Our Team
Richard Gowans, B.Sc., P.Eng.
PRESIDENT & PRINCIPAL METALLURGIST
Almost 40 years’ experience which consists of operation and design of mineral processing and hydrometallurgical plants and operations, management, commissioning of processing facilities beginning in the platinum mines of South Africa.
Chris Jacobs, CEng, MIMMM, MBA
VICE PRESIDENT & MINING ECONOMIST
Over 35 years’ experience including positions as exploration and mining geologist for Anglo American, executive director of Cluff Resources Zimbabwe and AmZim Gold Mines and as Manager – Strategic Planning, Anglo Platinum, South Africa.
Stanley C. Bartlett, M.Sc., P.Geo.
SENIOR ECONOMIC GEOLOGIST, VICE PRESIDENT & MANAGING DIRECTOR (UK)
Over 35 years’ experience. Held senior positions in mine operations and project evaluation groups. Played an integral part in the development of the Andacollo Copper operation in Chile as Chief Geologist and Mine Superintendent. Extensive experience with Amax/Canada Tungsten as Chief Mine Geologist at the Cantung mine and at heap leach gold and placer gold mining operations.
Terry Hennessey, P.Geo.
VICE PRESIDENT & SENIOR ECONOMIC GEOLOGIST
More than 35 years’ experience which includes mapping, mineral exploration, drill programme planning, execution and management and mineral resource estimation. Ore Reserve reporting and grade control at several producing mines in Canada including Gold Fields Mining Corporation, Pamour Inc./Giant Yellowknife (later Royal Oak) and Placer Dome.
Robin Bernau, M.Geol., Ph.D., MAusIMM(CP)
SENIOR GEOLOGIST
More than 10 years of experience. Particular knowledge of Zambian copperbelt deposits gained through his doctoral thesis on the Lumwana copper-cobalt-uranium deposit. Project Geologist for RSC Consulting and Helio Resource Corporation on gold exploration projects throughout Africa.
Liz de Klerk, M.Sc., Pr.Sci.Nat., SAIMM
SENIOR GEOLOGIST
Over 15 years’ experience in project management, geological modeling and resource estimation, mine optimisation, grade control and metal accounting. Modelling skills include creation and manipulation of drillhole databases, gridding, wireframing, geostatistics, 3D block model estimations and compliant resource reporting. Experience in financial modelling, reserve conversion, mine schedules, processing and environmental laws.
Derick R de Wit, MBA, PMP, Pr Tech Eng (Chem Eng), AusIMM(CP), SAIMM
PRINCIPAL PROCESS ENGINEER & SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Over 20 years’ experience in the development of projects throughout Africa and Canada from geological exploration, through the different feasibility phases, receipt of legislative permits and licences and implementation. He has also acted as a competent valuator to determine the economic value of a wide range of mineral properties and is fully versed in securities exchange compliance across numerous jurisdictions.
Barnard Foo, P.Eng., MBA
SENIOR MINING ENGINEER
20 years of experience in underground mine operations, including significant experience in the South American mining industry with long-term assignments in Brazil and Peru.
Béatrice Foret, M.Sc., MAusIMM(CP)
MINERAL RESOURCE GEOLOGIST & GEOSTATISTICIAN
Over 15 years of experience in geological modelling, resource estimation and mineral exploration. Has worked on a broad range of mining projects and commodities worldwide, including precious metals, base metals, diamonds and uranium. She gained experience working as an exploration geologist for Eramet (nickel laterites) and as a resource geologist for Orano Mining (uranium). Completed an Advanced Master’s degree in Geostatistics from Paris School of Mines and is an expert user of Isatis geostatistical software.
Nigel Fung, B.Sc.H, B.Eng., P.Eng.
VICE PRESIDENT OF MINING
Over 20 years of mining industry experience which consists of directing long-term mine planning, permitting and implementation of innovation projects and coordinated mine feasibility studies in Canada and Mexico. Mr. Fung has an excellent understanding of mining fleet requirements for efficient and cost-effective open pit operation.
Samer Hmoud, M.Sc., P.Geo., MAusIMM(CP)
SENIOR GEOSTATISTICIAN
Over 9 years of industry and academia experience in the field of exploration geology and mining. Mr. Hmoud worked as a Geostatistician at the Centre for Computational Geostatistics at the University of Alberta, Canada, where he completed his master’s degree in mining engineering (Geostatistics). He possesses practical experience in mineral resource estimations for a wide variety of minerals and metals worldwide. Mr. Hmoud is proficient in machine learning techniques, GIS and Python programming. He is also an expert user of Leapfrog, Vulcan, Isatis, Datamine and GSLib resource modeling and estimation software.
Tania Ilieva, Ph.D., P.Geo.
SENIOR GEOLOGIST
Over 20 years’ experience. Held senior positions with Canadian exploration companies on projects in Canada and South America. Managed exploration programmes/field operations and liaised with government agencies. Experienced in mineral exploration, geology and geographic information systems.
Michael Khoudine, M.Sc.
SENIOR MINING ENGINEER
More than 25 years’ experience. Previous experience as Project Manager with the VIST Group providing mining consultancy services and implementation of mining software at a broad range of mining operations. Marketing, and sales to the Russian and Central Asia mining market. Mining consultancy experience prior to Micon for the Australian mining software developer Mincom Pty Ltd.
Evgeny Kondratiev, B.Sc., MAusIMM(CP)
SENIOR EXPLORATION GEOLOGIST
Over 30 years’ experience. Held senior positions in the geological exploration division and the mining department of Norilsk Nickel up to Chief Geologist and implemented the installation of computerised survey and geological data systems at the mines of Norilsk Nickel.
Bill Lewis, B.Sc., P.Geo.
SENIOR GEOLOGIST
More than 30 years’ experience in exploration and mining projects. 10 years in production, sampling and reconciliation programmes for grade control. Mineral resource and reserve estimation in underground mines.
Charley Murahwi, M.Sc., P.Geo., Pr. Sci. Nat., FAusIMM
ECONOMIC GEOLOGIST
More than 30 years’ experience. Held senior management positions with major mining companies, including Anglo American plc., throughout southern Africa. Experienced in mineral exploration, mine development and mining operations, as well as geostatistical techniques in mineral resource/reserve reporting. An expert on the knowledge/genesis of various types of deposits based on training and on-hands experience, e.g. chromite (both stratiform and podiform), PGE, Sedex, VMS, orogenic, epithermal, deposits.
Karen Nash, MA, MPhil, MCIEEM, FRGS
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SPECIALIST
Has over 30 years’ experience in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Strategy and Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Community & Stakeholder Engagement and Training & Capacity-building. Ms. Nash is active in the natural resource, utilities, energy and education sectors; predominantly extractives and energy transition developments. She has worked on mine sites worldwide and has extensive experience in all regions of Africa.
Alan J. San Martin, MAusIMM(CP)
MINERAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST
Has 20 years of experience in mineral exploration. Previously Chief Engineer with Manhattan Minerals on the VMS Tambo Grande Project in Peru, then Senior Geological Modeller with Aurelian Resources on the Fruta del Norte gold project in Ecuador. Experienced in data management for exploration projects, mineral resource estimates and open pit optimisation.
