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J.C. (Jim) O'Rourke, P.Eng.
Chairman
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Mr. O'Rourke graduated from the University of British Columbia with
a B.A.Sc. in Mining Engineering. Over the next 14 years, Mr. O'Rourke
was involved in the start-up of a number of major mines including Gilbralter,
Marcopper, and Endako while working with Placer Development Limited.
He has over 30 years of hands-on experience in mine evaluation, financing,
development, operations and marketing in Canada, the United States,
South American and the Philippines. Prior to his retirement, Mr. O'Rourke
was responsible for the acquisition, evaluation, financing and development
of the $140 million Huckleberry open pit copper mine in Northern British
Columbia.
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John A. Tapics, P.Eng.
President & C.E.O.
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John A. Tapics graduated in 1975 with a B.Sc. Honours in Mining Engineering
from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. Mr. Tapics has over
30 years of mining and electricity industry experience including four
years as President and CEO of the Alberta Electric System Operator
responsible for operating Alberta’s electricity market, transmission
planning and system operations; eleven as an Officer of TransAlta Corporation,
in charge of the Generation, and the Transmission and Distribution
Business units. While at TransAlta Mr. Tapics was responsible for the
operation of 4500 Megawatts of power capacity (3700 Megawatts of coal
fired thermal capacity, and 800 Megawatts of hydro). He directed the
planning and economic delivery of 16 million tonnes of coal annually
from two mine sites to three power plants totaling 3300 megawatts.
In addition, he was responsible for TransAlta’s share of the
50/50 joint venture 800 Megawatt Sheerness power Plant operated by
ATCO Power.
Mr. Tapics has served as a Director of the Coal Association of Canada,
the Alberta Chamber of Resources, and the Western Electric Power Institute.
He has been active with the Canadian Electricity Association, serving
on the Generation and the Transmission Strategic Issues working groups;
and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy serving as the
Calgary Branch Chairman.
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Rodney A. Shier, B.Comm., CA.
Chief Financial Officer
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Mr. Shier obtained his degree in Commerce from the University of British
Columbia, and his Chartered Accountant designation in 1989. He is a
member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia.
He has extensive experience in all aspects of corporate finance, having
worked with Pricewaterhousecoopers. He has also been instrumental in
the structuring and financial management of several publicly-traded
companies.
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Eric Beresford, P.Eng
Director
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Mr. Beresford is a professional engineer and brings with him over
30 years of coal mining experience. Mr. Beresford has held senior positions
with various coal mining companies over his career, including being
directly responsible for managing a 3 million tonne per year surface
coal mine in Western Canada. In addition to his hands on coal mine
experience, Mr. Beresford has served with the Ministry of Energy and
Mines of British Columbia for a number of years.
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Paul Willis
Director
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Paul Willis is President of Willis Energy Services and brings with
him 30 years of energy-related experience encompassing energy management,
marketing, research and development, project management, detailed and
conceptual design, and commissioning and acceptance. From 1989 to 1996,
he was heavily involved in B.C. Hydro’s Industrial Power Smart
initiative, for which he helped design, implement, and manage many
of the programs. More recently, Paul has designed and helped implement
a number of other industrial energy efficiency projects, as well as
numerous potential and approved cogeneration projects. He has worked
on efficiency programs for a number of utilities such as Portland General
Electric, Seattle City Light, Northern States Power, and BC Gas. His
technical expertise lies in the areas of heat transfer, combustion,
industrial process systems, and the optimization of large power and
heating systems.
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Jamieson Merritt, B.Comm., LLB
Director
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Jamieson Merritt graduated in 1990 with a L.L.B. (Law) degree from
the University of British Columbia and was called to the bar in 1991.
Mr. Merritt has over 10 years of experience in business and financial
management across a number of industries including; technology, law,
and construction/development. Mr. Merritt has gained invaluable business
experience during the past six years while operating his own development
company and prior to that as a key member of a software development
firm. Mr. Merritt is currently President of Arbutus Point Development
Ltd.
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Micheal Varabioff, LLB
Corporate Secretary
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Micheal Varabioff is an Associate Counsel at the law firm, Catalyst
Corporate Finance Lawyers,. He has over 10 years experience as corporate
council to public companies.
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Eugene Mehr
Site Manager
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Eugene F. Mehr graduated from the University of Alberta in 1976 with a
Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering and has worked
with various mining companies in many positions including
mine planning, mine operations and mine management for
over 20 years. Eugene has also spent 10 years working
for the BC Government in the Ministry of Mines. Eugene
has held positions such as Engineering Superintendent,
Operations Superintendent, and Mine Manager with various
mines including Cominco Mining (1974–1982), and Princeton
Mining (1986-1991).
Eugene brings a valuable background of government experience,
engineering planning, construction, mine operations,
and mine management to the project.
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Al Cloke
Advisor
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Mr. Cloke has over 30 years of experience working in and as a supplier
to the mining industry. A senior executive with proven leadership, team
building and market development skills with a track record of successfully
managing the profitable growth of distribution based businesses servicing
the mining industry. Mr. Cloke has established a broad network of senior
industry relationships throughout the world.
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Russ Hallbauer
Advisor
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Mr. Hallbauer is a registered Professional Engineer in BC, and a graduate
of Mining Engineering program at the Colorado School of Mines, the
Mining Technology program of the British Columbia Institute of Technology
and of the Banff School of Advanced Management. He has over 30 years
extensive experience in the mining industry and is currently President & CEO
of Taseko Mines Ltd. Prior to recently joining Taseko he was General
Manager of Base Metal Joint Ventures at Teck Cominco Ltd and prior
to that he was Teck Cominco's General Manager of Coal Operations,
responsible for Bullmoose, Quintette and Elkview operations, three
of the largest metallurgical coal mines in western Canada. |
