Ms. Lai is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with 20+ years of global marketing and product management experience in the technology sector. She began her career in product development, working for Vodaphone in the UK, returning to North America after six years she went to work for Entrata Communications based out of San Diego, California. After a successful exit she relocated to Toronto for FloNetwork as their Director of Product Marketing (acquired by DoubleClick and then Google). In 2010 Diane founded an organic skincare company with a mission to develop all natural products for those with severe allergies and skin sensitives. More recently Diane served as the Vice President of Marketing and IT for Yellow Pages Media, and Chief Operating Officer for ARHT Media Inc. (TSXV: ART). Diane currently teaches at the University of Toronto in the Entrepreneurship Program and consults for the Bank of Montreal Agile Center of Excellence. Diane serves on the board of the Flato Markham Theatre and formerly served on the board of Aguia Resources. Diane graduated from the University of Waterloo, earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and received the ICD.D designation by the Institute of Corporate Directors. Ms. Lai sits on the Company’s Audit and ESG Committees.
Mr. Reid is a geologist and capital markets executive with over 20 years of experience focused exclusively in the mineral resource space. Mr. Reid started his career as a geologist with Saskatchewan Geological Survey and Cominco Global Exploration after which he became a partner and senior mining analyst at Sprott/Cormark Securities in Toronto. He was then named Executive General Manager at Paladin Energy, where he was responsible for leading all merger and acquisition, corporate and market related activities. He is the former Managing Director Global Mining Sales at National Bank Financial, where he directed the firm’s sales and trading in the mining sector. Most recently, he acted as President and Director of Sulliden Gold Corporation, until its acquisition by Rio Alto Mining in 2014 and was Managing Director at Aguia Resources Ltd. from 2015 to 2019. He holds a B.Sc from the University of Regina, a M.Sc from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mr. Reid sits on the Company’s Technical Committee.
The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, p.c. has had a distinguished career with success in both public and private sectors. From January 1996 to February 2006, he served as a Member of Parliament. Most notably, he led a number of senior government departments in his ten years as a minister in successive federal Canadian governments. Among other positions, he has served Canada as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for International Trade and the Minister for International Cooperation. He is now with Deloitte & Touche LLP in the role of Executive Advisor, International. Prior to entering national politics, Pierre Pettigrew was the Vice President of Samson Belair Deloitte & Touche International (Montréal), where he acted as an international business consultant. Mr. Pettigrew is Chair of the Company’s ESG Committee and sits on the Compensation Committee.
Mr. Olesinski, has over 20 years of finance and management experience. He worked as a managing forensic accountant for BDO Dunwoody, where he earned a Certified Fraud Examiner designation, before moving into the marketing communications industry, where he worked for Cossette Communication Group in various roles, including Director of Finance and Operations. Mr. Olesinski currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Lithium Ionic Corp. Mr. Olesinski is Chair of the Company’s Audit Committee and sits on the Compensation Committee.
Mr. Horvat is a Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Oberon Capital Corp. Mr. Horvat has had a highly successful, twenty-year career in asset management with extensive experience within the North American and Global marketplace. His mandates have included resources and precious metals, all-cap and small-cap, hedge funds and alternative investments. In addition, Jamie has managed various institutional mandates for clients based in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America. Mr. Horvat brings extensive capital markets expertise including financial analysis, capital budgeting, stakeholder engagement, as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) acumen. Throughout his career Jamie has been acknowledged for his achievements, winning numerous awards for his investment performance. Jamie holds an MSc Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a B. Com (Hons) from McMaster University and a Mechanical Engineering Technology Diploma from Mohawk College. Mr. Horvat is Chair of the Company’s Compensation Committee and sits on the Audit Committee.
Dr. John Hadjigeorgiou holds the Pierre Lassonde Chair in Mining Engineering at the University of Toronto. He has an in depth knowledge of the Canadian and International Mining Industry gained from over 30 years of worldwide experience as an educator, mentor, researcher and senior consultant to the mining industry. He has a long history of advising mining companies on the management of mining risk and its impact on operations serving on independent technical review boards for a number of major mining companies. A professor at the University of Toronto he is a former Head of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering at Université Laval. He has been a director of the Consortium de Recherche Minérale (“COREM”) (2001- 2005) and the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) (2008-2014). Dr. Hadjigeorgiou is a professional engineer in Quebec and Ontario and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Mining. He holds a PhD in Mining Engineering from McGill University and received the ICD.D. designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD). Dr. Hadjigeorgiou sits on the Company’s Technical and ESG Committees.
Dr. Eric Lamontagne has over 20 years of mining industry experience in the areas of operations and development. From 2000 to 2007, Dr. Lamontagne worked at the Troilus Mine (Inmet Mining) where he held various senior positions, including Engineering, Geology and Mine Superintendent. Following, he joined Agnico Eagle Mines Limited as Operations Manager for the development and construction of the Meadowbank Mine, and subsequently as Project Manager for the Meliadine project. Between 2012 and 2015, he was Manager of Project Development for Premier Gold Mine Limited, and since 2015 has served as General Manager of Greenstone Gold Mines. Eric received his PhD in Rock Mechanics Engineering through a partnership between the Université du Québec and B.R.G.M. in France. Dr. Lamontagne sits on the Company’s Technical and Compensation Committees.