Rick Rule Series: Investing in Commodities During a Recession

Rick began his career 47 years ago in 1974 in the securities business and has been involved in it ever since. He is known for his expertise in many resource sectors, including agriculture, alternative energy, forestry, oil and gas, mining and water. Mr. Rule is actively engaged in private placement markets, through originating and participating in hundreds of debt and equity transactions

Mr. Jarvis has more than 30 years experience in exploration and development of mineral resources, both in oil and gas and metals. After a career in financing exploration projects as a stockbroker, Mr. Jarvis moved to the corporate side of the business in 1996. He joined the Board of Ultra Petroleum, which at the time was a small oil and gas exploration and development company with a large, unconventional gas deposit. As Director responsible for Corporate Finance, he raised the equity capital necessary to prove the concept and to establish enough production to finance further growth with debt. Mr. Jarvis became CEO of Giga Metals Corporations predecessor company in January 2004. During his tenure, the company has drilled off a giant nickel/cobalt deposit, worked out a reliable metallurgical circuit, and published a Preliminary Economic Assessment.

Mr. Macdonald is a professional geologist with a diverse experience base including exploration geology worldwide and investment banking. In recent years he has focused his efforts in exploration and development as a principal of and consultant to various junior mining companies. In the past he was in the City of London where he worked in structuring financings and risk management at Macquarie Bank. In 2007 Mr. Macdonald graduated with an MBA (with Distinction) from Oxford. He completed his B.Sc. in Geology from UBC in 2000. Mr. Macdonald has a long history of mining exploration work in Yukon, including zinc projects, and originally hails from Ross River, near the Macmillan Pass Project site. He is a Professional Geologist registered with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC).

Doug Ramshaw is a senior executive and corporate director with more than 20 years of experience in the mineral resource sector. His work has focused on mineral project evaluation, M&A and business development strategies supporting corporate growth. Mr. Ramshaw previously worked as a mining analyst for an independent brokerage firm in London, UK and has served in various executive capacities for a number of publicly listed junior resource companies. He sits on the board of Great Bear Resources. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Geology from the Royal School of Mines.

Rick has more than 40 years of experience in the natural resource sector. Before joining Contango Ore in January 2020, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Trilogy Metals, who are currently developing the high- grade Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects located in the Ambler Mining District of Alaska. Trilogy is a company which was created in 2012 as a spin-out from NOVAGOLD, a well-known company he founded over 20 years ago. NOVAGOLD is currently finalizing permits for the 40 million ounce Donlin Gold Project in Southwest Alaska with partner Barrick Gold, the world’s largest gold company. Previous to his role as Founder, President, and CEO of NOVAGOLD, he held the position of Vice President of Exploration for Placer Dome Inc. from 1990 to 1997. In addition to his international exploration perspective, Rick brings years of working experience in and knowledge of Alaska to Contango. Rick has managed projects from grassroots discovery through to advanced feasibility, production and closure. He has played a key role in setting up several other corporate entities including: Alexco - where he remains a Director - which is rejuvenating the Keno Hill Silver District in the Yukon; Tintina Resource (now Sandfire Resources America), which discovered and is now completing a feasibility study + permitting the high grade Black Butte copper project in Montana; and SolidusGold, where he is Chairman. Rick holds a Candidature degree in Science from the Université de Louvain, Belgium, and a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Arizona. He received the Thayer Lindsley award in 2009 for his role in the Donlin Gold discovery and the Colin Spence Award in 2016 for his role in the Bornite Discovery.

A former COO of Barrick Gold Corporation from 2015-2018, Mr. Williams is a global executive with an established track-record of value creation, pioneering and transformational leadership within the Mining Industry and other demanding assignments. Amongst other notable achievements, this helped Barrick deliver an 80% improvement in the company’s operating profit over his three years, and the total overhaul of the Company’s relationship with the Tanzanian Government following a breakdown of relations between a Barrick subsidiary and that government. Formerly, the CEO of an African and Central Asian focused exploration business, and Non-Executive Director of Gem Diamonds PLC, he was also the Commanding Officer of the British Special Forces Regiment – the SAS. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Trevali Mining Corporation, Chair of Trevali’s HSEC Committee and an advisor to mining companies facing complex operational, political or ESG challenges. BSc Economics, University College London; MA Security Studies, Kings College London; MBA Cranfield University.

Mr. Downey has 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. He has held numerous senior engineering positions at several large-scale global gold mining operations and has also held operating positions at several mining projects for Anglo American Corporation in South Africa. Mr. Downey was a member of the boards of Claude Resources and Dalradian Resources before their recent successful acquisitions and he is a member of the board of a number of active resource companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hon.) degree in Engineering from Queen’s University.

Luke Alexander brings extensive resource sector experience, knowledge and contacts to Newcore, particularly in West Africa. He has raised billions of dollars and structured deals for major mining companies while advising some of the world’s top institutional investment funds. Mr. Alexander began his investment banking career in the private client group at BMO Nesbitt Burns in Toronto, then started up an equity trading desk for Toronto Dominion in London before doing the same for National Bank. In 2008, he became senior partner at GMP Securities in London. Throughout his investment banking career, he helped fund many major resource projects in West Africa. In 2018, Mr. Alexander founded Park Road Capital, a Vancouver-based, natural resource focused consulting company where he continued to leverage his relationships in London.