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 CEO’ operating in the Mineral space. If you think a CEO’ 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.
Peeyush Varshney
CEO, Chairman & President of Canada Zinc Metals
Peeyush Varshney is principal and director of Varshney Capital Corp., a public venture capital firm. He is currently a director or officer of several public companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the TSX including Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. (MPVD). Mountain Province Diamonds is a partner in the largest new diamond mine under development globally. The project has the potential to become one of Canada’s major high grade and long-life diamond mines. Mr. Varshney obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree (1989) and a Bachelor of Laws degree (1993) from the University of British Columbia.
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About Canada Zinc Metals: Canada Zinc Metals is a mineral exploration company focused on unlocking the potential of a future long life mining.
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.
Lyle Davis
CEO and Director of Condor Resources
Mr. Davis joined the Condor board of directors as an independent director prior to its initial public offering in 2006. At that time, he was providing corporate finance, advisory, and management services to public companies. Mr. Davis previously worked in corporate finance with Ernst & Young, and C.M. Oliver and Company, both in Vancouver, and prior thereto, with the Vancouver Stock Exchange. He has a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University, an MBA from the University of British Columbia, and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Mr. Davis is the Chairman and a director of Hard Creek Nickel Corporation, and a director of Terra Nova Energy Ltd.
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About Condor Resources: Condor is a project generator focused exclusively on exploration in South America, particularly Peru and Chile.
Mark Fields
Interim President & CEO, Director of Discovery Harbour Resources
Mark was the President, CEO and director of Geodex Minerals Ltd. from May 2009 to June 2014 and the President of his own consulting company, MC Fields Ventures Inc. since 2007. Previously he has been a senior executive and director with a number of junior mineral companies, receiving the E.A. Scholz Award for excellence in mine development for his role as Executive Vice President of Pine Valley Mining while bringing the Willow Creek metallurgical coal mine into commercial production. Earlier in his career he was involved in the acquisition and development of the Diavik diamond mine for the Rio Tinto Group. Mr. Fields holds a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of British Columbia and a B.Comm., (Honours) from Queen’s University. He is an accredited P.Geo, with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC as well as the NWT and Nunavut.
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About Discovery Harbour Resources: Discovery Harbour Resources is focused on sourcing, exploring and developing mineral properties.
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.
Catalin Chiloflischi
President, CEO & Director of Goldplay Mining
Catalin Kilofliski is the Founder, CEO, President, and Director of Goldplay Mining.
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About Goldplay Mining, Goldplay Mining: Goldplay Mining is a junior exploration company focused on advancing and exploring gold, silver, and copper assets.
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.
Kevin Drover
President and CEO of Aurcana
Mr. Drover has more than 40 years of both domestic and international experience in operations, project development, management and process re-engineering, with both developing and producing companies. Mr. Drover was the Chief Operating Officer of Glencairn Gold Corporation, responsible for two gold mining operations located in Latin America. Prior to joining Glencairn, he was the Vice President of Operations for Kinross Gold Corporation, overseeing six operating mines located in various parts of the World. He has considerable experience in turning around challenging projects and has worked in operations located in Canada, Russia, Peru, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the USA. During his career, Mr. Drover also worked for Oracle Mining, Black Hawk Mining, Lac Minerals, BP Canada Resources, Noranda Mining, Dome Mines and The Iron Ore Company of Canada.
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About Aurcana: Aurcana is a mining company engaged in the exploration, development and operation of natural resource properties.
Edward Kelly
CEO and Director of Inca One Gold
Mr. Kelly is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of management experience in sales, marketing and business development. The majority of Ed’s experience comes in the form of working with private and public companies where he has served as an officer and director of ClickHouse.com and Dajin Resources. Mr. Kelly has been involved in the public markets since 1989 as an investor, as well as assisting in raising capital for both private and public company ventures. Mr. Kelly is a turn around specialist who has rescued several private ventures in real estate and food. His keen business eye has helped him identify hidden opportunities and then implementing the right strategy to execute.
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About Inca One Gold: Inca One Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based mineral resource and mineral processing company.
Maximilian Sali
Founder & CEO of Barrian
Maximilian Sali is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Barrian Mining.
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About Barrian, Defense Metals: Barrian is a new junior exploration company focused on acquiring proven gold assets.
Slawek Smulewicz
CEO & Director of MicroCoal
Mr. Smulewicz has been the acting CEO of MicroCoal® Technologies Inc.. since June 2011. He operated as Vice President of Carbon Friendly Solutions Inc. from 2008 until his appointment as CEO; he is also a director of the Company since 2008. Mr. Smulewicz has served on the Board of several European private companies in consulting, IT and construction industries; especially during the start-up phase or restructuring processes. From 2006 until 2009, he led a successful remedial process, completing the financing of over 50 million PLN for a European private company. In 2001, he founded BDSG Grupa Finansowa Sp. z o. o., where he acted as CEO and Director until 2008. In 1998, he co-founded Internetowy Instytut Infomacji 3i Sp. z o. o. where he acted as CEO and Director until 2001. Mr. Smulewicz was an advisor to Vice Marshal of Presidium of The Sejm of The Republic of Poland (Polish Parliament) in 1998 and received his license as a broker of Warsaw Exchange (WGT S.A.), Poland in 1995. He has a M.Sc. in Agriculture & Business Administration from the Warsaw University of Life Science (SGGW) in Warsaw, Poland.
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About G2 Technologies Corp., MicroCoal: MicroCoal focuses on providing clean-coal upgrading technology that reduces contaminants in coal resulting in upgraded energy content.
John-Mark Staude
President & CEO of Riverside Resources
John-Mark Staude holds a Ph.D. in economic geology and has over 20 years of diverse mining and exploration experience in precious and base metals. He earned a Masters of Science from Harvard University in 1989 and a Ph.D. in economic geology from the University of Arizona in 1995. Mr. Staude held positions of increasing responsibility with a number of major international mining companies including Kennecott, BHP-Billiton, and most recently Teck Cominco. He also worked with smaller commodity-focused companies like Magma Copper Company and consulted to private investment groups. Mr. Staude’s extensive Latin America mineral resource experience began in Mexico and then extended through South America. Recently, Mr. Staude has ventured into Europe and Asia initiating companies and managing successful exploration programs in Turkey, Romania and China. Mr. Staude has been successful in creating shareholder value through discoveries of gold and copper in Mexico, Peru and Turkey. He has located additional resources in known districts and helped convert discoveries into new mining operations. His technical and managerial experience spans more than 30 countries in diverse geologic environments. Through Riverside Resources, Mr. Staude will continue to build strong portfolios and profitable businesses through prospect generation, early stage partnering and drill discoveries.
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About Riverside Resources: Riverside Resources is a well-funded mineral exploration company advancing multiple projects through JVs and strategic partnerships.
Luquman Shaheen
President, CEO, Director of Panoro Minerals
Mr. Shaheen has an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in Business Administration. He has over 22 years of experience in the international mining sector with over 17 years dedicated to the development of mineral projects in Peru and Latin America. Mr. Shaheen resided in Peru from 1996 until 2001, is fluent in Spanish and English, very knowledgeable of the Peruvian mining sector and the social, environmental and business issues of this important mineral producing nation.
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About Panoro Minerals: Panoro Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a strategic focus on exploring and advancing.
Ken Berry
President & CEO of Northern Vertex Mining
Ken Berry, B.Comm, Chairman and CEO is co-founder and has played an instrumental role in acquiring the Moss project as well as helping to raise in excess of $47 million to advance the Company’s now 100% owned Moss Mine Gold-Silver project in Western Arizona from the exploration stage to final feasibility. Ken Berry brings over 20 years of senior level experience in capital markets and mine exploration and development. Among his accomplishments, as a co-founder and current Chairman of Kootenay Silver Inc., over the past two years Ken Berry has helped guide Kootenay through a major transitional period that included the strategic acquisition of Canadian based Northair Silver Corp. and a carried interest to production option agreement with Pan American Silver Corp.
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About Northern Vertex Mining: Company focused on the reactivation of the Moss Mine Gold-Silver Project located in NW Arizona, USA.
Mark Kolebaba
President and CEO of Adamera Minerals
Mark Kolebaba currently works as the President and CEO of Adamera Minerals Corp. He previously worked at Uranium North Resources Corp. as President and CEO.
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About Adamera Minerals: Adamera Minerals is a mining company that focuses on exploring for high-grade gold deposits.
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