John Hayes, M.Sc., MBA, P. Geo
Chairman and Director
John is a professional geologist with over 17 years of industry experience ranging from regional surveys to advanced exploration. In addition, John has many years of capital markets experience. John graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Geology (1989) and a Master of Science in Geology (1997). He also holds an MBA from Dalhousie University (2003). He is a member (P. Geo.) of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador. John was a mining analyst and Managing Director for BMO Capital Markets from 2003 until his retirement in April 2014. In his role with BMO, John covered precious and base metal companies globally from exploration to production stages. John joined Osisko Mining Inc in June 2016, where he served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development until March 2018. Most recently, John was Sr. Vice President of Business Development and Investor Relations for Pretium Resources.
Garett Macdonald, MBA, P. Eng.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Garett is a professional mining engineer with extensive experience in project development and mine operations with over 25 years of industry experience. Garett served as Vice President of Project Development for JDS Energy and Mining, and was responsible for leading the Curraghinalt Feasibility Study for Dalradian Resources, a +5M ounce high grade, narrow vein gold project in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Dalradian was acquired by Orion Mine Finance for $537M in 2018. From 2009 to 2013 he served as Vice President of Operations for Rainy River Resources prior to the $310M sale of Rainy River to New Gold Inc. Garett also held roles in mine operations and project engineering throughout his career with senior Canadian mining firms Placer Dome, Teck Corporation and Suncor Energy. Garett is currently a director of Aurelius Minerals and Gungnir Resources. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Western University's Ivey Business School and a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from Laurentian University in Sudbury.
Mark N.J. Ashcroft, P. Eng.
Director
Mark has been involved in various capacities in the global mining industry and the North American and European debt and equity markets since 1990. Mark is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Aurelius Minerals Inc. Previously, Mark served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Stonegate Agricom Ltd. from August 2008 to September 2014. From 2007 to 2008, Mark worked at Versant Partners, where he was responsible for successfully developing their mining finance business in sales, trading and corporate finance. Prior to joining Versant Partners, Mark had been employed since 2003 with Toll Cross Securities Inc., a boutique institutional firm in Toronto where he became Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking. From 2001 to 2003, Mark was a member of the Mining and Metals Team at Standard Bank's New York office where he was responsible for providing metals trading and project financing solutions to mid-tier developers and producers in Canada and Latin America. From 1999 to 2000, he was a member of the Mining and Metals Team of Barclays Capital, a leading provider of project finance to the mining industry. From 1996 to 1998, he worked in Mines Technical Services at Inco Limited's Ontario Division, where he qualified as a Professional Engineer in Ontario. various operating roles in North and South Mark holds his Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from Laurentian University and a Master of Science (Finance, Regulation and Risk Management) from the ISMA Centre of the University of Reading.
Nick Nikolakakis
Mr. Nikolakakis has over 25 years of corporate finance, accounting and senior management experience within the mining sector. Over his career, he has raised over $2B in numerous mining transactions. Most recently he was the Chief Financial Officer for Battle North Corporation, which has now been acquired by Evolution Mining. He was the former Chief Financial Officer of Rainy River Resources. Prior to Rainy River, Nick was the Vice President of Corporate Finance at Barrick Gold Corporation, where he led a US$1.0 billion project financing deal for Barrick's Pueblo Viejo project in the Dominican Republic and successfully negotiated a US$1.5 billion corporate revolving credit facility. Other previously held positions by Mr. Nikolakakis include, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Placer Dome Canada, and Treasurer at North American Palladium Ltd. Mr. Nikolakakis holds an Applied Science degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario's Ivey School of Business.
Tom Yip
Mr. Yip has over 30 years of financial management experience in the mining industry for exploration and development companies and producers, serving as a key member of leadership teams in the development and transition of numerous exploration properties to producing mines. Most recently, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Pretium Resources, after being a member of its board of directors where the company constructed and successfully commissioned the Brucejack mine in northwestern B.C. He was the Chief Financial Officer of Silver Standard (now SSR Mining) when the company built and successfully commissioned the Pirquitas mine in northern Argentina. Tom was the Chief Financial Officer of explorer/developer International Tower Hill Mines, and he began his mining career at Echo Bay Mines, a multi-national explorer and producer (merged with Kinross Gold). Currently he also serves on the board of P2 Gold Inc. Tom is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Administration from the University of Alberta and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.