| |
| Jim Engdahl Director, President and CEO |
| | In March of 2006, Mr. Engdahl became the president, chief executive officer and a director of Great Western Minerals Group (GWMG). During Mr. Engdahl's seven years as chief executive officer of GWMG, the company acquired key assets which positioned GWMG to become one of the first fully integrated rare earth companies in the world and raised over $150-million for GWMG's growth. Mr. Engdahl resigned as president and chief executive officer of GWMG in September, 2012, and as a director in November, 2012. Mr. Engdahl remains a special consultant to the chief executive officer and board of directors of GWMG.
Prior to GWMG Mr. Engdahl was the managing partner of Cascadia Development Corp., a corporate finance, M&A (mergers and acquisitions), and consulting group that was acquired by a major Western Canadian accounting firm where Mr. Engdahl became the managing senior partner for its corporate finance group for Saskatchewan, then later became the managing partner for Alberta. During this time he was involved in many transactions totaling in the hundreds of millions. Mr. Engdahl worked in the Canadian banking system with Bank of Montreal and as vice-president of Barclays Bank of Canada. Mr. Engdahl also previously held positions as director of Claude Resources and president, chief executive officer and director of Shore Gold, and presently sits on the board of Formation Metals Inc. and is the Chairman of the Audit Committee. |
|
| |
| Gary L. Billingsley, C.A., P.Eng., P.Geo. Director |
| | Mr. Billingsley has worked in the mining industry for the past 45 years. He was employed as a mine geologist for several years for companies including Granduc Operating Company (an affiliate of Newmont Mining), Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd., and in surface exploration for Cominco Ltd., Sherritt Gordon, and Hudson Bay Exploration and Development Ltd. In 1983, Mr. Billingsley joined Claude Resources Inc., serving as a director and officer until 1992. With Claude, he was a key part of the team that brought the Seabee Gold Mine (Saskatchewan's largest producing gold mine with over 1 million ounces produced and still producing) into production, and participated in the discovery of diamond- bearing kimberlite in the Sturgeon Lake area of Saskatchewan. In 1993 and 1994, in his role as a consultant to Great Western Minerals, Mr. Billingsley led the team that discovered two diamond- bearing kimberlites, at Candle Lake, Saskatchewan. For fourteen years, until November 2012, Mr. Billingsley served as a director and officer of Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., a TSX-V listed company. During that time he has focused on the rare earth industry and formulated the "mine to market" strategy currently being implemented by Great Western Minerals through the development of its mining project in South Africa along with operating two value-added manufacturing facilities specializing in the production of permanent magnet alloys. He currently sits on the Management Committee of the Hoidas Lake Joint Venture, operated by Star Minerals, advancing the development of the Hoidas Lake rare earth project in northern Saskatchewan. |
|
| |
| 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 Defense, Agriculture and Energy, Mines and Resources (1984 until resigning in 1993). As a successful private businessman, Senior Minister and member of the Inner Cabinet, Mr. McKnight developed a unique strategic planning ability that is so important in today's global business environment. He is Chairman of McKnight & Associates; former director of several public companies including Cline Mining Corporation and Great Western Minerals Group Ltd.; Treaty Commissioner for Saskatchewan; and an Honorary Chief, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. |
|
| |
| Kazuo Machida Director |
| | Mr. Kazuo ("Kaz") Machida, MBA, worked with Itochu Corporation, one of the leading Japanese trading firms for more than 32 years. Based primarily in Tokyo, Kaz was involved with Itochu's highly competitive international trading business, specializing in the field of industrial minerals. During his career, he not only built up Itochu's international trade business, while based in Perth, Western Australia and in Singapore, but also launched many new development projects in joint venture with other leading international enterprises from around the world. Kaz is one of the pioneers in the rare earth trade in Japan, which is the most significant rare earth market after China. Itochu was the first leading Japanese trading company formally approved by the Chinese government as a friendly trading company in 1972, before the Treaty of Peace and Friendship was officially signed by both countries in August 1978. In the early 1980's, Kaz began importing rare earth products into Japan. After assuming senior executive and management positions in Tokyo, Osaka, and Singapore, he left Itochu and formed Kay Investment Limited to provide consulting service to trading and manufacturing companies. In 2006, he resumed trading rare earth oxides and metals from China to leading Japanese users and uses his considerable expertise in consulting for a diverse base of clientele, not just for rare earths, but for rare metals such as tantalum and lithium as well. Previous clientele of Mr. Machida's include prominent public companies such as Lynas Corporation Ltd., Arafura Resources Limited, and Great Western Minerals Group Limited, and private companies including Rincon Lithium Limited. |
|
| |
| Kyle Kozuska, CIM, CFA Director, VP Corporate Development |
| | Kyle graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in finance and economics. Mr. Kozuska worked in the investment management business at both CIBC Wood Gundy and Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. (formerly Midland Walwyn), before founding his own money management firm. Kyle was appointed to the board of Star on October 16, 2007.
Mr. Kozuska has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of United Uranium (now Karoo Exploration Corp.), Shane Resources Ltd. and Star Uranium Corporation (now Star Minerals Group). |
|