Our People

Discovery Group companies are independently managed by teams strategically created to ensure the right people are in place to advance our projects. They leverage their experience and knowledge in specific commodities and geology to maximize the opportunity for exploration success. They are as diverse as the commodities we explore for and come from a variety of backgrounds BUT they all share a common purpose - to apply sound science, innovative practices and thinking to the art of discovery.

We are committed to delivering results to our shareholders, to our partners and to each other. That is the power of the group.

Company Presidents

John Robins, P.Geo. President - Kivalliq Energy Corporation

Mr. Robins is a professional geologist based in Vancouver, BC, with over 25 years of experience as an independent exploration geologist and entrepreneur. A 1984 graduate of the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Geology, Mr. Robins initially worked as a self employed prospector and geologist in BC and Northern Canada. In 1988, he founded Hunter Exploration Group, one of Canada's most successful private exploration companies. Mr. Robins has also been active in starting several successful public exploration and development companies culminating in 2005 with his co-founding of the Discovery Group of Companies. In addition to his role with the Discovery Group, Mr. Robins also sits on the Boards of several successful publically traded exploration companies.

His experience in everything from grass roots exploration to production is complemented by his success in the capital markets and financing activities.  In 2008, Mr. Robins was recognized for his achievements in mining exploration by the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia with the H.H. "Spud" Huestis Award. This is recognized as the highest award given for mineral exploration and is awarded to those who have made "a significant contribution… to enhance the mineral resources of British Columbia and/or the Yukon Territory, through the original application of prospecting techniques or other geoscience technology".

John Williamson, P.Geol., President, CEO & Director - North Country Gold Corp., Niblack Mineral Development Inc. & Brilliant Mining Corp.

Mr. Williamson has a Bachelor of Science, Specialization in Geology, (1988) from the University of Alberta. He is an independent consultant and entrepreneur with more than twenty years experience, including fourteen years in the management, development and governance of public companies conducting worldwide mineral exploration and mining. He is a founder of ten junior resource and or mining companies with gold, nickel and diamond-based operations in Canada, Western Australia, South America and Africa.

He has served as Chairman, President, CEO, CFO and or Director of TSX Venture listed companies; North Country Gold Corp., (since April 2010), Niblack Mineral Developments Inc., (since April 2010), CBR Gold Corp. (since August 1998), Brilliant Mining Corp (since September 2003); Indicator Minerals Inc (since April 2001); Kaminak Gold Corporation (since November 2005); and Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc. (since March 2006). Of these, Brilliant Mining Corp was named to the 2007 TSX Venture 50TM, a ranking of Canada's top emerging public companies listed on TSX Venture Exchange, as a "Top 10 Mining Company" based on a formula that includes revenue, return on investment, market cap growth, and trading volume. During his tenure John has helped raise over $100 million in equity or debt financing, conducted over $70 million in exploration and has grossed over $95 million in metal sales.

Mr. Williamson is a professional geologist registered with the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA). He is also a Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada and Member of the Society of Economic Geologists.

Robert L. Carpenter, Ph.D., P. Geo., President & CEO - Kaminak Gold Corporation

Dr. Carpenter, is a practicing professional geologist and has been involved with all aspects of precious and base metal exploration for over 16 years. He has over ten years of experience with BHP-Billiton Ltd., Placer Dome Inc., and WMC Resources Ltd., focused primarily on early stage exploration projects throughout Canada, Australia and the United States. While with WMC Resources Ltd, he spent time on gold and nickel projects throughout North America. More recently, he spent three years with the Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, where he was responsible for evaluating technical reports submitted on mineral claims, prospecting permits and mining leases as required under the Canada Mining Regulations and recommend their approval/rejection based on compliance. Dr. Carpenter joined Committee Bay Resources Ltd. and the Hunter Exploration Group as Senior Exploration Geologist for two years before joining the Discovery Group in 2005 as President of Kaminak Gold Corp. He obtained his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario where he completed his Ph.D. thesis on the regional geological setting of the Meliadine Lake gold deposits located near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Dr. Carpenter is certified by the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (P. Geo) and is a Director of Brilliant Mining Corp.) (BMC: TSXV).

Bruce Counts, P. Geoph., President, CEO - Indicator Minerals Inc.

Bruce has been involved in the Canadian diamond exploration industry for fourteen years. Between 1992 and 1997 he was employed by BHP Minerals Canada Ltd. and was an integral member of the team responsible for the discovery and development of the Ekati Diamond Mine(tm). In 1997 Bruce joined Dia Met Minerals Ltd. and was senior consultant on their international portfolio of projects until the sale of the company in 2001. Bruce is a Professional Geophysicist and holds a degree in Geological Engineering from the University of British Columbia.

Charles Chebry, President, Chairman, CEO & Director - Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc.

Mr. Chebry is the President, CEO, Chairman and Director of Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc.(TSXV:CED). Mr. Chebry is also involved in the following mineral exploration companies: Chief Financial Officer of Kivalliq Energy Corp. (TSXV:KIV), Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Argonaut Exploration Inc. (TSXV:AGA), Director of Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:HPY). Mr. Chebry has been a Director of CBR Gold Corp., (TSXV:CBG), since July 2002 and served as President and founder of its predecessor company Arta Enterprises Inc. from December 2000 to July 2002. Mr. Chebry was Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and a Director of Olympia Financial Group Inc. (TSXV:OLY), from March 1997 to December 2006 and remains a Director.  Mr. Chebry has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and is a Certified Management Accountant.

James Paterson, B. Comm., President, CEO & Director - Corsa Capital Ltd.

James Paterson is the President, CEO and a director of Corsa Capital Ltd. (CSO: TSX-V) with more than 10 years of investor relations, marketing and corporate development experience with several North American mineral exploration companies and mining industry service providers. In 2005, Mr. Paterson became the Director of Marketing for the Discovery Group of Companies. Prior to this, he worked with The Northair Group for two years in several corporate development and communications roles. During his tenure with Blender Media, a marketing services provider to public companies, Mr. Paterson built a customer base in Toronto and the UK, as well as diversifying the client base to include investment banks, fund managers and financial services placement agencies. Previously, Mr. Paterson spent over three years as Director of Investor Relations for an US based AMEX listed Mining Corporation. Mr. Paterson also serves on the board of directors of three companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange: Kaminak Gold Corporation, Tenajon Resources Corp. and Kivalliq Energy Corp.

Dean J. Besserer, P.Geol. President & CEO - Sentosa Mining Ltd.

Mr. Besserer, a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, has been a consultant since 1994. In 2001, Mr. Besserer became a principal and managing director at APEX Geoscience Ltd. His industry experience includes conducting exploration and property evaluations for various commodities including gold, base metals and diamonds for numerous major and junior mining companies. in Canada, Australia, Russia, SE Asia, South America and Africa. In addition to his exploration experience Mr. Besserer has also managed exploration programs with annual exploration budgets in excess of 10 million dollars.


Company VPs of Exploration

Jeff Ward, BSc, P.Geo - Vice President of Exploration - Kivalliq Energy Corporation

Mr. Ward obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in Geology from the University of Western Ontario and is a registered professional geologist in British Columbia and Alberta. He has 25 years experience exploring for base metals, precious metals and diamonds with companies such as Corona Corporation, Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. and Stornoway Diamond Corporation, where he worked on reconnaissance to advanced-stage projects throughout Canada's north. As regional Project Manager, Mr. Ward directed exploration programs in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut for over eight years and was responsible for program design, supervision, compliance, and joint venture management and stakeholder relations.

Peter Kleespies, M.Sc, Vice President of Exploration - North Country Gold Corp. & Niblack Mineral Development Inc.

Mr. Kleespies is a professional geologist registered with the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) and has 20 years experience in exploration geology for both precious and base metals in the Americas and Australia. He worked for both junior and senior companies, including BHP Minerals Canada Limited, Metallic Resources and Miramar Mining Corporation on a broad range of exploration projects including the High Lake and Hope Bay Greenstone Belts in the Slave Province, Archean - Proterozoic aged greenstones both in Canada, Venezuela, and Australia and younger intrusion related deposits within poly-deformed carbonate terrains in Mexico and Canada. His expertise ranges from conceptual project generation, grassroots exploration, large-scale surface and underground drill programs, deposit modeling and resource estimation. Mr. Kleespies has demonstrated the application of sound technical principles and ability to integrate complex geological, geochemical and geophysical datasets in the search for, and delineation of economically viable mineral deposits. Most recently he was a Senior Exploration Geologist with Committee Bay Resources Ltd. and formerly managed exploration projects at Hope Bay for Miramar Mining Corporation.

Mr. Kleespies has a Bachelor of Science (Hon. Geology) and Master of Science (Geology) from the University of Alberta

Craig Finnigan, Ph.D, Chief Geologist - Vice President of Exploration - Kaminak Gold Corporation

Dr. Finnigan has over 12 years of experience in mineral exploration, regional mapping and geological research. Over the course of his career, he has explored for both base and precious minerals working for WMC Resources Ltd., Teck-Cominco Limited and as an independent consultant. His work and research have taken him extensively throughout Canada, Alaska, Wyoming, and South Africa. Craig completed a Masters degree at the University of Western Ontario as part of the Geological Survey of Canada's EXTECH III initiative devoted to making new gold discoveries in the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt. His Ph.D thesis was completed at the University of Toronto and his research focused on understanding the geochemical behavior of the platinum group elements in igneous systems and particularly how these elements become concentrated in layered mafic intrusions. Craig is currently focused on developing and evaluating mineral exploration opportunities for Kaminak throughout Canada.

Dave Kelsch, Vice President of Exploration & Director - Indicator Minerals Inc.

Mr. Kelsch has been active in mineral exploration since 1985, focusing on diamond exploration for the past fourteen years. Between 1992 and 1998, he was a senior geologist with Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc. During this time Mr. Kelsch was responsible for managing the Lac de Gras exploration efforts and played an integral role in the discovery and development of the kimberlites that were incorporated into the Diavik Diamond Mine. Since 1998, Mr. Kelsch has been an independent consultant and advisor working for both junior and major diamond explorers including Diamonds North Resources Ltd. as manager of their Victoria Island Project.

David Clarke, M.Sc., P.Geol. - Vice President Exploration - Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc.

David's primary role at Cedar Mountain will be to design and implement the exploration programs at Cedar Mountain's recently optioned gold property in Alaska. Mr. Clarke has developed strong management and leadership skills during his 19 year career as mineral explorationist working for BHP Minerals Canada Ltd, Major Drilling Group International and most recently, Canterra Minerals Corporation (formerly Diamondex Resources Ltd.) where he served as VP Exploration for 10 years. David led the 1991 reconnaissance program for the Hope Bay Gold Project and was an integral team member in the discovery of several other gold deposits. David has played an integral role in the development of innovative exploration techniques and original strategies for the discovery and development of mineral deposits. Mr. Clarke is a professional geologist and a licensee with the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories (NAPEGG). He is also a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.


Chief Financial Officers

Sean Mager, B.Comm. - CFO - North Country Gold Corp., Niblack Mineral Development Inc., Brilliant Mining Corp., Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc. & Sentosa Mining Ltd.

Mr. Mager has a Bachelor of Commerce (1989) from the University of Alberta and more than twenty years of experience in management and governance of private and public enterprise. Since 1998, Mr. Mager has co-founded and developed several public companies conducting exploration and mining worldwide, with precious metal, base metal and diamond interests in North and South America, Australia and Africa. He currently serves as Vice President, Director and/or Chief Financial Officer for North Country Gold Corp, Niblack Mineral Development Inc, Brilliant Mining Corp, Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc, Kaminak Gold Corporation and Grizzly Diamonds Inc, all of which are listed on the TSXV. Of these, Brilliant Mining Corp was named in 2007 and 2008 to the "TSX Venture 50TM", a ranking of Canada's top emerging public companies listed on TSX Venture Exchange, as a "Top 10 Mining Company" based on a formula that includes revenue, return on investment, market cap growth, and trading volume.

Chris Twells, C.G.A . - CFO - Kaminak Gold Corporation, Corsa Capital Ltd.

Mr. Twells has more than thirteen years of financial management and accounting experience with public and private companies as well as charitable organizations. Mr. Twells is Certified General Accountant who has helped the organizations develop and execute strategic plans and streamline accounting processes. He has been with Kaminak since 2006, initially as Controller subsequently moving into the CFO roll in 2009. Mr. Twells is also currently CFO and Controller for Corsa Capital Ltd. (CSO:TSXV), Controller Kivalliq Energy Corp. (KIV:TSXV) and CFO for Laurentian Goldfields Ltd. (LGF:TSXV).

Andrew Wilton, C.A. - CFO - Indicator Minerals Inc.

Andrew obtained his C.A. designation in England in 1975. In 1982, after transferring from the London to Vancouver office of KPMG, he became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia. Andrew spent three years with KPMG latterly as a senior audit manager before joining the Fuller family as corporate controller of Earl's Restaurants Ltd. In 2008 Andrew retired from the group where he was CFO of Earl's Restaurants Ltd., Joey Tomato's (Canada) Inc. and Saltlik Restaurants Ltd. During his tenure the group grew from six restaurants to over eighty full service restaurants.

Charles Chebry, B.Sc., C.M.A. - CFO - Kivalliq Energy Corporation

Mr. Chebry has been the President, CEO, Chairman and Director of Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc.(TSXV:CED) since Jan. 1, 2007. Mr. Chebry is also involved in the following mineral exploration companies: Chief Financial Officer of Kivalliq Energy Corp. (TSXV:KIV), Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Argonaut Exploration Inc. (TSXV:AGA), Director of Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:HPY). Mr. Chebry has been a Director of CBR Gold Corp., (TSXV:CBG), since July 2002 and served as President and founder of its predecessor company Arta Enterprises Inc. from December 2000 to July 2002. Mr. Chebry was Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and a Director of Olympia Financial Group Inc. (TSXV:OLY), from March 1997 to December 2006 and remains a Director. Mr. Chebry has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and is a Certified Management Accountant.



 
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