Speakers

David Anonychuk is Senior Vice President – Advisory and Growth, North America at DRA Global, with over 30 years of global experience in mining, metallurgy, and strategy, working across the full mining value chain. A former senior executive at SGS, Glencore and Xstrata, he is recognized for his leadership in critical minerals and their role in battery, defence, and energy supply chains. He has presented to NATO and the White House, and regularly speaks at senior industry, policy, and media forums, including BNN Bloomberg. David serves as Co‑Chair of the Critical Mineral Council for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Critical Mineral Expert Advisory Group, and sits on advisory panels to Natural Resources Canada.

Chief Bruce Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN), a Cree First Nation community located in the Great Northern Clay Belt of Northeastern Ontario and Treaty Nine territory, is a visionary leader committed to advancing Indigenous sovereignty, economic independence, and community health and wellness.

Under his leadership, TTN has built transformative partnerships with Canada Nickel, Agnico Eagle, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), and Hydro One—ensuring Indigenous participation through contracting, ownership and equity in major energy and resource developments. He has overseen the acquisition and success of Takwata Builders, TTN’s wholly owned heavy civil earthworks company, Bussiere’s Quality Meats, a local butcher and meat shop focused on providing quality service and product to Northern residents, and multiple rental properties, diversifying TTN’s economic portfolio and creating generational revenue streams for community programs.

Chief Archibald has also led the development of industry partnerships such as Takwata Barclay and Takwata NPLH, which provide direct community support through training, education, and employment opportunities—particularly in the mining and drilling sectors.

His leadership was instrumental in TTN’s implementation of its own child well-being law under Bill C-92, reclaiming jurisdiction over family services and protecting cultural continuity. Most recently, he has championed the creation of the Veronica Archibald Kamik, a culturally grounded aftercare facility that will support First Nation citizens in the North facing addiction and mental health challenges.

Through these initiatives, Chief Archibald continues to shape a future for TTN rooted in self-determination, cultural strength, and inclusive economic growth.

Dan is the CEO, Director, and Founder of Nano One Materials Corp., with over 30 years of experience as a professional engineer leading high-growth technology ventures across materials handling, medical devices, industrial printing, nuclear fusion, and materials science. Since founding Nano One in 2011, he has guided the company from concept to commercialization, establishing it as a recognized leader in sustainable lithium-ion battery materials innovation. Earlier in his career, Dan held leadership roles at Fluor, Andronic, Creo, Kodak, and General Fusion, where he developed a reputation for bridging engineering excellence with strategic vision to drive technology and business transformation.

Christine heads Torngat Metals’ marketing and business development initiatives. With nearly 30 years of senior experience, she has worked in the rare earths sector since 2013. As president of her own consulting firm, she supported global mining, technology, environmental and manufacturing clients. She formerly worked for Resolute Forest Products, Trojan Technologies, Rayonier and Vale’s nickel division. Christine holds a BSc degree from the University of Waterloo and an executive MBA from Western University.

Konstantin Christoulakis is a global procurement and supply chain leader with more than 20 years of experience across critical minerals, metals, manufacturing, logistics, and strategic sourcing. A United States Marine Corps veteran and former Non-Commissioned Officer, he has held leadership roles in commodity trading, supply chain operations, and global procurement, developing expertise in supplier strategy, commercial negotiations, risk management, and critical mineral supply chains. While much of his work is centered on copper markets, his experience spans the broader raw materials ecosystem supporting industrial, energy, and defense applications.

Today, Konstantin serves as Global Strategic Raw Materials Leader at Schneider Electric, where he leads global procurement strategy for key materials including copper, aluminum, and silver. He focuses on building strategic partnerships that strengthen supply chain resilience, support sustainable growth, and create value for both industrial consumers and upstream producers. His work emphasizes collaborative models that align manufacturers, processors, and miners to secure materials essential for electrification, economic competitiveness, and national security.

Robert Dimitrieff is the Chief Executive Officer of Patriot Forge Corporation, Canada’s largest independent metal forging company, specializing in high-grade specialty steel and non-ferrous alloy components for global markets. Patriot Forge serves critical sectors including defence, power generation, mining, oil and gas, nuclear power, infrastructure and aerospace.

Robert's career within the Patriot Group of Companies, owned by the Dimitrieff family, spans over two decades. From September 2003 to August 2010, he held several management positions. Between 2005 and 2007, he served as Plant Manager at the Bay City Forge Division in Erie, PA. From 2008 to 2010, he worked as Project Manager at Patriot Special Metals in North Jackson, Ohio, where he contributed to the $85 million USD North Jackson Project. His role focused on commercial and project risk, overseeing the installation of North America's first hydraulically driven rotary forging machine and a VIM/VAR melting operation.

In August 2010, Robert became Vice President and General Manager of Niagara Energy Products (NEP), focusing on manufacturing for the Canadian nuclear sector, including CANDU reactor facilities and nuclear waste management. He continues to serve as Vice-Chairman and co-owner of NEP.

Robert was appointed President of Patriot Forge in January 2015, a role he held until October 2022, when he transitioned to CEO. Under his leadership, Patriot Forge has solidified its reputation as a key supplier to critical infrastructure sectors, advancing technological capabilities and expanding market reach.

He actively contributes to industry governance and advocacy and is a former Board Member of the Forging Industry Association (FIA). He currently chairs the Canadian Committee of the FIA and sits on the Defence Policy Implementation Advisory Committee of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). Robert also serves on the C.D. Howe Institute’s International Economic Policy Council and writes on infrastructure, defence, and industrial policy at infrastructurematters.ca.

Robert holds a BFA from NSCAD University, an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University, and a Certificate in Metallurgy from McMaster University. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and completed the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation through The Directors College at McMaster University in 2024.

In his personal life, Robert is an avid aviator with a Private Pilot License and a Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (PPL, Multi-IFR). He enjoys cycling and other recreational activities

Mr. Eric Desaulniers, MSc, P. Geo, is the Founder, President and CEO of Nouveau Monde Graphite, an ESG-driven company dedicated to developing North America’s largest graphite production to supply the battery and EV market with sustainably and ethically transformed advanced materials.

Since discovering the world-class Matawinie deposit that launched Nouveau Monde Graphite, Desaulniers has completed the exploration, feasibility, engineering and permitting stages to bring the Matawinie Mine and Bécancour Battery Material Plant to construction. In parallel, he has succeeded in securing a solid shareholder base, recruiting innovative technical leaders to carry out his vision and developing a vertical business model to cover the entire value chain for active anode materials, from all-electric mining to advanced battery materials manufacturing.

Prior to launching the company, Eric worked for Sanders Geophysics and the Canadian Armed Forces. Desaulniers holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master in geophysics from Laval University in Quebec City. A devoted husband and father of four, Desaulniers fully lives his values for a carbon-neutral future. He has been exclusively driving all-electric since 2017!

Jocelyn Douhéret is Director general of mining policy and development at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. A ministry he joined in February 2023 as Director of mining policy. Previously, he worked 7 years as Director of the Marketing Office at Société du Plan Nord. Mr. Douhéret, also held different positions for 10 years in the mining sector as General Manager of an environmental services company, then as Director and Vice President of

Business Development for a company offering services and equipment.

From 1998 to 2006, he worked for Québec companies on industrial development projects in Eastern Europe, Latin America as well as in Canada, particularly in the fields of natural resources, energy, and environment. Mr. Douhéret began his career in 1996 as a scientific attaché at the French Embassy in Slovakia. He is a graduate of ENESAD (Dijon, France, 1994) and holds a master’s degree in science from Université Laval (Québec, Canada,1996).

Marc Dupuis is a Senior Strategic Defence Advisor specializing in the intersection of defence demand, industrial strategy, and critical resource development.

He works at the convergence of government priorities, industry capability, and capital investment, advising organizations on how defence-driven demand is reshaping market dynamics, particularly in critical minerals and Arctic resource development.

Marc brings experience across federal defence environments, public-sector institutions, and industry engagement, with a focus on helping organizations interpret and act on emerging signals tied to sovereignty, supply chain resilience, and allied security priorities.

At Arctech Accelerate, he supports clients in translating defence requirements into actionable market positioning, including alignment with Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB), partnership structuring, and engagement with primes, government stakeholders, and investors.

He is particularly focused on how defence is evolving into a market-making force, influencing project bankability, investment decisions, and the development of strategic resource ecosystems in Canada and across allied networks.

Dr. Erik Eschen is the Chief Executive Officer of VAC Group, a global leader in magnetic solutions serving a wide range of industries, including renewable energy, e‑mobility, automotive, industrial automation, medical technology, aerospace, and defense. Under his leadership, VAC Group successfully navigated a major change of ownership, strengthening its global position and strategic direction.

Before joining VAC Group, Dr. Eschen served as Chief Financial Officer at Keller Holding GmbH and held several international management roles within the Bilfinger Berger Group. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Senior Consultant in Financial Advisory Services at BDO, specializing in company valuations, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate restructurings.

Dr. Eschen earned his degree in Business Administration and completed his doctorate in Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions at Freie Universität Berlin, where he also published extensively in academic journals.

Michael is from Weenusk First Nation and is the President/CEO of Indigenous Community Engagement (ICE) – one of Canada’s leading national Indigenous firms specializing in community consultation, facilitation/negotiations, capacity building, & social research.

He brings a wealth of experience in structuring projects and financing for both industry and Indigenous clients. He obtained an honours degree in Political Science with a focus on Aboriginal Law & Resource Development and has an MBA with a specialization in Social Enterprise.

Alex Forstner is the Chief Technology Officer and a founding team member at Cyclic Materials. He has a degree in Engineering Physics from Queen’s University and an MBA from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. Alex’s career has been devoted to the global energy transition. First, from an infrastructure perspective, where he worked to help Ontario transition away from coal power and integrate more renewable energy into the electricity grid and then to the commodity side, where he spent 7 years working on and leading hydrometallurgical laboratory research programs on process innovations to extract the critical minerals necessary to facilitate electrification. Passionate about natural resources and their role in developing society, Alex is dedicated to making societal progress more efficient and less harmful to the planet, and it is this reason that Alex is excited to be at Cyclic Materials and the forefront of the circular economy for rare earth elements.

Mr. Friedrichs holds a PhD in Economic Geology from the Institute of Mineralogy and Economic Geology at RWTH Aachen University. Over the last fifteen years, Dr. Friedrichs has focused on Critical Raw Materials (CRM), specialising in critical and strategic raw materials, with a focus on global criticality evaluation and supply risk analysis. Dr. Friedrichs joined GTK in 2021 as Senior Scientist. At GTK, Dr. Friedrichs works in the Mineral Intelligence group of the Mineral Economic Solutions division. Dr. Friedrichs is an expert in strategical and critical raw materials evaluation, particularly in relation to value chains with focus on supply and demand, prices, deposits, barriers and bottlenecks. His current scope of work comprises mineral value chain analysis for energy transition and military applications. In addition, Dr. Friedrichs examines the global criticality approaches of various interest groups, e.g. the EU, China, the US, NATO and BRICS.

Brian Gabriel is the Executive Vice President for Partnerships and Market Strategy at Principal Mineral. Brian is an experienced defense policy and supply chain strategy leader with 20 years of experience.

Prior to Principal Mineral, Brian was a key leader in development of Lockheed Martin’s corporate supply chain resiliency strategy for critical raw materials and microelectronics.

Brian is currently Vice Chair of the National Defense Industrial Association Manufacturing Division Executive Committee.

Previously, Brian was the Deputy CTO for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. In that role, he supported implementation of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act and surging munitions production for the Ukraine conflict.

At Defense Logistics Agency Strategic Materials, Brian was Chief of Planning and oversaw defense-wide critical materials requirement analyses, research and development, legislative proposals, and acquisition planning for the National Defense Stockpile.

Brian holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Material Science and Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and a M.S. degree in Applied Economics, with an accompanying Graduate Certificate in Investments, from the Johns Hopkins University.

Andrew has over 15 years policy experience with the Canadian Government in a variety of roles.

He joined Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) in 2020 as Director of the Critical Minerals Centre of Excellence, where his team is the Government Canada policy lead on critical minerals and Canada’s critical mineral strategy.

Prior to joining NRCan, Andrew was a Senior Policy Advisor at the Privy Council Office, where he led on a variety of economic portfolios including international trade, defence procurement and foreign direct investment.

Andrew got his start at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada where he worked on multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations, trade and market access policy, as well as program delivery.

Andrew has a Master Degree in Public Administration Management from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Development from the University of Guelph.

Jeff Gaulin is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Communications for Vale Base Metals (www.valebasemetals.com), the global critical minerals company whose goal is to provide mineral security to a world in transition

Mr. Gaulin leads the company’s global public policy and government relations – from Toronto to all corners of the world. He is a Board member of the Mining Association of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Critical Minerals Council.

Vale Base Metals is Canada’s largest producer of nickel, copper and cobalt – essential raw materials for the world’s energy and security transformation. Vale Base Metals operates mines and refineries across Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan and Indonesia.

Mr. Gaulin joined Vale Base Metals in June 2023 from Invest Alberta, where he served as the Chief Corporate Development Officer for the provincial investment attraction agency. At Invest Alberta his role was to market globally Alberta’s pro-investment message, to support the investor journey, and to build a high-performing culture where people want to build a career with impact.

Mr. Gaulin has previously been a public affairs executive with Philip Morris International (Canada), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Tervita Corporation, TransAlta Corporation and the British Columbia government. He was also an award-winning journalist.

In his spare time, Mr. Gaulin is a writer and explorer. He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society and has kayaked with belugas in the Arctic, been chased by killer whales off the coast of British Columbia, camped in the world’s largest cave in Vietnam and climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mr. Gaulin has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria (2002), a Master of Arts (Journalism) from the University of Western Ontario (1994), and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University (1994).

He is of Métis heritage and lives in Toronto. He is the father of two university-students.

Ian Gibbs is the Chief Executive Officer of Fireweed Metals Corp., a Lundin Group company advancing the Mactung and Macpass critical mineral projects in the Yukon (Canada). Working on natural resource project across the globe, he brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience within the Lundin Group, having served as CFO of Josemaría Resources, Africa Oil, Tanganyika Oil, Valkyries Petroleum, and most recently Filo Corp., where he helped lead the company through its transformational C$4.5 billion transaction with BHP and Lundin Mining. A Chartered Professional Accountant, Mr. Gibbs also serves on several Lundin Group boards, including Lundin Gold and Lucara Diamond.

Ashley Glen of Export Development Canada (“EDC”) has been structuring innovative and complementary financing in support of Canadian exporters and investors for 15 years with EDC. Since joining EDC in 2011, Ashley has worked exclusively within EDC’s Structured and Project Finance Group with a focus on extractive industries – including mining, metals, pipelines and natural resources.

In 2021, Ashley assumed her current role as Director – Extractive Industries, Structured & Project Finance, leading the team responsible for underwriting project financings in the mining, metals and resources sector. In her current role she is also focused on finding innovative debt solutions that support the build-out of critical mineral supply chains and the integration of sustainable technologies for Canadian exporters in the extractive sector.

Prior to leading the Extractive Industries team, she was a senior underwriter in the same group. Ashley previously worked for TD Securities and she holds a Master of Financial Economics (MFE) from Rotman and a CFA.

Michael leads the Council's work on energy security, natural resources and infrastructure policy. He is the secretary to the Council's CEO working group on energy security and resource development working group.

He has more than 20 years of experience working in government and for a leading management consultancy specializing in corporate strategy and resource development policy. Prior to joining the Council in 2020, he led the policy and public affairs activities for a national industry association.

Michael is the chair of a national industry committee with representatives from more than 50 companies and associations committed to advancing climate and clean air policy in Canada.

He holds degrees from the University of Waterloo and Dalhousie University in environment and natural resource management

Ms. Wendy Hadwen was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy-Industry) in October 2024. Prior to assuming her current duties, she was Communications Security Establishment Canada’s Deputy Chief responsible for Strategic Policy, Planning and Partnerships.

Previously she held executive positions at NRCan, at Treasury Board Secretariat, Ernst & Young, and the Security and Intelligence Secretariat of the Privy Council Office. Since starting in 1994 at Foreign Affairs, working on rapid reaction capacity for international peacekeeping operations, she has spent her policy career almost entirely on peace and security issues, including implementing the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, establishing the counterterrorism capacity-building program, and promoting non-proliferation and nuclear security.

Ms. Hadwen has an M.A. in War Studies from King’s College London and a BSc in Chemistry and History from the University of Toronto.

Dirk Harbecke is an entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience as a global manager and investor. He is the co-founder of ADC African Development Corporation AG, where he served as Chairman of the Management Board, Group CEO, and Managing Director from 2013 to 2014, and as Chief Executive Officer from 2007 to 2015. He founded Rock Tech Lithium in its current form in 2012, currently serving as Chairman of the Board, and has been the central figure in the company's mission to build lithium conversion capacity across North America and Europe. He has championed plans to develop lithium conversion plants in Canada and in the heart of Europe's automotive industry in Germany, with the goal of creating resilience for its critical minerals supply chain.

As Head of Trade & Investment, Bill brings over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors where he has successfully driven growth and development initiatives across various industries, particularly in international trade, policy, and business expansion.

Prior to joining Sussex, Bill has held senior roles in Canada’s federal and provincial governments, including Principal Secretary to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister and Chief of Staff to the Minister of International Trade and Asia-Pacific Gateway. During his time in government, he played a key role in securing free trade agreements with 45 nations, including the European Union, South Korea, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Provincially, Bill was deeply involved in the restructuring of Ontario’s electricity sector, driving major policy and industry shifts.

Ms. Hembroff was appointed as Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in April 2025, and is responsible for overseeing Canada’s industrial policies across sectors of the economy and supports the delivery of ISED’s industry-focused programs.

Prior to assuming this role, Ms. Hembroff held several roles at ISED including as Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Communications and Marketing (2023-2025) and Director General, Clean Technologies and Clean Growth Branch (2022-2023).

Before joining ISED, Ms. Hembroff spent 22+ years at Global Affairs Canada (GAC) working in international trade negotiations and business development. From 2018-2022, Ms. Hembroff served as Director General for Trade Policy and Negotiations at GAC and had responsibility for overseeing the negotiation of Canada’s bilateral and regional free trade agreements as well as multilateral trade policy engagement at the WTO, OECD, G20 and APEC. In this capacity, Ms. Hembroff served as Canada’s Chief Negotiator for FTA negotiations with the Pacific Alliance, India, ASEAN and Ukraine.

Ms. Hembroff was Deputy Chief Negotiator for CPTPP and Deputy Senior Official responsible for FTA exploratory discussions with China. Ms. Hembroff previously served abroad as Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General in Hong Kong from 2011 to 2014 and was responsible for providing support to Canadian companies in the Greater China region.

Ms. Hembroff has her Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political Studies from the University of Manitoba; and Masters of Arts in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.

Christopher Hernandez-Roy is a senior fellow and deputy director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. His work includes research into democratic backsliding, transnational organized crime, geopolitics, and economic and national security issues in the Western Hemisphere. Christopher held senior leadership positions at the Organization of American States (OAS), as the first director of the Department of Public Security and later the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions. He also served as a senior political adviser to two secretaries general, during which time he documented the grave human rights abuses of dictatorship in Venezuela and co-led the OAS’s efforts to bring a case to the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity. He oversaw the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia and negotiated the establishment of the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras. Christopher was also intimately involved in the peaceful resolution of border disputes between Honduras and Nicaragua, Belize and Guatemala, and Honduras and El Salvador. He worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police early in his career. He has been interviewed on CBS, CTV and the CBC and cited in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, among other media outlets. He has also testified on Capitol Hill. Christopher is an affiliated practitioner at James Madison University’s Department of Political Science. He holds a BA honors degree in history from Carleton University and an MPhil in international relations from the University of Cambridge.

Gillian is co-founder and CEO of Green Graphite Technologies, winner of the 2025 Climate Solutions Prize, the 2025 MaRs Climate Impact Champions Series A Pitch and a Foresight 50 honoree .

In 2019 Gillian received the CIM MetSoc Environmental award which recognizes significant contributions to the field of environmental science and engineering and sustainable development in the metallurgical and materials industry.

In 2021 she received the CIM Distinguished Lecturer Award. As a Chemical Engineer (McGill University) with 35 years experience, Gillian has always been passionate about the need to commercialize cost-effective and environmentally sustainable technologies.

Drew Horn is the Founder and CEO of GreenMet and a former senior U.S. government official focused on strategic minerals and energy supply chain development. He is a highly regarded business leader who has held senior leadership roles at the White House, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense. Prior to his government service, Drew was a strategic management consultant at a Big Four consulting firm.

Drew also served with distinction as an officer in the U.S. Army Special Forces and the U.S. Marine Corps, where he gained on-the-ground international minerals experience during combat deployments. He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Drew’s depth of expertise, global experience, and industry relationships are widely recognized across the critical minerals sector.

Jesse R. Humpal, Ph.D., joined the U.S. Air Force Academy faculty as an Assistant Professor of Political Science in 2025. His research focuses on the policy implications of national security spending, with particular emphasis on critical infrastructure resilience and power dynamics.

Before arriving at the Academy, Lt Col Humpal served in the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Strategic Studies Group. He previously served as Director for Resilience on the National Security Council staff, leading interagency efforts on Position, Navigation, and Timing policy, National Security Memorandum implementation, and critical infrastructure security. Other assignments included Strategy Advisor in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Division Chief and Director of Research at Joint Special Operations Command, Assistant Director of Operations and Evaluator Pilot at the 27th Special Operations Wing, and a variety of operational roles at the 55th Wing.

Born in Lincoln, Neb., Lt Col Humpal earned his commission through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science and an M.P.P.A. from Northwestern University and a B.S. from the University of Nebraska. He is a remotely piloted aircraft evaluator pilot and combat systems officer with more than 2,000 total flight hours, including over 500 combat and combat support hours.

Abigail Hunter is the Executive Director of SAFE’s Ambassador Alfred Hoffman Jr. Center for Critical Minerals Strategy (Minerals Center). Previously, Abigail served as Director of International Affairs and Partnerships within the Minerals Center. In this role, she nurtured existing and new SAFE partnerships to advance sustainable and ethical supply chains amongst allies and like-minded countries.

Before joining SAFE full time, Hunter headed federal government affairs for Quebec for nearly three years as the senior attachée in Washington, D.C. Her mandate focused on the energy, environment, and trade relationship between the province and United States. Hunter started her career at the National Governors Association, where she led the association’s international work.

Hunter completed her Masters in Sustainable Energy at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Her four-part capstone on aluminum's clean energy paradox was published by the SAFE Center for Strategic Industrial Metals. She received her Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University with a double major in International Management and Managing for Sustainability.

Born in Toronto and growing up in New Jersey, Hunter is a proud dual citizen and conflicted hockey fan.

Soon-Won Kang is a mining industry expert and the current Chief Representative of KOMIR (Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corp.) in Canada.

With over 20 years of experience across the entire value chain of mining—from initial due diligence to large-scale operations and marketing of the products—Mr. Kang is a strategic leader in the global development of critical minerals.

His career is headlined by a 14-year tenure with the Ambatovy Project in Madagascar, one of the world’s largest nickel and cobalt operations. During this period, he navigated complex challenges across government relations, partnership, large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), commissioning and operation of high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) plant and as well as marketing nickel briquette to its customers. Notably, as a Director at KOMIR, he served as the Chair of the Executive Committee (EXCO) for the Ambatovy Joint Venture in 2024, where key initiatives such as debt restructuring to ensure the project’s long-term sustainability were implemented.

An alumnus of Queen’s University (B.Sc. in Mining Engineering) and the Colorado School of Mines (M.Sc. in Mining and Earth Systems Engineering), Mr. Kang combines technical expertise with a proven record in high-level project management. His peers consistently recognize him for his integrity, professional warmth, and passion towards business management that optimizes balance between long-term stability and short-term gains.

Currently based in Toronto, Mr. Kang is at the forefront of strengthening Korea-Canada mineral supply chains, leveraging his extensive international background to build resilient and mutually beneficial partnerships in the critical minerals sector.

Ozgur Kutay is the Country Head for UK Export Finance (UKEF) for North America, based in Toronto, Canada. In this role, he leads UKEF’s engagement with North American project developers, EPC contractors, public agencies, and financial institutions, while supporting UK exporters to secure international contracts backed by UKEF’s financing solutions.

Prior to this, Ozgur served as UKEF’s Country Head in Istanbul, covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia from 2018 to 2024. With over 30 years of experience in international corporate and investment banking, he brings deep expertise in structuring complex transactions and fostering cross-border partnerships.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK Government’s Export Credit Agency, helping international buyers access UK goods and services through attractive financing options. UKEF provides end-to-end support for global trade with UK suppliers—from connecting buyers with UK businesses, to offering specialist financial expertise and project completion support. As part of its strategic priorities, UKEF is committed to advancing renewable energy and clean growth sectors, leveraging the UK’s world-class capabilities to deliver impactful solutions worldwide.

John Kwarta is a Strategic Account Executive at Schneider Electric, supporting a Digital, Electric and Sustainable Mining and Metals industry.

With extensive experience, he builds partnerships and collaborations to promote meaningful advances in efficiency, decarbonization, and technology adoption.

John, a seasoned professional with a career exceeding 25 years, has thrived in various roles, including field service, technology research and development, marketing, and relationship management.

At Schneider Electric, John contributes to shaping a sustainable future through open collaboration with one of the world's largest diversified energy resource companies.

Stefano La Terra Bella is an EU diplomat specializing in defence industry, space and international relations. He is currently posted at the Delegation of European Union to the United States where he serves as Counselor for defence industry and space matters. Previously, he worked with the European Commission on a range of topics including defence industry, space and digitalization initiatives supporting global sustainable development. Prior to that, Stefano worked also with the European Space Agency. In his current role he focuses on strengthening international partnerships and transatlantic cooperation on space-related issues and defence industrial policy.

Stephen Lecce is Ontario’s current Minister of Energy and Mines and the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for King-Vaughan.

Stephen Lecce was recently appointed Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, with an expanded mandate focused on accelerating resource development.

In his mission to position Ontario as an energy superpower, by expanding electricity generation–anchored by nuclear power—along with transmission and storage. To deliver on this urgent imperative, Stephen announced the largest public energy procurement in Canadian history, along with the plan to build the largest nuclear generator on earth.

With his expanded mandate, he will work to aggressively unlock one of the largest untapped critical minerals and rare earth metals on the planet—vital to Canada’s future prosperity and security. This includes accelerating permitting to get shovels in the ground, while working to diversify export markets—from minerals to nuclear energy.

Stephen’s first experience in politics came in his hometown of Vaughan where he was involved in the 1999 election of the late MPP Al Palladini. Since then, he has served as Chief Spokesperson to Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. Upon his election in 2018, he served as Deputy Government House Leader, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, and then served as Ontario’s longest-serving Minister of Education in modern history.

Trent Mell is the Founder and CEO of Electra Battery Materials Corporation, driving its mission to establish North America's first fully integrated and environmentally sustainable battery materials park. Under his leadership, Electra is building the continent's first battery grade cobalt sulfate refinery, a critical step in advancing U.S. efforts to onshore key components of the battery supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign imports.

With 25 years of international business and operational experience, Trent has a proven track record in corporate finance, M&A, mine development, and operations. His leadership roles span industry leaders such as Barrick Gold, Sherritt International, and North American Palladium.

Eric Miller brings nearly 20 years of executive experience in battery materials, automotive, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Since 2023, he has served as an advisor to Global Battery Materials, where he was integral in establishing the business.niversity-students.

His career highlights include senior CFO positions advancing critical mineral projects in silicon anode materials and synthetic graphite, strengthening the resilience of North American energy storage supply chains. As co-founder and CFO of Anovion Technologies, Mr. Miller launched the company, secured federal grant and financing initiatives, and co-founded industry coalitions dedicated to advancing U.S. and Canadian battery materials legislation and shaping industrial policy.

Previously, Mr. Miller held senior leadership roles at Amsted Industries, a Tier 1 supplier to the automotive, rail, and heavy-duty truck sectors. In positions including Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Finance and Strategy, he led over a decade of transformative M&A transactions, international expansions, and product launches with OEMs such as GM, Ford, Daimler, and Dow. His contributions delivered significant sales growth, global market entries, and substantial operational and margin improvements.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Miller served in financial and operational leadership roles at Robert Bosch Group and Amsted Digital Solutions, where he drove supply chain innovation and operational excellence.

Mr. Miller holds dual degrees in management science and finance from St. Bonaventure University.

Marcella Munro is the Head of Government & Regulatory Affairs for Teck Resources. In her role, she leads Teck’s strategic planning and engagement with government officials. Current priorities include supporting Teck through copper growth expansion, leading external engagement to drive thought leadership positioning around critical minerals policy, and providing day to day geopolitical analysis for Teck’s executive leadership team. Prior to joining Teck, Marcella worked in government relations and strategic communications consulting for 15 years, providing counsel to C-Suite leaders across Canada.

Her career started in journalism. Marcella was a national producer for CBC national television

news where she worked in both daily news and investigative reporting. She also spent two

years working for the Alberta government. Marcella’s approach to government relations is rooted in her strengths as a strategist and professional communicator. She has expertise in every aspect of policy development and political engagement and has led the development and implementation of stakeholder engagement plans with all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous communities.

Scott Monteith is an experienced CEO with a successful 30-year track record of moving clean and industrial technology from ideation to commercial success. Mr. Monteith has extensive international experience in the areas of team building, biofuel refining, petrochemical refinery decarbonization, water treatment system manufacturing, research & development, strategic alliance formation, and government affairs.

Mr. Monteith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University and has been a member of the Young President’s Organization for over 20 years.

Richard is a Principal with Azimuth Capital Management, a North American private equity firm with 25 years of energy infrastructure investing experience. Azimuth's latest fund prioritizes investment focus into three verticals: Low Carbon Fuels, Critical Minerals, and Low Carbon Power Production and Storage. Across his 5 years with Azimuth, Richard has supported all aspects of the investment lifecycle from origination to execution of new portfolio investments and plays a key role in potential follow-on investments for current Azimuth portfolio companies. Richard's past roles include time at Wells Fargo and a boutique venture firm focused on the Canadian market.

Specific to Critical Minerals, Richard directly supports an Azimuth in-house developed platform solution focused on building North American midstream processing and upgrading infrastructure. The platform's objective is to enable domestically produced specialty resources to reach the market and to alleviate chokepoints in supply chain security. Initial minerals of focus include heavy rare earths ("HREEs"), gallium, germanium, and tungsten. The platform will deliver a series of projects targeting the most significant semiconductor and defence supply chain needs at speed and scale. Richard holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Finance from the University of Calgary, where he graduated with distinction.

Mr. Reid is a geologist and capital markets executive with over 20 years of experience focused exclusively in the mineral resource space. Mr. Reid started his career as a geologist with Saskatchewan Geological Survey and Cominco Global Exploration after which he became a partner and senior mining analyst at Sprott/Cormark Securities in Toronto. He was then named Executive General Manager at Paladin Energy, where he was responsible for leading all merger and acquisition, corporate and market related activities. He is the former Managing Director Global Mining Sales at National Bank Financial, where he directed the firm’s sales and trading in the mining sector. Most recently, he acted as President and Director of Sulliden Gold Corporation, until its acquisition by Rio Alto Mining in 2014 and was Managing Director at Aguia Resources Ltd. from 2015 to 2019. He holds a B.Sc from the University of Regina, a M.Sc from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Harjit Sajjan served in Canada’s federal Cabinet for nearly a decade (2015-2025), bringing a rare combination of frontline military experience, geopolitical insight, and international development leadership to national and global decision-making tables.

Before entering politics, Sajjan served as a decorated officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, completing multiple overseas deployments including in Bosnia and Afghanistan. He played a critical role in NATO operations and earned commendations for his operational planning and leadership. Simultaneously, he served as a detective with the Vancouver Police Department, focusing on organized crime investigations. This dual-track career shaped his critical analysis approach to crisis management in government and on the international stage.

As Canada’s Minister of National Defence (2015–2021), Sajjan led a major modernization of defence policy through Strong, Secure, Engaged; a 20-year strategic plan backed by $553 billion in funding. Under his leadership, Canada committed to increasing annual defence spending by 73%, from $18.9 billion in 2016–17 to $32.7 billion by 2026–27, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to NATO and global security. He oversaw Canada’s contributions to NATO and G7 missions, led complex procurement initiatives, and responded to emerging threats including cyber warfare, hybrid conflicts, and Arctic sovereignty. He worked closely with allied governments, defence industries, and intelligence agencies across North America, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific.

A cornerstone of his defence tenure was leading the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), Canada’s cryptologic and cyber security agency. In 2018, he championed the creation of the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, consolidating federal cyber expertise into a unified hub serving as the national authority on cybersecurity for both public and private sectors.

Following his Defence portfolio, he was appointed Minister of International Development (2021–2023), where he led Canada’s $8 billion+ global development portfolio. His work spanned climate finance, global health (including COVID-19 vaccine equity), and humanitarian response, often at the intersection of diplomacy, infrastructure, and private capital mobilization. His leadership helped shape Canada’s Indo- Pacific Strategy and strengthened bilateral partnerships across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

From 2023 to 2025, Sajjan served as Canada’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness, spearheading initiatives to enhance national resilience against climate-related disasters, critical infrastructure threats, and cross-jurisdictional emergencies.

Outside of public service, Harjit Sajjan is an avid runner and licensed skydiver, finding balance and focus through physical endurance. His passion for discipline and precision, mirrors his approach to leadership on the global stage.

With deep relationships worldwide including Washington, Brussels, and key multilateral institutions, Harjit Sajjan is uniquely positioned to advise on geopolitical risk, defence-sector investments, and cross- border strategic growth. His ability to synthesize national security, development finance, and foreign policy has made him a sought-after voice on global strategy.

Anton Sestritsyn is a VOSAVIS Principal based in Ottawa, bringing extensive experience in federal politics, public affairs, and strategic communications. His experience spans senior roles, including Legislative Assistant, Campaign Manager, Strategic Communications Advisor, international Parliamentary Friendship Group coordinator, and Manager of Stakeholder Relations for two Leaders of the Official Opposition.

With a strong background in foreign affairs, human rights, and multilateral engagement, Anton has advised international delegations at the United Nations, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. State Department, as well as Canadian parliamentarians and party leaders. His professional background also includes journalism and NGO work focused on international policy issues.

In the private sector, Anton has held executive and consulting positions, including Director of Public Affairs Strategy, Executive Director of Canadian and international organizations, and a Vice-President role within a Canadian defence company.

Anton holds a degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management from Carleton University. He is fluent in three languages and has working proficiency in three others.

Margaret Sault was elected as Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) in December of 2025.

Margaret has dedicated over four decades to serving MCFN, beginning her career in 1977 as Director of Lands, Membership, and Research, and then taking on the role of Governance Director, before retiring in May 2023. Throughout her career, Margaret has been instrumental in the successful settlement of four land claims in collaboration with MCFN, developed numerous educational resources, and delivered countless talks on MCFN history. Her leadership has been pivotal in guiding the First Nation’s progress towards self-governance beyond the Indian Act. Margaret also previously served as an elected Councillor for one term and contributed to various committees and boards.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Margaret is deeply involved in her community. She co-founded the New Credit Cancer Support Group in 2017 and continues to actively volunteer and fundraise in the Six Nations and New Credit communities. For the past 13 years, she has been a key organizer of the annual Historical Gathering, an event that attracts hundreds of attendees to learn about the rich history of the First Nation from a diverse array of speakers. A proud member and resident of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Margaret is a devoted mother of three sons and grandmother of six, and she is known for her exceptional cooking skills!

Divya has extensive experience in project financing and developing infrastructure through her various roles at the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Manulife Financial.

Divya leads the CIB’s Commercial and Transformative Infrastructure investment group, which focuses on working with private and all levels of government on projects that have high impact, higher yield and require higher risk sharing structures. Her portfolio includes Trade, Transport, Critical Minerals, Agri-Food, Digital and AI infrastructure. In her role, she is responsible for advising, sourcing, developing and executing infrastructure opportunities in Canada.

Divya leads the CIB’s Commercial Infrastructure investment group, which focuses on early stage risk sharing partnerships with the private sector. Her portfolio includes Trade, Transport, Critical Minerals and Agri‑Food. Before joining the CIB, Divya was Senior Vice President of Transaction Finance at Infrastructure Ontario, where she structured and negotiated a variety of large and complex Public-Private-Partnerships, commercial and real estate transactions.

Divya is a CFA charter holder with an MBA from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto. Divya has recently completed her Masters in Science in Major Program Management from Oxford University’s Saiid School of Business. Divya was named as one of the 2020 inductees to the Urban Land Institute’s Women’s Leadership Initiative Champions Team.

Gordana Slepcev, M.Sc.P. Eng, is a Professional Mining Engineer registered in Ontario with more than 25 years of global mining experience in developing, building, and leading safe mining operations. Ms. Slepcev’s extensive experience spans multiple commodities, including gold, base metals, coal, and industrial minerals. She brings considerable experience in mineral exploration, permitting, corporate and regulatory/First Nations/ Indigenous relations, and project financing to Lomiko. Before joining the Company, Ms. Slepcev held the position of COO for BMSI, a privately held company, where she was responsible for restarting the barite reprocessing facility, mitigating historical environmental impacts, and overseeing EPCM contractors. She also formerly held the role of COO of Anaconda Mining, where she was responsible for the company’s operations and development of the Goldboro project. Ms. Slepcev graduated from the University of Belgrade with a M.Sc. and is the past Chair of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIM). She is a WTPEO committee member and a member of the Advisory Board of the OreBit platform.

Heather Smiles is a seasoned professional with nearly 15 years of expertise in investor relations, capital markets, strategic planning, and communications. Her career includes strategic roles with global metals and mining organizations including Electra (as First Cobalt), Baffinland Iron Mines, Golden Star Resources, and North American Palladium.

She is skilled at working alongside boards, executive teams, and operations and has a proven track record in analyzing business situations and implementing practical, strategic investor and stakeholder programs. Heather holds an Honours BSc. from the University of Toronto and carries the designation of a Certified Professional in Investor Relations (CPIR).

Joseph “Joe” Sopcisak is a Senior Policy Advisor in Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C., office, where he advises clients on national security, defense innovation, dual-use technology, and defense industrial base strategy. A former Technical Director for Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, he led initiatives spanning the Defense Production Act (DPA) and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programs.

With more than a decade of experience at the intersection of advanced technology, manufacturing, and policy, Joe has deep expertise in critical minerals, microelectronics, advanced materials and manufacturing, energy storage, and AI-enabled defense systems. Earlier in his career, he was a staff scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he managed research in materials and processes vital to national defense. Joe holds an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Darby Stacey, P.E., is the Chief Executive Officer of Talon Metals following the acquisition of Eagle Mine. He previously served as Managing Director of Eagle Mine (since 2020), guiding safe and predictable operational performance of the site under Lundin Mining. During his tenure, Darby drove a growth and opportunity-focused vision for the company, successfully extending mine life beyond the scheduled 2025 closure when he started and overseeing the exceptional cash flows generated during the effective ramp-up of Eagle East.

Darby has over 20-years in the mining industry, with a balance of leadership experience with design, project execution, and operational teams across a wide commodity base. With a technical background in mineral processing and water treatment, he was a key driver in the original design of the Humboldt Mill and in the subsequent ramp-up and operation, enabling the facility to exceed original designs and operate above nameplate capacity.

Prior to returning to Michigan's Upper Peninsula with his family to rejoin Eagle, Darby served as Process Manager at the Idaho Cobalt Project, overseeing processing scope across construction and operational readiness for the high-grade unique resource. Earlier, with Rio Tinto's Resolution Copper, he led process engineering, pre-feasibility design, and geometallurgical modeling.

Darby holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from Montana Tech and is a Registered Professional Engineer (Mining Engineering), State of Arizona.

Todd is the President and CEO of the Association for Mineral Exploration BC (“AME”). His strong advocacy for the role of mineral exploration in British Columbia’s economy is driven by his broad public and private sector experience and leadership.

Todd’s background in government and public affairs includes serving as MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson for almost 12 years, and holding cabinet portfolios of Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for Emergency Management, and Deputy Government House Leader. During his time in office, Stone was recognized and respected for his results-focused and thoughtful approach that helped shape many successful public policies and programs that the province benefits from today.

Prior to being elected for the first time in 2013, Todd was Founder, President and CEO of iCompass Technologies. Here, he built and mentored a strong team to create cutting-edge tech solutions for hundreds of local government and other public sector organizations across Canada and the United States.

Peter works on the BDC Capital’s StrongNorth Fund team, part of BDC’s Defence Platform, investing in Canadian early-stage startups developing deep technologies with defence-focused or dual-use applications. The fund will accelerate the growth of companies advancing innovations aligned with Canada’s sovereign capability priorities outlined in the new Defence Industrial Strategy. Target sectors include aerospace, digital systems, land and marine systems, space technologies, sensors, as well as uncrewed and autonomous systems.

Peter brings over 25 years of experience as a venture investor, company builder, and senior executive in defence relevant technology areas including AI, robotics, semiconductors, and advanced systems. He has founded and scaled multiple deeptech companies, served on more than 20 boards, and previously launched and managed an early-stage technology fund. His past leadership includes senior roles in venture capital and as CEO or co-CEO of several tech companies, notably Applied Brain Research, where he advanced commercialization with partners such as Intel and Google and collaborated with U.S. defence and national security agencies.

Peter holds degrees in computer science, genetics, engineering, finance, securities law, financial engineering, and corporate governance from the University of Chicago, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Osgoode Hall, and ICD.

Jeff is the Director of Strategy and Innovation at CAE D&S Canada; he previously led Canada regional Business Development as well as the Growth & Acquisition portfolios at CAE. In his current role he formulates and directs business and technology strategy for Canada, supports and directs transformative innovation efforts affecting CAE’s regional and International business portfolios, advises on procurement, policy, technology and market changes, and identifies and evaluates non-organic portfolio growth opportunities.

A former Naval Aviator and retired Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Colonel, Jeff was trained as an Air Navigator and Tactical Coordinator (TACCO). His operational background includes extensive deployed sea time with the Royal Canadian Navy flying the CH-124 Sea King helicopter in antisubmarine, surface warfare, and search & rescue roles. In addition to positions such as NATO Fleet Air Officer and 12 Wing Operations Officer, he commanded 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

When not flying, Jeff held a variety of senior staff appointments during his 26-year career. These included Director Canadian Forces Transformation and Director Joint C4ISR in the Vice Chief of Defence Staff Force Development organization. He also served as Special Advisor to Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff for nearly three years, overseeing the daily operations of the CDS’ staff and working internationally and across multiple Departments at the highest levels of civil-military collaboration.

Upon retirement from the CAF Jeff joined General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada as Senior Manager of Air & Naval business development. He then joined KPMG as the Director of Defence Advisory Services, and later worked as Director of Business Development at the Canadian Commercial Corporation. In this capacity he negotiated and structured government-to government transactions in defence, aerospace, and information & communication technology domains, and facilitated Canada-US trade under the Defence Production Sharing Agreement.

Jeff holds a Master’s degree in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. He is an active researcher and a CGAI Fellow, publishing and speaking regularly on defence procurement, geopolitical strategy, and organizational change.

A resident of Ottawa, Ontario, his hobbies include shovelling snow, running slowly, and playing squash decently well.

Jody brings more than 35 years of leadership experience in national security, defence, and intelligence, having served in some of Canada’s most senior roles.

Most recently, she was National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister until 2024. Her distinguished career also includes serving as Deputy Minister of National Defence, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Chief Operating Officer at Passport Canada, and 11 years in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Jody continues to share her expertise as a member of the Prime Minister’s Canada-US Advisory Council, the Board of Governors of Royal Roads University, as a Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa, and the Board of Directors of Electra Battery Materials. Her unparalleled experience makes her a trusted advisor on security, governance, and organizational resilience.

As CADSI’s Vice President, Policy, Communications and Government Relations, Nicolas is responsible for policy development and government advocacy activities. In this role, he applies his experience working at the intersection of politics, policy, and communications. He has served as a senior political staffer at the federal and provincial levels, a federal public servant, and as a seasoned public affairs consultant in the private sector.

Nicolas has worked in demanding environments and under difficult circumstances — be it the high-pressure environment at NATO during the military conflict in Kosovo, organizing prime ministerial summits in Canada or around the world, negotiating sensitive summit deliverables, preparing ministers for Cabinet and Treasury Board meetings, or developing and implementing integrated government relations and communications campaigns.

Kimberley Van Vliet is a leading voice in Canada’s innovation and defence ecosystem, known for bridging commercial and military sectors across aerospace, defence, security, energy, mining, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and advanced technologies. She is the Founder & CEO of WāVv, a strategic consultancy focused on advancing multi and dual-use technology development, and the creator of ConvergX®, the world’s first global congress designed to unite cross-sector decision-makers to accelerate mission-critical innovation.

Kimberley serves as Canada’s Co-Chair for the NATO Industrial Advisory Group’s (NIAG) relationship with Allied Command Transformation (ACT), where she contributes to efforts focused on Innovation, C4ISR, Multi-Domain Operations, Long Term Aspects, and Digital Transformation. She also contributes to NATO SPACENET and supports industry engagement with NATO organizations including DIANA, NCIA, SHAPE, and NSPA.

Christian is the Director in charge of the Circular Business Strategy at Vale Base Metals. Previous to this role, Christian worked more than 20 years in the resource and energy industries across climate, strategy and business innovation. More recently, Christian led the design of the mining industry approach to circularity at ICMM based on his previous work as a strategy consultant advising mining companies to become Material and Carbon Solution Providers. Christian is an economist with postgraduate degrees from the London School of Economics and Oxford Said Business School. Christian loves cycling and spending time with his family.

The Honourable Arif Virani is Senior Counsel at Torys LLP in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice.

Arif has a distinguished record of leadership, public service and legal excellence. Before joining Torys, Arif served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. As the Chief Law Officer of the Crown, he oversaw the administration of Canada’s justice system, provided broad strategic counsel to the federal government, and represented Canada internationally at meetings of the G7, the UN and the Commonwealth.

During his tenure as Minister of Justice, Arif championed numerous initiatives in the service of the justice system, including streamlining the process and pace of judicial appointments, advancing a wide range of legislation and developing access-to-justice strategies to serve diverse Canadian communities. Arif’s work also included leading meaningful engagement with

Indigenous leaders and communities, through consultations and the co-development of public

policy.

Prior to his Ministerial appointment, Arif served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the federal

Ministers of International Trade, Justice, Democratic Institutions, Heritage and Immigration. His

parliamentary career included three consecutive mandates as the Member of Parliament for Parkdale-High Park in the House of Commons.

Earlier in his career, Arif was Crown Counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario

in the Constitutional Law Branch. He has been involved in first instance and appellate litigation involving constitutional and human rights law at every level of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Arif also served as a war crimes prosecutor for the United Nations at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and trained as a Fox Scholar at the Middle Temple, London, U.K. He began his legal career in private practice as a commercial, civil and public law litigator.

Arif is a frequent public speaker and is the recipient of several awards for legal excellence. In September 2025 he was named one of Canada’s 25 Most Influential Lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine. In 2026 he returned to his alma mater, the U. of T. Faculty of Law, to teach an intensive course on Constitutional Law and the role of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. He speaks English, French and some Hindi, and in his free time enjoys travelling, shooting baskets with his kids, tennis, sports documentaries and trivia.

Martin joined RCF in 2015 following an investment banking career that included positions at J.P. Morgan and Citigroup in New York and as Partner of Hudson Bankers, a Latin American boutique M&A firm based in Chile. He has extensive experience in M&A and other transaction advisory services across Latin America, North America, and Europe. Martin was appointed Head of Private Equity Strategy in May 2023. He currently leads a global team of investment professionals across all RCF Private Equity vintages and is responsible for overall investment strategy, deal sourcing, portfolio allocation, deal strategy and investment approval processes. Additionally, Martin manages the day-to-day operations of RCF Private Equity

Dr. Dawn Wellman is an executive leader with nearly 30 years of experience driving innovation,

research, and development across federal research, industry, and critical mineral sectors. Dr. Wellman currently serves as Senior Fellow for Critical Minerals and Materials at Savannah River National Laboratory. Prior to that, she was the Strategic Programs Manager for Rio Tinto's Copper R&D group, where Dr. Wellman managed transformative programs enhancing critical mineral recovery, decarbonization, tailings and water management, and copper production technologies. Previously, she demonstrated exceptional leadership at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), managing a $70M annual R&D portfolio and growing organizational revenue by 14% within a year. Dr. Wellman’s proven ability to lead diverse, matrixed teams, develop market-driven strategies, and cultivate high-impact partnerships makes her an ideal candidate to direct large-scale Research and Development or Innovative Technology programs. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry, a prolific record of publications, and a passion for sustainable innovation, Dr. Wellman combines technical acumen with strategic foresight to deliver transformative results.

Mr. Zollei is a Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Mine Finance and a member of the Management Committee. He has served on the boards of Capstone Copper, Mantos Copper, Lundin Gold, Nomad Royalty, Premier Gold, and Greenstone Gold Mines. Before Orion, Mr. Zollei was an Investment Manager for the Red Kite Group's Mine Finance business, a predecessor to Orion. Before joining Red Kite in 2012, he worked in various investment roles at private equity funds and investment banks, primarily focused on the Natural Resources sector.

Education: BA in Economics (Harvard College), MBA in Finance and Management (University of Pennsylvania, Wharton).

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Bruce Achneepineskum,

Chief

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Senior Vice President - Advisory and Growth, North America

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Bruce Archibald

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Ashley Glen

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Hon. Harjit Sajjan

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Anton Sestritsyn

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Chief

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