The Digital Conference Experience: PDAC 2023

John Black is an economic geologist with more than 30 years of exploration experience in the Americas, Central Asia, the SW Pacific, and Eastern Europe/Western Asia. He first worked in South America in 1993 and has been actively involved in mineral exploration throughout the continent for several companies since that time. His professional credentials include a B.Sc. degree in Geology from Stanford University in 1983 and an M.S. degree in Geology – Ore Deposits Exploration from the same University in 1988. John was the founding President of Antares Minerals Inc. and was instrumental in acquiring the Haquira project in Peru for Antares. He was the key driver in negotiating the sale of Antares to First Quantum Minerals for C$650 million. John’s early career included work with Bear Creek Mining Company, Kennecott Minerals Corporation, Rio Tinto and Western Mining Corporation and he currently serves as the CEO and director of Regulus Resources Inc.

Mal Karwowska has over ten years of experience in the mining sector, spanning both corporate development and investor relations roles within publicly listed mining companies, as well as corporate finance and principal investing. She spent the first five years of her career in investment banking, focused on the mining sector, before transitioning to investment roles for mining focused funds. Her most recent experience also includes working with corporates in a business development and investor relations capacity. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Accounting from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

Dan Wilton has 25 years of experience in M&A, corporate finance and principal investing in the mining sector, having executed as principal or advised on more than $10 billion of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures and more than $1 billion of financings. Dan was most recently a Partner at Pacific Road Capital Management, a mining-focused private equity investment firm with approximately $800 million under management. Prior to joining Pacific Road, Dan’s previous roles included Managing Director and Head of the Global Mining and Metals Group at National Bank Financial Inc.; Managing Director in Business Development at General Electric based in London, England; and other corporate finance and M&A roles at global financial institutions based in Toronto and New York. Dan currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and is Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee for Providence Health Care in Vancouver, Canada. Dan holds a B.Comm (First Class Honours) from Queens University and an MBA (with Distinction) from INSEAD in France.

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).

Pat Donnelly is Vice President, Corporate Communications & Development for Trilogy Metals and has a broad range of experience in mineral exploration, capital markets, corporate development and investor relations. He began his career as a project geologist 25 years ago exploring for precious and base metals and diamonds in western and northern Canada. Subsequently, Pat worked for a Canadian securities firm as a base metals mining analyst. Between 2012 and 2014 Mr. Donnelly was the Vice-President of Corporate Communications for Trilogy Metals. Most recently he was the President of First Mining Gold Corp. where he played a key role. Pat holds a B.Sc. in Geology (Honors) from the University of British Columbia and has an MBA from the University of Toronto.

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.

Mr. Cacos has over 20 years of investor relations experience working with public mining companies, ranging from early-stage exploration and development to production. Most recently, Mr. Cacos served as Vice President, Investor Relations for First Mining Gold, a Canadian gold development company listed on the TSX and OTCQX, focused on the development and permitting of the Springpole Gold Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada.

David has over a decade of experience in corporate finance and capital markets with a focus on the natural resource sector. As an executive with the PowerOne Group he has developed a depth of knowledge in representing, advising, and assisting emerging companies in accessing capital, advising on mergers and acquisitions and managing their businesses. David is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has also served in a variety of executive roles and director positions to a wide array of private and public enterprises.

Mr. O’Shea has over 20 years of finance experience across diverse industries and countries. Mr. O’Shea was CFO of Fiore Gold Ltd. from May 2018 until its recent acquisition by Calibre Mining Corp. Prior to that, he spent eight years with New Gold Inc., initially as Vice President of Finance where he oversaw financial reporting, financial planning, internal audit, and tax and then as Vice President, Business Development, responsible for corporate development, investor relations, and strategic capital allocation. Mr. OShea is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School.

Dr. Robinson is a professional geoscientist with 28 years of experience in the exploration and spatial technology industries. He has managed projects in Argentina, Chile and the USA with Magnaterra Minerals, Renaissance Gold Inc. and Homestake Mining Company. His work experience with spatial technologies, includes GIS, remote sensing and downhole database management and provides the company with a unique skill set in the mineral exploration space.

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.