Management
Jim Engdahl
Chair of the Board of Directors, and Director
A former Vice President of Barclays Bank of Canada, and a former CEO of Mas Gold corp., Mr. Engdahl has also been involved in the leadership of numerous additional public companies including Pacific & Western Trust, Shore Gold Inc., Claude Resources Inc. He was also the Regional Advisory Partner of the corporate finance arm of one of Western Canada’s largest accounting firms. This position came because of the accounting firm’s purchase of Cascadia Ventures Inc., a corporate financing and consulting group responsible for raising project financing in excess of $100 million of which he was Managing Partner.
He is also a former President, CEO & Director of Great Western Mineral Group Ltd. (“GWMG”) as well as a former Director for Great Western Diamonds (“GWD”), both are publicly traded companies listed on the TSX. During his tenure, the companies were involved in advanced development of a Rare Earth deposit as well as exploration of a diamond bearing kimberlitic deposit in Saskatchewan. Subsequently GWD was sold in 2009 so the company could maintain focus on building one of the world’s premiere Rare Earth companies.
During his 7 years at GWMG Jim was responsible for raising over $150,000,000 for the company as well as acquiring one of the highest-grade Rare Earth mines in the world via a creeping takeover. During this time, he was also responsible for the acquisition of one of the only Rare Earth alloy plants outside of China providing key magnet alloys to most of the Rare Earth magnet users of the world.
Mike Stark
President, CEO, and Director
Mr. Stark has over 35 years of business experience in the private sector as an owner and operator of two successful companies, and 29 years in the public sector. Mr. Stark’s background includes corporate financing, investor relations, market support and corporate strategic development. Companies he has worked with in the past include; Exeter Resources and Extorre Resources.
Greg Hahn, Certified Professional Geologist and Geological Engineer
VP Exploration and Director
Mr. Hahn has over 35 years of experience in exploration and mine development. Greg has held senior level management positions with several public mining companies, where he has taken projects from mine development to financing and through to production, including permitting, engineering, construction and operations.
- President/CEO (Nov. 2016-June 2019), VP-Exploration (currently): Arizona Silver Exploration Inc., Vancouver, BC – Founded start-up silver exploration company operating in Arizona (US subsidiary Arizona Silver Exploration US, Inc., President)
- Independent Director (2013-2019) eCobalt Solutions, Vancouver, BC, Canada – Chairman of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee – Chairman of Technical Committee overseeing deliverance of Bankable Feasibility Study on the Idaho Cobalt Project mine, mill, and cobalt production facility, central Idaho – Chairman of Independent Committee on merger with Jervois Mining concluded July 2019
- Independent Director (2007-2011), Interim President/CEO (7/2010-02/2011): Metalline Mining Company, Greenwood Village, CO – Oversaw feasibility level engineering and metallurgy on large zinc oxide resource – Changed focus/emphasis to open pit silver resource due to market conditions – Co-Lead Director on seeking/negotiating $20 million 50:50 merger party – Appointed Interim President/CEO to restructure the company – Supervised 18,000 meters of successful drilling on silver resource – Commissioned engineering and metallurgical work on silver resource – Increased market cap. from $40 million post-merger to $140 million in eight months
- Independent Director (2003-2010): Marathon PGM Corporation, Toronto , Ontario – Founding Director and shareholder of junior with large open pit PGM-copper-gold asset – Lead Technical Director on advancement of resource through feasibility – Company sold to Stillwater Mining for $170 million value at +200% premium to market G.A. Hahn Page 2 PRESIDENT & CEO (1995-2007): Constellation Copper Corporation, Denver, CO – Formed Summo Minerals (became Constellation) and took it public on the TSX – Raised +US$100 million in equity – Arranged US$45 million project loan facility for project construction, – Refinanced loan with $60 million convertible debenture – Secured all permits required for project construction – Led the successful defense of project permits against an Appeal brought by environmentalists – Managed Feasibility Study and construction on $75MM copper heap leach project – Brought the Lisbon Valley copper heap leach mine into production at 20,000 tons/day – Supervised senior management team of 6 mining professionals in US and Mexico – Managed C$300 million public mining company with 170 employees – Directed Feasibility Study on +$500 million zinc-copper mine/mill/refinery complex – Board Member of Matrix Metals, an Australian copper producing public company (49% held)
John McVey
Director
Mr. McVey is an experienced C-suite executive and Director of both public and private sector companies. His engineering and construction industry career spans more than 35 years in the mining, energy, and power industries in Canada as well as internationally.
John served as the CEO of the Procon Group of Companies from 2015 until his retirement in May of 2024. Under his leadership, Procon experience significant growth and diversification, and today is one of Canada’s most respected, full-service mine development and civil infrastructure contractors. Procon specializes in remote northern fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) operations and partnering with Indigenous businesses and communities.
Prior to Procon, John held executive and senior management positions within the Bechtel organization where he spent 15-years. Most notably, John was County Manager, Canada for Bechtel Mining & Metals (Montreal) and President of Bantrel from 2009-2011 (Calgary). He also managed Bechtel’s global EPC alliance with Barrick Gold from 2012-2014 based in Barrick’s Toronto head office. John’s international experience includes projects in Chile, Argentina, Indonesia, Mongolia, Colombia, and the U.S.
John also served as General Manager of Kilborn’s EPCM office in Sarnia, Ontario and as Director of Operations for SNC-Lavalin in Toronto, following their acquisition of Kilborn.
John has B.A.Sc. and M.A.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario and Alberta. He has completed the Queen’s Executive Development Program and the Institute of Corporate Directors, Directors Education Program, obtaining the ICD.D designation from the Institute.
John also serves as a director of Fortune Minerals and on the advisory board of USNC-Power. He is also a member of the MacKay CEO Forum in Vancouver.
Dong H. Shim
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Mr. Shim is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and a Certified Public Accountant registered in the State of Illinois, United States. He has served as an audit partner on numerous audit engagements with a mid-size firm located in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he audited various publicly traded companies, primarily focusing on junior mining, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and high-tech industries. As an audit partner, Mr. Shim also assisted various start-up companies in achieving public listings on the TSX Venture Exchange, Canadian Securities Exchange and the OTC Market.
Mr. Shim is currently the President of Golden Tree Capital Corp. and SHIM Accounting Corporation with a primary focus on business advisory, corporate consulting and regulatory filings both in the United States and Canada. In addition, Mr. Shim teaches accounting as an instructor at a local college in Vancouver and acts as a facilitator at CPA Western School of Business mentoring CPA candidates enrolled in the CPA Professional Education Program.
Yale Simpson
Advisor
Mr. Yale Simpson has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Geological Engineering) from the University of British Columbia, Canada. He has +30 years’ experience as a senior geologist, exploration manager and CEO of companies involved in precious metals projects in Australia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Those companies included Pennzoil Company, Chevron Exploration, Australmin Holdings and Argosy Gold Mines. Later he was a founder and Co-chairman of Argentina explorer Extorre Gold Mines Ltd., a successful gold-silver spinout from Exeter Resource Corp. Extorre was bought by Yamana Gold Ltd. in 2012. He was also a founder and Co-chairman of Chile explorer Exeter until it was purchased by Goldcorp Inc (now Newmont) in 2017. He is presently Chairman of Rugby Resources Ltd and a director of C3 Metals and Adamera Minerals Corp.
His particular expertise is in strategic resource planning, financings, marketing and corporate communications.
Tom Peregoodoff
Advisor
Mr. Peregoodoff holds a BSc. in Geophysics and served as President, CEO and director of Apollo Silver Corporation. Prior to Apollo, Mr. Peregoodoff was President and CEO of Peregrine Diamonds Ltd., where he led the company from the resource development phase through to the eventual sale to DeBeers Canada in 2018. Prior to that, he spent 18 years in several positions with the mining multinational BHP, culminating in his role as Vice President of Early-Stage Exploration, with global responsibility for all early-stage exploration across their commodity groups. Mr. Peregoodoff is currently a Director of TSX and NYSE listed MAG Silver Corp and ASX listed American West Metals Ltd
Philip C. Yee
Advisor
Mr.Yee has extensive senior executive public company experience contributing to the success of a number of precious metal companies, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Eldorado Gold Corporation (2018 – 2024) and Kirkland Lake Gold Corporation (2016 – 2018).
- CFO of successful operational and financial turnarounds of 3 distressed precious mining companies. Top performing stock on TSX in 2017 (KLG) and top performing mining stock on TSX in 2018 (KLG) and 2023 (ELD).
- Development and delivery of global strategies and enterprise governance, focus on people, leadership, change management, prioritizing key objectives, building strong financial base and proactive management of enterprise risks. Attention to operational details and providing strong support to jurisdictional operations. Enabled capable teams promoting clear communication and talent growth.
- As CFO of Eldorado Gold, share value increased by over 400% as a result of de-risked operations, strengthened balance sheet and increased credibility with investors and the financial markets. Highlights include re-financing of senior debt (twice), delivering unique one-of-a-kind project financing for new Skouries mine in Greece, negotiating a new investment agreement with government of Greece and de-risking of Turkiye subsidiary operations in a difficult and unstable financial and political environment.
- Share valuation of KLG increased by over 400% as a result of successful integration of cultures, systems and processes with 2 major acquisitions closed in 2016. Completed a complex US$800M tax restructuring in Australia strengthening the balance sheet and providing financial flexibility. Expanded market capitalization through inaugural listings on NYSE (2017) and ASE (2018). KLG was acquired by Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd in 2022.
- Share valuation of LSG increased over 600%. Avoided potential bankruptcy through implementation of stringent cost control measures and timely delivery of new operational strategy. Strengthened balance sheet by aggressively managing debt and building credibility with capital markets and key stakeholders. LSG was acquired by Tahoe Resources in 2016.
- Completed interlisting of Patagonia Gold Plc from London AIM exchange to the TSX. Successfully introduced the company and the Argentinian asset base to the North American market and the banking and financial communities. Conducted numerous introductory marketing meetings with potential shareholders and financial partners.
- Lived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and a key member of senior management team on the ground at the Kumtor Mine, a major Central Asia gold mining operation for approximately 10 years, dealing with a multitude of government relations, financial and political risk issues.
Experienced in crisis management as navigated through 2 in-country revolutions. Main objective was to improve upon the existing Soviet Union style operational, financial and governance models and to adopt modern Western systems and concepts. Successful in improving cash management (critical), government relations, managing local taxation issues, modernizing IT systems and improving integrity of financial reporting (IFRS / SOX).
Cathy Fitzgerald
Advisor
Ms. Fitzgerald is an executive and professional geoscientist with over 20 years of resource industry experience in technical and leadership roles that drive the strategy, execution, and advancement of exploration & development projects across various commodities (Cu, Au, Ag, Li, diamonds). Currently, she is the President and Chief Geologist, and a Director of South Pacific Metals Corp., leading the advancement of four copper-gold porphyry exploration projects in Papua New Guinea. Previously, she was Vice President Exploration & Resource Development at Apollo Silver and Director Resource Evaluation, Ivanhoe Electric (formerly High-Power Exploration). Ms. Fitzgerald holds a M.Sc. in Geology from the University of Victoria, is a registered Professional Geoscientist in British Columbia and a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists.
Brady Stiles
Advisor
Mr Brady Stiles is an investor and an entrepreneur.