“What Does It Take?” Getting a Mine Built in the Americas (Part 1)

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.

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.

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.