Anne Giardini
Chair
Ms. Anne Giardini, KC, has over 35 years’ experience as a director, senior executive, lawyer, journalist and author. She has extensive expertise in the areas of strategy, governance, public reporting, financings, mergers and acquisitions, aboriginal affairs, safety, environment, government relations, litigation, and employment and labour matters.
A long-time leader within Canada’s resource industry, Ms. Giardini had a 20+-year career with Weyerhaeuser, including as General Counsel and subsequently President of Weyerhaeuser’s Canadian subsidiary. She also brings extensive board experience, currently serving on the boards of Capstone Copper Corp. and Stella-Jones Inc. Previously, she was Chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation, and served on numerous other boards including: Pembina Institute; Weyerhaeuser Company Limited; Nevsun Resources Ltd.; Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc; HydroOne; TransLink; and Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
In 2016, Ms. Giardini was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 2018 she was admitted to the Order of British Columbia. She is an active community volunteer, author and public speaker, recognized for expertise on natural resource development, public and government relations, safety, risk and brand management, and manufacturing.
Ms. Giardini holds an L.L.M. from Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge, an L.L.B. from the University of British Columbia, and a B.A. (Economics) from Simon Fraser University.
Anne Giardini is Chair of the K92 Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, member of the Sustainability Committee, and member of the Compensation and Benefits Committee.
John Lewins
CEO & Director
Mr. Lewins is a Mineral Engineer with over 35 years’ experience in the mining industry. He has previously worked in Africa, Australia, Asia, North America and the former Soviet Union. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and served as Chief Operating Officer from May 2016 to August 2017. Mr. Lewins has successfully managed the development of a number of open pit and underground gold, precious and base metal mines from feasibility study through to profitable operations.
Mr. Lewins has operated extensively at the corporate level in various roles from Executive General Manager to Director and Chief Executive Officer with a number of other mining companies, including MIM Holdings, First Dynasty Mines, Platinum Australia and African Thunder Platinum.
Mr. Lewins received his National Diploma for Technicians (Extractive Metallurgy) from Technikon Witwatersrand, South Africa, a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours) in Mineral Engineering from University of Leeds, England and a Graduate Diploma in Management from University of Queensland.
John Lewins is Chair of the K92 Health and Safety Committee and a member of the ESG Committee.
Mark Eaton
Director
Mr. Eaton is an independent business consultant who has worked as an investment professional in equity capital markets specializing in the resource sector for over 20 years. He is currently the Executive Chairman and is the former Chief Executive Officer of Belo Sun Mining Corp. Prior to becoming an independent business consultant, Mr. Eaton held the position of Managing Director of Global Mining Sales, a division of CIBC World Markets of Toronto and Manager of US Equity Sales for CIBC World Markets. Mr. Eaton is also a former Partner and Director of Loewen Ondaatje McCutcheon Ltd., a Toronto-based investment dealer. In addition to his leadership in institutional mine finance and investment banking, Mr. Eaton has served in management and on the Boards of several public mining companies.
Mr. Eaton graduated from Hull University, England with Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours).
Mark Eaton is Chair of the K92 Compensation and Benefits Committee, a member of the Audit Committee and member of the Special Committee.
Saurabh Handa
Director
Mr. Handa is a mining professional with over fifteen years of diverse senior experience that includes finance, mergers and acquisitions, and multi-jurisdictional public company disclosures. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd., a Director of Carbon Streaming Corporation, and principal of Handa Financial Consulting Inc. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer of Titan Mining Corp., Vice President, Finance of Imperial Metals Corp., Chief Financial Officer of Meryllion Resources Corp., Chief Financial Officer of Yellowhead Mining Inc. and Controller for SouthGobi Resources Ltd. Mr. Handa also worked at Deloitte Vancouver in its audit and valuation practices, primarily with international mining clients.
Mr. Handa is a Chartered Accountant and graduated with Honours from the University of British Columbia with a diploma in Accounting. Prior to joining the accounting profession, Mr. Handa obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics from the University of British Columbia and a diploma in Computer Systems from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Saurabh Handa is Chair of K92’s Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation, Benefits Committee, and a member of the Special Committee.
Cyndi Laval
Director
Ms. Laval is a partner at the law firm of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP in Vancouver, B.C. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, securities and mining law. Ms. Laval is the former Leader of Gowling WLG’s National Corporate Finance, M&A and Private Equity Practice Group, the former Co-Leader of its Canadian Mining Group and former Leader of the Firm’s Vancouver Business Law Group. Ms. Laval served as the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s 2017 and 2015 Canadian Public Target M&A Deal Point Studies and is the Chapter President of the Vancouver M&A Club, a national network of mergers and acquisitions professionals. Ms. Laval was a member of the TSX Venture Exchange’s Local Advisory Committee from 2006 to 2013 and an instructor of the TSXV Rules and Tools Corporate Governance Workshop from 2004 to 2010. Ms. Laval is recognized as a leading lawyer in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities and mining law in various national and international publications and was named Vancouver "Lawyer of the Year – Mining" by the Best Lawyers in Canada in 2017.
Ms. Laval holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) degree from the University of British Columbia, a Certificate of Mining Law from Osgoode Law School and has completed the Canadian Securities Course of the Canadian Securities Institute.
Graham Wheelock
Director
Mr. Wheelock is a geologist and mining professional with 40 years of experience working for international mining companies. In 2005, He co-founded Gem Diamonds Limited (“Gem Diamonds”). He helped manage Gem Diamonds’ initial public offering in 2007, when the company listed on the London Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of £600 million. After leaving Gem Diamonds, Mr. Wheelock was the Project Manager and is currently the Managing Director of Polynatura Corp., the company developing the Ochoa Fertilizer project in New Mexico, USA. From 1981 to 1999, Mr. Wheelock worked with Anglo American plc and De Beers as a gold and diamonds geologist and mid-level manager. From 2000 to 2003, he was Acting General Manager for De Beers Namaqualand Mines in South Africa, responsible for 2,300 employees and annual production of 4.5 million tons.
Mr. Wheelock obtained a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio and a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours) in Geology from the University of Natal, South Africa.
Graham Wheelock is a member of the K92 Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Health and Safety Committee and Special Committee.
Nan Lee
Director
Ms. Nan Lee is a professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience as a mining and geo-environmental engineer, project manager, senior executive, and advisor in the mining industry for a range of jurisdictions in Canada. Her experience and expertise include mine operations in both underground and open pits, project management, economic studies, environmental assessments, strategic planning, and engagement and consultation with indigenous communities and regulatory agencies.
Ms. Lee’s experience in the mining industry is highlighted by her comprehensive work in the uranium sector, including 15 years as an independent consultant leading the preparation of environmental assessment and approval processes for several uranium projects, and managing preliminary feasibility studies for tailings management facilities and a greenfield mine development proposal in Nunavut. More recently, Ms. Lee was with UEX Corporation as VP of Project Development, providing strategic direction for development of projects and project evaluations for potential acquisitions, in addition to managing economics studies.
Ms. Lee has an extensive governance experience with boards in the non-profit sector and is an active community volunteer.
Ms. Lee holds a P.Eng. designation in the province of Saskatchewan, an M.Sc. in Geo-environmental Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, and a B.Eng. in Mining from McGill University.
Nan Lee is Chair of the K92 Sustainability Committee, a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and a member of the Health and Safety Committee.