior to joining Silver Standard, Dr. Gilligan was Director and Principal Consultant of J M Gilligan Consulting Pty, Ltd. in Australia, providing strategic and technical mining-related professional services to the mining industry in the fields of exploration, resource development, capital project studies and mine operations evaluation. Previous to this, Dr. Gilligan held progressively senior roles with BHP Billiton including Vice President – Special Projects, Project Director – Mine Autonomy Project, Deputy Project Director – Olympic Dam Expansion, Manager Operations – Escondida Norte and Manager Geology – Escondida. Dr. Gilligan obtained his B.Sc. (Hons.) in Geology from the University College London and his Ph.D. in Economic Geology from Southampton University.
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About SSR Mining: SSR Mining Inc. is a Vancouver-based mining company focused on the operation, development, exploration of precious metal projects.
Leigh Curyer
President, Director & Chief Executive Officer of NexGen Energy
Curyer has over 20 years experience in the resources and corporate sector. Mr. Curyer is the founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of NexGen Energy Ltd. and was previously the Chief Financial Officer and head of corporate development of Southern Cross Resources (now Uranium One). In addition, for three years Mr. Curyer was Head of Corporate Development for Accord Nuclear Resource Management assessing uranium projects worldwide for First Reserve Corporation, a global energy — focused private equity and infrastructure investment firm. Mr. Curyer’s uranium project assessment experience has been focused on assets located in Canada, Australia, USA, Africa, Central Asia and Europe, incorporating operating mines, advanced development projects and exploration prospects. While Chief Financial Officer of Southern Cross Resources (now Uranium One), Mr. Curyer managed the exploration, permitting and feasibility study of the Honeymoon Uranium Project in South Australia, ensuring full compliance with NI43-101 reporting. Mr Curyer has raised over $500 million of equity in North America, US, Europe and Australia. Mr. Curyer is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia.
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About International Consolidated Uranium, IsoEnergy, NexGen Energy: NexGen Energy Ltd is a Canadian based uranium exploration and development company established by Tigers Realm Group.
Robert Eadie
CEO, President & Director of Starcore International Mines
In the past 20 years, Mr. Eadie has been actively involved in public resource companies raising over $100 million dollars for various exploration and development projects around the world. Over the years, Mr. Eadie has built an impressive network of contacts in Europe, North America and Asia and has established a reputation as the catalyst behind various successful start-up resource companies. He brings extensive marketing and public relations expertise to the board and makes executive decisions based on long term sustainable growth. Mr. Eadie advocates open dialogue between management, directors, and shareholders as a key ingredient to success. Mr. Eadie resides in Mexico City. He is a predominant business figure, family man and compassionate community member. Mr. Eadie’s unique past experience as a private business owner reflects his down-to-earth approach to business and dedication to company growth.
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About Starcore International Mines: Starcore is a growth-oriented producing mining company.
James Gowans
President and CEO of Arizona Mining
Jim Gowans is President and CEO and a director of Arizona Mining Inc. since January 1, 2016. He was Co-President of Barrick Gold Corporation from July 2014 to August 2015 and was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Barrick Gold Corporation from January to July 2014. He served as managing director of the Debswana Diamond Company in Botswana from 2011 to 2014. He is the former COO and chief technical officer of DeBeers SA (2010), and was the CEO of DeBeers Canada Inc. from 2006 to 2010. He has extensive experience as a senior executive in the mining industry. Jim is the past chair of The Mining Association of Canada. Jim received a bachelor of applied science degree in mineral engineering from the University of British Columbia and attended the Banff School of Advanced Management. He has extensive mining knowledge and perspective on the importance of corporate social responsibility. His human resources experience includes a previous position as vice president, human resources at Placer Dome. Jim was a director of the public company PhosCan Chemical Corp. from 2008 to June 2014, and he served on its compensation committee for the full tenure.
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About Arizona Mining: North West – Carbonate Replacement Zinc, Lead And Silver Exploration Project.
Wendell Zerb
President & Chief Executive Officer of Exeter Resource Corporation
Wendell Zerb is the President & CEO of Exeter Resource Corporation. Wendell Zerb has 25 years combined experience in mining, mineral exploration and capital markets/financial analysis. Prior to joining the financial sector, Wendell Zerb worked for 10 years as a geologist in mineral exploration and mining. Wendell’s experience includes senior positions related to generative mineral exploration through to open pit and underground mining of base and precious metals. In 1996 he joined an established Vancouver based Investment Dealer (PI Financial) as a Mining Analyst. Through 2001 to March, 2005 he was also Vice President of Research and Institutional Sales, and in the latter two years was President and CEO of a wholly owned US subsidiary. In March, 2005 he joined Canaccord Capital as a Senior Mining Analyst, leaving the organization in July, 2012 as Director, Research Analyst, Metals and Mining (Canaccord Genuity Inc). Wendell Zerb obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Alberta in 1986/87 and is a registered Professional Geologist with the Association of Professional Engineers, and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).
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About Exeter Resource Corporation: Exeter Resource Corporation is a Canadian public company listed on the TSX and NYSE-MKT under the symbols XRC and XRA.
Patrick G. Downey
President And Chief Executive Officer of Orezone Resources
Mr. Downey over 30 years of international experience in the resource industry. Mr. Downey held the position of President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Elgin Mining Inc., Aura Minerals Inc. and previously Viceroy Exploration Ltd. before its acquisition by Yamana Gold Inc. in 2006 for $600 million. Mr. Downey also served as President of Consolidated Trillion Resources Ltd. and Oliver Gold Corporation, where he negotiated their successful merger to form Canico Resource Corp., which was purchased by CVRD in 2006 for over $800 million. He has held numerous senior engineering positions at several large-scale gold mining operations and has also held operating positions at several mining projects for Anglo American Corporation in South Africa. Mr. Downey is a member of the board to a number of resource companies in the mining sector, and he holds a Bachelor of Science (Hon.) degree in Engineering from Queen’s University.
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About Orezone Resources: Orezone Gold Corporation (ORE:TSX) is a Canadian exploration and development company.
Jordan Trimble
Director, President & CEO of Skyharbour Resources
Jordan Trimble is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Skyharbour Resources. Mr. Trimble holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Minor in Commerce from UBC and he is a CFA® charterholder. He has worked in the resource industry in various roles with numerous TSX Venture listed companies specializing in corporate finance and strategy, shareholder communications, marketing, deal structuring and capital raising. Mr. Trimble has an extensive network of institutional and retail investors as well as resource industry professionals bringing valuable relationships to the Company. He has appeared on BNN several times and has given presentations at numerous resource conferences across North America. Mr. Trimble has completed the Canadian Securities Course and Technical Analysis Course offered through CSI as well as several geology, exploration and mining courses.
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About Rockridge Resources, Skyharbour Resources: Skyharbour Resources (TSX-V: SYH) is a uranium and thorium exploration company.
Gordon Neal
Vice President, Corporate Development of Silvercorp Metals
Gordon Neal has more than 30 years experience in governance, corporate finance and investor relations. He founded Neal McInerney Investor Relations in 1991. Through marketing more than $4 billion in debt and equity financings, the company grew to be the second largest full service Investor Relations firm in Canada with offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles. Clients included; BCE, Nortel, Bell Canada International, Bell Mobility, Clearnet, Intrawest, Canaccord Capital, BMO Nesbitt Burns, and Blackberry (RIM). Gordon Neal was VP Corporate Development at MAG Silver Corp. where he was the key personnel is providing capital market strategies and solutions to the board. He has served on the board of Falco Resources, Balmoral Resources, Americas Petrogas, Rockgate Capital, and Xiana Mining. He has raised more than $500mn for resources companies since 2004. Gordon Neal graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry. 1977.
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About Silvercorp Metals: A China focused precious metals company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of silver containing properties.
Joseph Ovsenek
President of Pretium Resources Inc
Ovsenek has over 20 years of international management and legal experience in the precious metals industry. He has been responsible for building teams and leading the growth of public resource companies from early exploration stage to production. Since joining Pretium in January 2011, he has been responsible for a broad scope of the company’s strategic corporate functions including financing and project permitting. Prior to joining Pretivm, he served for 15 years in senior management roles for Silver Standard Resources Inc., where he was responsible for financings, the acquisition and sale of several assets, and was instrumental in developing corporate strategy. Ovsenek has served as in-house and external legal counsel in corporate and securities law practice, has served as a director on the boards of a number of publicly-traded exploration companies in addition to providing corporate governance counsel. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Toronto. Ovsenek is a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.
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About Pretium Resources Inc: Pretivm is creating value through gold at its 100%-owned, advanced-stage Brucejack Project located 65 kilometers north of the town.
Trevor Cunningham
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Finance & Corporate Secretary of Canadian Zinc Corporation
Mr. Cunningham is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 15 years of senior management experience in the mining, forestry, manufacturing and public utilities sectors. He has been responsible for strategic planning initiatives, operations and all aspects of corporate and financial management and administration, with extensive experience in public company regulatory filings and compliance in Canada and the United States. As a financial executive, Mr. Cunningham brings a wide variety of experience in the mining industry including extensive responsibility for budgeting, cost management, corporate governance, government and securities compliance, taxation, as well as enterprise resource planning and information systems implementation.
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About Canadian Zinc Corporation: Canadian Zinc Corporation is a development stage company.
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