Peter Marrone

Industry Expert, Corporate Director

Nathalie Camden

Nathalie Camden, Associate Deputy Minister of Mines, Ministry of Natural Resources & Forests

French :
Mme Nathalie Camden est sous-ministre associée aux Mines au ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts depuis juin 2018. Mme Camden a débuté sa carrière dans la fonction publique québécoise en 1992 au ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles où elle est promue, en 1998, directrice des Affaires autochtones. Elle a occupé plusieurs postes de gestion dans ce ministère dans différents secteurs (Forêts et Mines) et a été sous-ministre associée à la Faune de 2009 à 2014.

De 2015 à 2017, elle assume la fonction de secrétaire adjointe au Secrétariat au développement nordique et à la Société du Plan Nord où elle a participé activement à la création de celle-ci à titre de conseillère stratégique auprès du président-directeur général de la Société. De juin 2017 à juin 2018, elle exerce la responsabilité de sous-ministre adjointe aux Partenariats d’affaires et aux Services à la clientèle au ministère du Tourisme. 

Mme Camden a obtenu son baccalauréat en sciences politiques à l’Université Laval en 1987, avec une spécialisation en politique et économie américaines de l’Assumption College à Worcester aux États-Unis. Elle a complété un certificat en administration en 1995 à l’Université Laval.

English : 
Nathalie Camden has been Associate Deputy Minister of Mines at the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts since June 2018. Ms. Camden began her career in the Québec public service in 1992 at the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles, where she was promoted to Director of Aboriginal Affairs in 1998. She has held several management positions in different sectors of this ministry (Forestry and Mining) and was Associate Deputy Minister of Wildlife from 2009 to 2014.

From 2015 to 2017, she served as Assistant Secretary to the Northern Development Secretariat and the Société du Plan Nord, where she actively participated in the creation of the latter as a strategic advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Société. From June 2017 to June 2018, she was Assistant Deputy Minister of Business Partnerships and Customer Services at the Ministère du Tourisme. 

Ms. Camden obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science from Université Laval in 1987, with a specialization in American politics and economics from Assumption College in Worcester, United States. She completed a certificate in administration in 1995 at Université Laval. 

Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina

Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina

French : Originaire de Montmagny, Maïté Blanchette Vézina fait ses études à l’Université Laval en communication publique et en droit. Elle obtient son barreau en 2010, puis pratique le droit des affaires jusqu’en 2022. Après avoir habité pendant plusieurs années à Québec, M me  Blanchette Vézina quitte la ville pour s’installer dans la municipalité de Sainte-Luce, dans le
Bas-Saint-Laurent.

En 2017, elle devient la mairesse de sa municipalité tout en continuant de pratiquer le droit des affaires. Son leadership et sa contribution importante, notamment quant à l’engagement des femmes en politique et à l’environnement, lui permettent d’établir des liens forts avec les intervenants et intervenantes de différents milieux et de faire avancer de nombreux projets.

En 2021, M me  Blanchette Vézina occupe le poste de directrice régionale de Centraide pour le Bas-Saint-Laurent. Durant ce mandat, elle joue un rôle important dans le développement tant
économique que social de sa communauté. En mai 2022, elle se présente comme candidate de la Coalition Avenir Québec dans la circonscription de Rimouski.

Élue à titre de députée lors des élections générales québécoises du 3 octobre 2022, elle est nommée ministre des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts et ministre responsable de la région du Bas-Saint-Laurent et de la région de la Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine le 20 octobre 2022.

English : Originally from Montmagny, Maïté Blanchette Vézina studied public communications and law at Université Laval. She passed the bar in 2010 and practised business law until 2022. After living in the city of Québec for several years, Blanchette Vézina decided to move to the municipality of Sainte-Luce, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region

In 2017, she became mayor of her municipality while continuing to practice business law. Her leadership and significant contributions, including towards women’s engagement in politics and the environment, enabled her to build strong relationships with stakeholders from different backgrounds to move her initiatives forwards. In 2021, she held the position of regional manager of Centraide (United Way) for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. Her actions have been put forward to ensure that the social development of her community is aligned with economic development. In May 2022, she ran as a candidate for the Coalition Avenir Québec in the district of Rimouski.

Elected as a member during the Québec general election on October 3, 2022, she was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forests and Minister Responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine Region on October 20, 2022.

Tony Brisson, P.Geo

President & CEO, SOQUEM Inc.

Mr. Brisson joined SOQUEM in January 2021. With a bachelor’s degree in geology from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Mr. Brisson has held several senior positions with exploration and mining companies in Quebec, Ontario and North Africa.

A member of the Order of Geologists of Quebec, Mr. Brisson has 30 years of experience in precious and base metal exploration, mine development and mining operations. He has worked for several public companies, notably Goldcorp, Iamgold, Breakwater Resources, Cambior, Focus Graphite and Cogitore Resources. Prior to join SOQUEM, he was an exploration consultant for junior and major mining companies in Quebec and Ontario since 2015.

Mr. Brisson has served on the boards of directors for several junior exploration companies and the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association.

Elian Terner

Managing Director and Head, Global Mining & Metals Investment Banking, National Bank Financial

Rick Rule

President and CEO of Rule Investment Media

Frank E. Holmes

CEO and CIO of U.S. Global Investors || Executive Chairman of HIVE Blockchain Technologies

Frank Holmes is the CEO and chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors (NASDAQ: GROW). Mr. Holmes purchased a controlling interest in U.S. Global Investors in 1989 and became the firm’s chief investment officer in 1999. He is the co-author of The Goldwatcher: Demystifying Gold Investing. Over 100,000 subscribers follow his weekly commentary in the award-winning Investor Alert newsletter, across social channels and in his Frank Talk blog, which is read in over 180 countries.

Under his guidance, the company’s mutual funds have received recognition from Lipper and Morningstar over the years. In 2015, Mr. Holmes led the company into the exchange-traded fund (ETF) business with the launch of the U.S. Global Jets ETF (NYSE: JETS), which invests in the global airline sector. In 2017, the firm launched its second ETF, the U.S. Global GO GOLD and Precious Metal Miners ETF (NYSE: GOAU), focusing on gold royalty companies.

In 2017, U.S. Global Investors made a strategic investment in HIVE Blockchain Technologies (TSX.V: HIVE, NASDAQ: HIVE). Mr. Holmes serves as Executive Chairman of HIVE, which is the first cryptocurrency mining company to go public, mining both Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Mr. Holmes is a much-sought-after keynote speaker at national and international investment conferences. He is a regular commentator on popular financial networks and has been profiled by Fortune as well as The Financial Times. 

Egizio Bianchini

Head of Metals & Mining Investment Banking, Stifel GMP

Egizio Bianchini joined Stifel GMP in January 2021 as Head of Metals & Mining Investment Banking. Egizio was Executive Vice-Chairman and Board Member at Ivanhoe Mines from March 2018 to September 2020. Prior to this, Egizio served as Co-Head of the Global Metals & Mining Group, and as Vice Chairman from April 2011 to March 2018. With more than 30 years’ experience in the metals and mining financial services sector, Mr. Bianchini has an extensive track record in advising a wide range of metals and mining companies around the world and in structuring and executing initial public offerings and other capital raisings.

Lisa Davis LL.B, ICD.D,

CEO PearTree Securities

With extensive advisory and business experience in the investment industry including over a decade focused on corporate finance to fund mineral exploration and development projects, Lisa oversees the strategic direction of PearTree. Lisa also possesses an in-depth knowledge of securities regulation gained while on secondment to the Ontario Securities Commission and as General Counsel for a specialized investment fund business. While in private practice, Lisa specialized in corporate and securities law with two international law firms including as a partner of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (now Dentons). Lisa is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1986. She has earned her ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors and is a member of the Association de L'Éxploration Minière du Quebec, Women in Mining and Women in Capital Markets. Lisa is also on the Advisory Board for LIGHTS, a program in partnership with Community Living Toronto aimed at addressing the significant shortage of independent and appropriate housing for intellectually disabled citizens in Toronto. Lisa has completed a 6 year term as a Director of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) for which she also served as co-chair of the Finance & Taxation Committee. Lisa continues as a member of the Finance & Taxation Committee and the Securities Committee of PDAC. She is currently a Director of Signature Resources Inc. which owns the Lingman Lake Gold Project in the Red Lake district of Northwestern Ontario.

Jeff Stibbard P.Eng.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer JDS Group of Companies

Jeff is the founder and CEO of JDS Energy & Mining. He is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience in mine design, construction and operations. JDS is a mid-tier mine evaluation, design, construction and operating company with several related surrogates, employing in excess of 150 professionals. Prior to establishing JDS, Jeff served in various capacities by leading the development and operations of mining projects around the world including: Mine Manager for BHP’s Ekati Diamond Mine, General Manager of Mining for Albian Sands Energy Inc. in Fort McMurray, AB, and was a founding member of Western Oilsands Inc. – a 20% partner in the development of the Shell Muskeg River Mine in Fort McMurray. Jeff started his career in Canada at numerous mines in various positions including Production Supervisor at the Island Copper Mine in Port Hardy, BC, General Foreman at the Bell Copper Mine in Granisle, BC, and Mine Engineer at the Tartan Lake Gold Mine located in Flin Flon, MB.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from Montana Tech. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Alberta. Since founding JDS Energy & Mining Inc., Jeff has been presented with numerous awards including AME BC’s Hugo Dummett Diamond Award (2015), BC Export’s Top 25 Exporters Award (2012), and Distinguished Alumni Award from Montana Tech (2008). In 2016, Jeff was appointed Honorary Colonel of 19 Wing Comox for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Michael F. White

President and CEO IBK Capital Corp.

Mr. White has been with IBK Capital Corp. since 1991. During this time, he has been involved in private placement financings totalling over $600 million for emerging companies in mining and metals and technology. He has also been active in financial advisory assignments and industry developments including: advisory and financing services to Great Bear Resources Ltd. (now Kinross Gold Corp.) regarding its Red Lake gold discovery and partnership with Rob McEwen; advisory and financing services to create Canada Nickel Company Inc. and its pursuit of future net-carbon-zero nickel production from its nickel deposits in Timmins, Ontario; advisory and financing services to POET Technologies Inc. for its disruptive photonics solutions for data communications; advisory and financing services to Eagle Hill Exploration Corp. (now Osisko Mining Inc.) on its purchase and development of the Windfall gold project in Quebec; advisory and financing services to Western Goldfields Inc. (now New Gold Inc.) on its purchase and development of the Mesquite gold mine in south-eastern California; advisory and financing services to Noront Resources Ltd. in the wake of a major nickel discovery at its Double Eagle Project in Northern Ontario, Canada; and, advisory services to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with respect to its arrangements with Inco Ltd. over the development of the nickel deposit at Voisey’s Bay.

Mr. White’s professional experience includes the following:

Active member of the TSX Venture Exchange Local Advisory Committee
Active founding member of the Private Capital Markets Association (PCMA)
Active member and External Committee member of the Morrissette Entrepreneurship Advisory Board at Western University
Active member of the Ivey Business Plan Competition at the Ivey Business School
Former member of the Ivey Entrepreneurship Advisory Council
Former member of the Hawthorn School Board of Directors
Mr. White graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from the University of Western Ontario in 1994, and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 2000.

Gordon J. Bogden, P.Eng, ICD.D

Senior Advisor & Advisory Board Chair, Origin Merchant Partners

Gordon has a long career in mining exploration, mining development finance, strategy, M&A, and international capital markets, first as a geophysicist and co-founder of Quantech Consulting Inc., then as a senior investment banker with CIBC, N.M. Rothschild Canada, Newcrest Capital, as Vice Chairman at National Bank Financial, and as a co-founder and Managing Partner at Gryphon Partners Canada, until its acquisition by Standard Chartered Bank in 2012.

Gordon is currently a Senior Advisor and Advisory Board Chair of Origin Merchant Partners, Chair of the Board of Allegiant Gold Inc., Advisory Board Chair of Tamarack Mining Services Inc., and the Founder and Chairman of Black Loon Group Inc., a private mining investment, and financial and strategic advisory business.  He is a past Chairman of the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC), and a founding member of the Advisory Council of the Development Partner Institute (DPI).  He is a past director of Canplats Resources Corp. (acquired by Goldcorp Inc.), IAMGold Corporation, International Royalty Corporation (acquired by Royal Gold Inc.), Orvana Minerals Corp., Royal Gold, Inc., Volta Resources Inc. (acquired by B2Gold Corp.), and the former CEO and Director of Alloycorp Mining Inc.
 
In 2017, he was the recipient of the Robert Elver Mineral Economics Award in recognition for his contribution to corporate management and mineral economics by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.  

Gordon holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Applied Science (Geology) from Queen's University, the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, and is a Professional Engineer Ontario (P.Eng).
 

Daniella Dimitrov

Mining Executive & Corporate Director

Daniella has more than 25 years of experience in building, leading and operating businesses in mining and financial services in various strategy, finance, operations, corporate development and governance roles. Daniella’s previous roles include President and CEO, Interim CEO, CFO of multi mine gold/copper producers and a $2B+ mine developer, partner at a mining investment bank, Executive Vice-Chair of an iron ore developer, Chief Operating Officer of a national wealth management and capital markets firm. Since 2010, Daniella serves and has served as a director of nine companies in the natural resources, energy and chemicals industries. Daniella was chosen as one of the Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining for 2016, was a Canada Board Diversity Council – 2016 Diversity 50 Candidate and has the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship Certification, an Executive MBA from Kellogg School of Management and Schulich School of Business and a law degree from the University of Windsor. Daniella is currently a director of Nexa Resources, the fifth largest zinc miner and metallic zinc producer globally (and a member of its Sustainability & Capital Projects and Audit committees) and a trustee of Chemtrade Logistics, a provider of chemicals and services including to the mining industry (and a member of the Responsible Care and Compensation and Corporate Governance committees and Chair of the Audit committee).

Gary Stanley

Director, Office of Critical Minerals and Metals U.S. Department of Commerce

Mr. Stanley is the Director of the Office of Critical Minerals and Metals in the Industry & Analysis (I&A) unit of the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA).  Mr. Stanley oversees an office of industry and trade specialists that monitor a wide range of sectors, including critical minerals and ferrous and nonferrous metals.  The office undertakes industry trade analysis, shapes U.S. trade policy, participates in trade negotiations, and organizes trade promotion events to improve the global competitiveness of U.S. critical minerals and metals industries. The office works with other U.S. agencies in developing a public policy environment that supports the Administration’s efforts to support domestic supply chain resilience and advance U.S. competitiveness at home and abroad.  Mr. Stanley joined the Commerce Department in 1983, after graduating from North Carolina State University.

Robbie Diamond

Founder President & CEO of SAFE, Critical Metals

Robbie Diamond is the Founder, President, and CEO of SAFE. SAFE enhances energy security and supports U.S. economic resurgence and resiliency, by advancing transformative transportation and mobility technologies while ensuring that the United States and allies secure key aspects of the technology supply chain.
Diamond is also the Founder, President, and CEO of the Electrification Coalition, SAFE’s sister organization, which works with consumers, businesses, and policymakers, to launch award-winning “real-world” programs and enable the needed polices to accelerate transportation electrification.
Diamond helped found and was Chair of Rhombus Energy Solutions, a company that provides intelligent power conversion solutions including high powered bidirectional charging. It was sold in 2022 to BorgWarner. Diamond also helped found and serves on the Board of HCTSun, a rooftop solar company that focuses on commercial and industrial rooftop development and operations in Mumbai, India and its surroundings.
He is a serial for-profit and not-for-profit entrepreneur.
Diamond earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in Peace and Conflict Studies and Political Science, as well as a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School. He lives in Washington DC and has three daughters.

Glenn Nolan

VP Indigenous Enterprises, Ring of Fire Metals

Glenn is a Missanabie Cree First Nation member located in Northeastern Ontario. He served as chief for nine years. He is also the first Indigenous person to be elected president of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, the largest global mining association. Glenn is Vice President Indigenous Enterprises at Ring of Fire Metals, formerly Noront Resources. Glenn's new role with RoF Metals is essential to the company’s commitment to ensuring the positive growth of indigenous-owned businesses in developing Ring of Fire Metal’s nickel and copper deposit in Ontario’s Ring of Fire. He has had a long career in early-stage mineral exploration as an entrepreneur and serving as an advisor to Indigenous groups throughout the Americas.

Glenn has long been a leading advocate for sustainable inclusive mineral development in Canada and globally for indigenous people. He is considered an expert on effective indigenous engagement and has brought his experience and knowledge to governments in Central and South America and Africa. He continues to provide advice and support to indigenous communities and governments internationally on issues related to resource development and leadership. 

Glenn serves on numerous not-for-profit boards with a local, national and international focus. He is also a board member of a junior diamond exploration company with properties in Canada and Africa and a tech company assisting resource development-focused companies in meeting ESG commitments.

Cindy Valence, MBA, PACI

Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer

An unparalleled motivator, Cindy Valence has been applying her energy and convictions towards sustainability, societal impact and value co-creation for Sayona since 2021.

Always on the lookout for best practices from mining companies around the world, she works to build exemplary relationships between the company and the communities where it operates.

Her vast experience in business development, her expertise and knowledge in energy transition and her ability to build trust make her a valuable link between Sayona, communities and citizens.  She is passionate about the idea of actively participating in the creation of a visionary project in an emerging economy, as part of a passionate team.

Cindy sits on the Board of Directors of Women in Mining in Abitibi, which promotes the place of women in the sector of activity, and of Propulsion Quebec, the electric and intelligent transportation cluster.  She holds an MBA with a specialization in management applied to the mineral industry.
 

Michel Brutti

President and Founder of Clear Skies Investment Management

FRANÇAIS
 

Michel Brutti est président et fondateur de Clear Skies Investment Management, une firme de gestion de placements d’impact à Montréal.  Professionnel expérimenté de la finance, il a été pendant plus de 25 ans gestionnaire de portefeuilles de placements chez Jarislowsky Fraser où il a géré des placements pour des institutions financières et des investisseurs privés. Michel est également passionné par l'investissement d'impact et l’investissement responsable. 
Michel est titulaire d'un MBA de l'Université de Toronto et de la charte CFA. Il est diplômé de l'Institut des administrateurs de sociétés (IAS) et titulaire du titre SASB FSA. Michel est membre du conseil d’administration du Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD). Il est membre du groupe local du Québec SASB. Michel est aussi membre d’Anges Québec, et fait partie du comité de revue des placements de la société inuit Makivik. Il siège au comité d'investissement du Fonds climat du Grand Montréal, au comité de placement du Fonds municipal vert à Ottawa, au comité d'investissement du fonds d’amorçage en énergie propre Ecofuel. Michel est membre de l’association CAFIID (Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development). 

ENGLISH

Michel Brutti is passionate about responsible and impact investing. He is currently the President and Founder of Clear Skies Investment Management, an impact investing firm in Montreal. Up until recently, Michel Brutti was a Senior Partner and Portfolio Manager at Jarislowsky Fraser, where he served as a member of the firm’s Investment Strategy Committee and the Sustainable Investment Committee, promoting the Principles of Responsible Investing. He managed the firm’s Global and International Equity portfolios for over 20 years, as well as investments for financial institutions and family offices.
Michel holds a CFA Charter, an MBA from the University of Toronto, a Computer Engineering degree from the University of Compiègne.  Michel is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), and a SASB FSA Credential-holder.
Michel is a board member of the Fonds d’Action Québecois pour le Développement Durable (FAQDD).  He sits on the Investment Committees of the Ottawa Green Municipal Fund and the Greater Montreal Climate Fund; the Investment Review Committee of the Inuit Makivik Corporation and the Investment Committee of Ecofuel, a clean tech accelerator fund; Michel is a member of the Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) and is a member of the Quebec SASB group.

Hannah Ellix

Associate Partner McKinsey & Company, Mining & Metals

Angelina Mehta

GM JV-Aluminum, Rio Tinto

Angelina MEHTA, P.Eng., MBA,

Ms. Mehta is a professional engineer registered in Quebec, and a founding member of Women in Mining (WIM) Montreal. She is the General Manager of Joint Ventures at Rio Tinto Aluminium and has served on the Azimut Board since 2018.

Ms. Angelina Mehta has over 20 years’ experience in the fields of finance and engineering and is currently working as General Manager of Joint Ventures at Rio Tinto Aluminium.  She was previously Director, Mining Investment Banking at Laurentian Bank Securities Inc and Senior Mining Advisor with Paradigm Capital Inc. in Investment Banking, as well as Vice President of Operations for North American Nickel. Over the years, she served as Investment Manager for Sentient Asset Management Canada and held various operational positions for multiple mining companies, including Rio Tinto’s subsidiary, Iron Ore Company of Canada.

Ms. Mehta holds a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering and an MBA from McGill University, as well as a Master of Law degree from the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University. Ms. Mehta has served on the Board of Directors for several publicly listed junior mining companies including Pershimco, Meridian Mining, Stornoway Diamond, and Falco Resources. She also served on the Women in Mining Canada Board for five years and is currently a Director for Fondation du Grand Montreal.

Angelina MEHTA, ing., MBA,

Mme Mehta est une ingénieure professionnelle enregistrée au Québec et membre fondatrice de Women in Mining (WIM) Montréal. Elle est directrice générale des coentreprises chez Rio Tinto Aluminium et siège au conseil d’administration d’Azimut depuis 2018.

Mme Angelina Mehta a plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans les domaines de la finance et de l’ingénierie et travaille actuellement en tant que directrice générale des coentreprises chez Rio Tinto Aluminium. Elle était auparavant directrice, Services bancaires d’investissement minier chez Valeurs mobilières Banque Laurentienne Inc et conseillère minière principale chez Paradigm Capital Inc. en Services bancaires d’investissement, ainsi que vice-présidente des opérations pour North American Nickel. Au fil des ans, elle a occupé le poste de gestionnaire des placements pour Sentient Asset Management Canada et a occupé divers postes opérationnels pour plusieurs sociétés minières, dont la filiale de Rio Tinto, Iron Ore Company of Canada.

Mme Mehta détient un baccalauréat en génie minier et une maîtrise en administration des affaires de l’Université McGill, ainsi qu’une maîtrise en droit de l’Osgoode Hall Law School de l’Université York. Mme Mehta a siégé au conseil d’administration de plusieurs petites sociétés minières cotées en bourse, notamment Pershimco, Meridian Mining, Stornoway Diamond et Falco Resources. Elle a également siégé au conseil d’administration de Women in Mining Canada pendant cinq ans et est actuellement administratrice de la Fondation du Grand Montréal.

Maria Smirnova, MBA, CFA

Managing Director, Sprott Inc.; Senior Portfolio Manager & Chief Investment Officer, Sprott Asset Management

Maria Smirnova has over 20 years of investment experience. She first joined Sprott Asset Management LP in 2005 as a research associate supporting the metals and mining team. She currently serves as Lead Portfolio Manager of a Sprott Sub-Advised Silver Equities Fund and Co-Portfolio Manager of another Sprott Sub-Advised Gold and Precious Minerals Fund. Prior to joining Sprott, Maria served as a Product Development Analyst at Fidelity Investments. Ms. Smirnova holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. She has been a CFA^® charterholder since 2002.

Nadine Miller

JDS Operational Technologies

Ms. Miller is a professional engineer, executive, and corporate director with 20+ years of experience in engineering design and project management in the mining and transportation industries. Ms. Miller is currently the Vice President of Cybersecurity & Operational Technology at JDS Operational Technologies, part of the JDS Group of Companies. She also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director for Wesdome Gold Mines and OMAI Gold Mines, Canadian gold mining companies, and a Strategic Advisor at Awz Ventures Inc., a venture capital fund focused on cybersecurity.

As a practicing engineer Ms. Miller worked primarily on tailings projects before transitioning to business development. She led the Business Development departments for two of the world’s largest engineering consulting firms’ Toronto offices: Bantrel with the backing of Bantrel’s parent company, Bechtel; and SNC-Lavalin’s Mining and Metallurgy. At JDS Ms. Miller has focused on building a team specialized in cybersecurity and operational technology and her team is providing these services to the resource industry.

She is a strong advocate on issues pertaining to women in engineering and received the 2017 Leading Women Building Communities Award for her work in this area.

Ms. Miller graduated from the University of Oxford, Saïd School of Business, with an MBA focused on finance and strategy; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering (specializing in geotechnical engineering); and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Toronto in Mineral and Geological Engineering.

Terence Ortslan

Resource Policies and Strategies, TSO Research.

John Passalacqua

CEO & Director, First Phosphate Corp.

John Passalacqua is an international business strategist with over 35 years of extensive technology and capital markets experience. In 1998, John gained the title of a top 50 international business strategist on the early internet. He is involved in private and public market planning for companies in nascent, visionary industries. John has lived in Quebec and is fluently bilingual.
 

Matt Gordon

Crux Investor

Matthew Gordon got his grounding in private equity before moving into investment & merchant banking. He now runs a family office in London UK. He has worked across Africa, India and South America on private equity, M&A transactions and SWF structures. Although starting off in the technology space, he found himself drawn to natural resources because of his time in Africa, and is now investing in a variety of sectors. Following the introduction of MiFID 2, he started Crux Investor with the aim of making it easier for family offices (& retail investors) to get accurate and unbiased information with which to make better investment decisions, something he thought might last 6 months. Three years later it is one of the largest natural resource investment platforms in the world.

Kaeli Gattens

Director of Environmental, Social, Governance JDS Group of Companies

Kaeli Gattens specializes in the development and execution of corporate communications strategies that enhance social impact and stakeholder value. Ms. Gattens holds over a decade of international experience working in various roles across the natural resource sector. Prior to her appointment as Director of Environmental, Social, Governance at the JDS Group of Companies, Ms. Gattens gained her passion and holistic approach to sustainability working at Goldcorp Inc., Finning Digital, VRIFY, Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster, and Sun Peak Metals Corp. Ms. Gattens holds a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, a Bachelor of Political Science and Economics, and a Diploma in Intercultural Communications from the University of Victoria. Ms. Gattens also sits on the Board of Women in Mining B.C. and is an active volunteer with both the Canadian Cancer Society and Special Olympics B.C.

Ed Ho, MSc. CFA

Energy Transition

Ed is engaged in the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.  He earned his Master of Science in Energy Policy and Climate at Johns Hopkins University where his capstone thesis on Nuclear Supply Chain crossed many aspects of energy technology, the grid, finance and policy issues. Previously, Ed built and operated top-tier restaurants across Toronto for 14 years. Prior to this, Ed had a career as a portfolio manager with a major fund company with investment mandates including venture and small cap, tax strategies and large cap US portfolios.

Ed is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute and has a B.Sc. in Chemistry and Honours Degree in French Literature. Ed is a board director of public, private and non-profit companies.
 

Caroline Donally

Managing Partner, Sprott Resource Streaming & Royalty

Caroline Donally is an experienced commercial and financial executive with a proven track record of value creation in the Mining sector.  Caroline has worked in numerous countries, including across North and South America, Africa, and Asia, in a variety of commodities covering precious metals, base metals, bulks and specialty metals.  She has served on various public boards and audit and other committees of public companies involved in exploration, construction, and operations. 

 In her current role as Managing Partner of the Sprott Streaming & Royalty Fund and Managing Director of Sprott Inc,  she is responsible for all aspects of the Streaming Fund from institutional fund raising to originating, structuring, concluding and monitoring financing transactions. Prior to her role at Sprott, she was a Managing Director at Denham Capital from 2011 to 2020, responsible for managing a global mining portfolio. Prior to that she worked for Investec Bank and Rand Merchant Bank, providing project and development finance to mining companies across the world.   Caroline started her career at BDO Spencer Steward.
 
During her more than two decades in the mining industry, Caroline has developed an extensive global network.   She’s a regular speaker and presenter at mining conferences and has been widely quoted in the press. She has been awarded the title of one of “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining” twice. Caroline holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science (Honours) from the University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a Chartered Accountant and holds the CA(SA) designation.

Mark Selby

Founder of Canada Nickel Company

Mr. Selby is a founder of Canada Nickel Company and was formerly President & CEO of RNC Minerals (Royal Nickel Corporation) where he led a team that successfully raised over $100 million and advanced the Dumont nickel-cobalt project from initial resource to a fully permitted, construction-ready project. He has held several senior management roles with Quadra Mining, Inco, and Purolator Courier, and was a partner at Mercer Management Consulting. 

Since 2001, Mr. Selby has been recognized as one of the leading authorities on the nickel market.  He graduated from Queen's University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and has also served on the boards of multiple junior mining companies. 

Anthony Vaccaro

President, The Northern Miner Group

As President of The Northern Miner Group, Anthony has overall responsibility for some of the mining industry’s most distinguished media brands including: The Northern Miner, Canadian Mining Journal and MINING.com. He also oversees essential industry data and education brands such as Costmine, Mining Intelligence, EduMine and CareerMine. Anthony holds the CFA designation, has an MBA in Investment Management and serves on the Boards of the Resource Innovation Group and The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. 

Keith Spence

CEO & Partner Global Mining Capital

Keith Spence is CEO and Partner of Global Mining Capital. The company is engaged in Private Equity  Investments, Strategic Investments, Project finance and M&A globally. The company has extensive funding  relationships with its partners in Asia. The company’s focus is on late stage near development projects; and early  stage projects with large resource potential. 

Mr. Spence is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the “world recognised” Canadian Mining Valuation Standards and  Guidelines for mining projects; which is referenced by the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX-V), the Hong Kong Stock  Exchange and Singapore Stock Exchange, among others. 

A field geologist, he held positions in Capital Markets and Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets, Scotia  Bank and BMO Capital Markets. He received the CIM Distinguished Lecturer Award, the PDAC Distinguished  Award, the Robert Elver Mineral Economics Award for outstanding contributions to Canadian mineral economics and received the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal Award, for contributions to Canada. A Commonwealth  Scholar; he is a graduate of the Global Management program from Harvard University, has an Honors B.Sc. in  Geology from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from the Ivey School of Business.

Joe Mazumdar

Editor/Publisher/Analyst/Owner Exploration Insights

Joe Mazumdar joined Brent Cook as co-editor and analyst of Exploration Insights in December 2015 and became the sole editor a couple of years later.

Previously, he had spent six years as a Senior Mining Analyst at Haywood Securities and Canaccord Genuity in Vancouver, six years as Director of Strategic Planning, Corporate Development at Newmont Mining (Denver), and over two years as a Senior Market Analyst/Commodity Trader at Phelps Dodge (now Freeport McMoRan, Phoenix). 

Before becoming a mining market analyst, Joe worked for over a decade as an exploration geologist in different capacities for IAMGOLD, North Minerals, and RTZ in South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador), MIM Exploration in Queensland, Australia, and Noranda and others in Western Canada (British Columbia, Yukon) and the Northwest Territories.

He has a BSc in Geology (1988) from the University of Alberta, an MSc in Geology and Mining (1997) from James Cook University (Queensland), and an MSc in Mineral Economics (2003) from the Colorado School of Mines.

Robert Wares

CEO, Osisko Metals Incorporated

Mr. Wares is a professional geologist with over 35 years of experience in mineral exploration and development. He was responsible for the discovery of the Canadian Malartic bulk tonnage gold mine, which was subsequently developed by Osisko Mining Inc. into one of Canada’s largest gold producers. Among other awards, Mr. Wares was a co-winner of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s “Prospector of the Year Award” for 2007, and was named, together with John Burzynski and Sean Roosen as “Mining Men of the Year” for 2009 by the Northern Miner. Mr. Wares sits on the Board of Directors of Brunswick Exploration Inc. Mr. Wares has a Bachelor of Science and an Honorary Doctorate in Earth Sciences from McGill University.

Jean-François Béland

Vice-President, Ressources Québec, Investissement Quebec

Jean-François Béland was appointed Vice-President of Ressources Québec at Investissement Québec in 2021. From 2015 to 2021, he applied his management expertise in the cleantech sector as VicePresident, Strategy and Corporate Affairs at General Fusion Inc., based in Vancouver, British Columbia. From 2007 to 2015, he was employed by AREVA S.A. in Paris and Toronto, chiefly as Executive Vice-President of AREVA Canada Inc. Before he launched his career path in the private sector, Mr. Béland gained extensive experience in the Canadian civil service and in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada as an advisor on governance policies and the Treasury Board of Canada. Mr. Béland is a graduate of Université de Montréal (B.Sc.), École nationale d’administration publique (MPA and post-graduate diploma in public administration), École des hautes études commerciales (post-graduate diploma in management), Bordeaux École de Management (MBA), Université Paris IX Dauphine (M.Sc., strategic management) and University of British Columbia (project management certificate). In 2014, he completed the Senior Nuclear Plant Management course (SNPM). Mr. Béland is a Knight [Chevalier] of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour and a member of the Advisory Board of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University.

Alexandra Woodyer Sherron

CEO & President

Alexandra has over 20 years of experience in the mining industry. Alexandra started at PricewaterhouseCoopers before joining Endeavour Financial, a global mining finance advisory firm. During her investment banking career in London, she was Director Structured Financing and involved in the successful completion of over US$1.5 billion in financings for clients including Bema Gold (Kupol Mine), European Minerals (Varvarinskoye Mine), Nevsun Resources (Bisha Mine), Uranium One and Wheaton River Minerals.
 

Patrick Beauchesne

President and Chief Executive Officer Société du Plan Nord

Patrick Beauchesne was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Société du Plan Nord on November 13, 2019.

Mr. Beauchesne held various positions in the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques.  In 1992, he obtained an initial mandate as a project manager in ecological mapping in the Direction de la conservation du patrimoine écologique, then participated in several knowledge-related projects pertaining to integrated forest resource management, the ecological characterization of drainage basins, and the implementation of the Québec Strategy on Protected Areas.  In 2005, he was appointed Director of the Service des écosystèmes et de la biodiversité, then Director General of the Direction générale de l’écologie et de la conservation. From 2010 to 2015, he contributed to the elaboration of the territorial protection objectives in the Plan Nord.

On December 3, 2014, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister for Sustainable Development and Environmental Quality, then Deputy Minister on July 4, 2017.

On February 6, 2019, Mr. Beauchesne was appointed Associate Secretary General in the Ministère du Conseil exécutif and Secretary of the Comité ministériel de l’Économie et de l’Environnement.

Mr. Beauchesne obtained a bachelor’s degree in forest resource management (B.Sc.A.) from Université Laval in 1989 and a master’s degree in forest science (M.Sc.) from the same university in 1991.
 

Seth Forman

President, Socialsuite

Seth Forman is an accomplished leader and influential figure in the field of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. As the President of ESG at Socialsuite, a prominent SaaS technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas, Seth is at the forefront of driving positive change and assisting organizations in their efforts to track, measure, and disclose ESG metrics.

With a wealth of experience in the tech industry, Seth is known for his strategic mindset, data-driven approach, and ability to leverage technology for business growth. As the head of the global commercial team at Socialsuite, he plays a pivotal role in advancing the company's product offerings, ensuring they align with the evolving needs of organizations seeking to enhance their ESG performance.

Prior to joining Socialsuite, Seth served as the Global Managing Director at Quantcast, a renowned AI-driven online measurement and advertising technology company. During his five-year tenure, Seth led and significantly expanded a SaaS audience analytics platform, further establishing Quantcast as a key player in the industry.

Before his time at Quantcast, Seth honed his skills and expertise in business development roles at Travelzoo, a publicly traded media publisher. Over the course of six years, he played an instrumental role in driving business growth and forging strategic partnerships.