 |
Gary L. Billingsley, C.A., P.Eng., P.Geo.
Executive Chairman
A professional engineer and geoscientist with more than 30 years' experience in the mineral industry—24 of them in Saskatchewan—Gary Billingsley has been an officer and director of several public mining and mineral exploration companies during the past 18 years. In addition to his experience with uranium and base-metal exploration, Gary has been directly involved with putting Saskatchewan's largest gold mine into production and, on three separate occasions, has played a major role in the discovery of diamond-bearing kimberlite.
|
 |
James B. Engdahl
President & CEO, Director
With more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance at the executive level, Jim Engdahl has extensive expertise in financing mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations.
A former Vice President of Barclays Bank of Canada, Jim has served as President, CEO, and director of Pacific & Western Trust, President and Director of Shore Gold Inc., and Vice President of Finance and Director of Claude Resources Inc.—all public companies. More recently, Jim was the Regional Advisory Partner of the corporate finance arm of one of Western Canada's largest accounting firms. This position came as a result of the accounting firm's purchase of Cascadia Ventures Inc., a corporate financing and consulting group responsible for raising project financing in excess of $100 million of which Jim was Managing Partner.
Jim was intimately involved in financing two producing gold mines in Saskatchewan. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Formation Capital Inc., a TSE-listed company currently bringing a cobalt/copper mine into production in the United States.
|
 |
Audrey McMillan, C.A.
Chief Financial Officer
Audrey McMillan is a Chartered Accountant with a wide range of corporate experience, most notably in the oil and gas sector with two international, NYSE-listed corporations. Her most recent experience included responsibility for all aspects of financial reporting, budgeting, human resources, payroll, tax and contract administration within those those corporations. Her diversified background and experience in all aspects of corporate finance, administration, and mergers and acquisitions will be essential to our growth as we gain more attention globally.
|
 |
Russell Grant
Senior Vice President of Business Development, Director
Mr. Grant is a graduate of the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London University and has over 30 years of experience in many of the minor metals and industrial sectors, critical to the success of GWMG. That experience includes metallurgy and minerals processing, mining operations, minor metals trading, and industrial, commercial and business management.
Most recently, Mr. Grant was the Chairman and major shareholder of Less Common Metals Limited ("LCM"), a UK based manufacturer of specialty Rare Earth products, acquired by GWMG in June 2008.
Prior to his role with LCM, Mr. Grant was a co-founder of Meldform Metals Group ("Meldform") in 1984, a rare earth trading company in which he built the business from a start-up company into a successful global presence with over 60 agents around the world. Mr. Grant also held posts with other global traders of rare earth elements and other minor metals. In addition, he was a director of Rare Earth Extraction Co. Ltd. ("Rareco") in South Africa during Rareco’s formative years.
In his new role, Mr. Grant will work closely with the management teams of GWMG and LCM and will be responsible for leading the general business development of GWMG by providing a strategic direction that includes the development and implementation of plans, policies, strategies and budgets for the growth, development and profitable operation of the Company.
|
 |
Dwight Percy
Manager, Investor Relations
For the past fifteen years, Dwight has been involved in investor relations, communications, media advisory services and strategic planning. During that time he has worked with private firms, development agencies and publicly traded companies.
He has had previous involvement with Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. in the Company’s planning processes, working with the Board of Directors and senior management in establishing strategic options and directions.
Through his company, Percy Communications, he is involved in a wide range of business ventures. He is the business commentator for CJWW Radio 600 and recently launched Percy On Business Street News, an independent business news publication.
Previously, Dwight has been a radio talk show host, the business columnist for the Saskatoon Star Phoenix for over ten years, and for fifteen years was a sessional lecturer in the Business Administration Certificate Program at the University of Saskatchewan.
Prior to launching Percy Communications in 1995, Dwight was Executive Director of the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce.
Through his company, he has been involved in projects all across Saskatchewan including:
- Development, coordination and execution of effective communications strategies,
- Work with economic development agencies, business development groups and First Nations organizations,
- Facilitation of strategic planning sessions and focus groups,
- speeches, addresses and proposals,
- Development of strategic marketing plans,
- Feasibility studies and business plans, and
- Investor relations in the mining industry.
|
 |
John G. Pearson, M.Sc. Geol., P. Geo.
Vice President, Exploration
An alumnus of Teck Cominco, John Pearson has had more than 30 years' experience in the mineral industry, much of it in Saskatchewan. He has run the Flin Flon, Manitoba, office of Teck Cominco and has spent several years with Cameco's predecessor, working in and around La Ronge, Saskatchewan. This background has provided John with considerable expertise in Saskatchewan Precambrian mineral deposits and their genesis, an asset that is invaluable to the Company as it develops and sustains reserves on various projects.
|
 |
Richard O. Hogan, M.Sc. Eng.
Vice President, Operations
Richard Hogan brings more than 25 years of varied mining industry experience to Great Western Minerals Group, ranging from research to senior management. He has gained operational experience in a variety of mines throughout North America, including serving as chief engineer, mine superintendent, and mine manager in remote northern Canadian mines. Richard has also experienced the challenges of international operations in both South America and Papua New Guinea. Richard's technical expertise is centered around ore reserve estimation, mine design, and financial modeling of mining properties.
|
 |
Baodong Zhao, Ph.D.
Manager, Metallurgy
Dr. Baodong Zhao, the company's new Manager of Metallurgy, oversees all aspects of metallurgy including the development of cost effective techniques to optimize the extraction and processing of rare earth elements from the host ore. He holds a PhD in Surface and Materials Electrochemistry from Queen's University and brings to GWMG extensive knowledge of metallurgy, materials science and physical chemistry from the Chinese and North American materials industry. He has many years of experience with metallurgical processes including hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, electrometallurgy and powder metallurgy. He is a patent holder for a new technology to manufacture rare-earth metal from mixed rare-earth ore. Dr. Zhao brings to GWMG the background and experience we need to complement the key roles within the Company as we continue to implement our "mine-to-market" strategy.
|
| |
|
 |
Gord Dent
Manager, Corporate/Public Relations
Gord Dent comes to Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. from a Saskatoon-based air charter company, where he held the position of Marketing Coordinator. Holding a Transport Canada Pilot License, Gord has a multi-faceted background in various mineral exploration activities that includes Northern Saskatchewan, Mexico, and the Arctic. Gord is enthusiastic about ensuring Saskatchewan's prominence in world mining and establishing recognition for this province's world-class deposits. Gord in his evolved role has recently become directly involved with Saskatchewan project First Nations communties to strengthen established relationships and further promote a common vision for northern development and infrastructure.
|
 |
C. Reid McDonald, M.Sc.
GIS & Remote Sensing
Mr. McDonald joined the GWMG team in November 2006 after completing an M.Sc. in Engineering Physics. With a strong analytical and mathematical background, Mr. McDonald is able to fill a variety of roles within the company, mainly focusing on Geographic Information Systems and various forms of data analysis (geophysical, remote sensing, XRF data, etc.). Reid is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and is working towards certification as a P.Eng. His future plans include working with the company towards completing an M.Eng. in Mining Engineering, which will augment his technical background with industry-specific knowledge.
|
 |
David Kennedy, C.Eng., MIMMM
Director
David Kennedy founded Less Common Metals Ltd. (LCM) in 1992 and held the position of President of LCM until his appointment as Managing Director, Metals and Alloys. He has worked with rare-earth materials since 1976 and has published several papers on the technology and economics of rare earth alloy production. Some of his previous experience includes working as Technical Manager at Johnson Matthey Rare Earth Products.
David is a graduate in Metallurgy and a Chartered Engineer; he is also a Professional Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. David has held the positions of Chairman of the Liverpool Metallurgical Society and President of the Birmingham University Metallurgical Society.
|
 |
Robert Quinn, BSBA, JD
Director
Mr. Quinn is a graduate of the University of Denver, College of Law and completed two years of graduate work in Mineral Economics at the Colorado School of Mines. A founding partner of the Houston law firm Quinn & Brooks, LLP, he has over 23 years legal and management experience, having served as Vice-President and General Counsel for Battle Mountain Gold and attorney for Hecla Mining. He also has extensive experience in M&A transactions, corporate governance, public disclosure, governmental affairs, environmental and land management. Mr. Quinn is presently a director of a number of public mining companies.
|
 |
Rupert Allan, P.Geo.
Director
Rupert joins the Board with thirty-eight years of technical and management experience in Canada and globally with junior mining and exploration companies engaged in search and development of base and precious metals, diamonds, and uranium. Currently he is the President and CEO of Skeena Resources Limited, which is active with gold exploration projects in Canada and in Latin America. His experience is enhanced by directorships with many Canadian and international mineral exploration companies and consulting firms.
Mr. Allan is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta, and a member of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.
|
 |
Ian McNaughton, FICB
Director
Ian McNaughton's successful career spans more than three and a half decades with TD Bank, one of Canada's largest financial institutions where he achieved the level of Vice President and Manager Commercial Banking. He retired in October 2004 as Manager, Commercial Banking in Saskatoon.
Mr. McNaughton's experience also includes many years in Management, Commercial and Corporate Banking, primarily across Western Canada, focusing on a wide range of sectors including real estate, manufacturing, agriculture, and the service sector.
After completing studies at University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of British Columbia, Mr. McNaughton received the designation of Fellow, Institute of Canadian Bankers, in 1988. Mr. McNaughton remains active in the business community and is an advisor to two large private companies in the service and manufacturing industries.
|
 |
Bill McKnight
Director
Mr. McKnight served Canada as a Member of Parliament for fourteen years, nine of those as a senior Member of Cabinet. During those nine years, Mr. McKnight held seven portfolios, including Labour, Canada Mortgage and Housing, Indian Affairs and Northern Development, National Defence, Agriculture and Energy, Mines and Resources.
As a successful private businessman and a Senior Minister and Member of the Inner Cabinet, Mr. McKnight developed a unique strategic planning ability that is important in today's global business environment. Mr McKnight continues to consult for companies doing business in Asia where his network and connections are extensive.
Mr. McKnight holds board positions with several public and private organizations. He is currently Chairman of McKnight & Associates; Chairman and Director, Cline Mining Corporation; Director, Diadem Resources Ltd.; Director, Golden Opportunities Fund, and Director, Maple Leaf Reforestation Inc. In addition, Mr. McKnight is also an Honourary Chief of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.
In June, 2007, Mr. McKnight was appointed Treaty Commissioner for the Province of Saskatchewan, a position which he currently holds.
Mr. McKnight recognizes the importance of developing a North American solution to the impending global rare earth elements shortage, since these elements are critical to North American industry, particularly in the defense, automotive, and aerospace sectors.
|
