Board of Directors

Mark has been involved in various capacities in the global mining industry and the North American and European debt and equity markets since 1990. Mark is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Aurelius Minerals Inc.

Previously, Mark served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Stonegate Agricom Ltd. from August 2008 to September 2014. From 2007 to 2008, Mark worked at Versant Partners, where he was responsible for successfully developing their mining finance business in sales, trading and corporate finance. Prior to joining Versant Partners, Mark had been employed since 2003 with Toll Cross Securities Inc., a boutique institutional firm in Toronto where he became Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking. From 2001 to 2003, Mark was a member of the Mining and Metals Team at Standard Bank’s New York office where he was responsible for providing metals trading and project financing solutions to mid-tier developers and producers in Canada and Latin America. From 1999 to 2000, he was a member of the Mining and Metals Team of Barclays Capital, a leading provider of project finance to the mining industry.

From 1996 to 1998, he worked in Mines Technical Services at Inco Limited’s Ontario Division, where he qualified as a Professional Engineer in Ontario. Mark received his Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from Laurentian University and a Master of Science (Finance, Regulation and Risk Management) from the ISMA Centre of the University of Reading.

Ms. Sheila Colman joined Moneta Gold’s Board of Directors in December 2022. Ms. Colman currently serves as Vice President, Legal and Corporate Secretary of Lundin Gold Inc., owner of Fruta del Norte which is one of the highest-grade operating gold mines in the world. Ms. Colman has been working within the Lundin Group of Companies since 2006 and brings almost over 20 years of experience in the mining sector to Moneta’s Board. Ms. Colman has responsibility for legal, compliance and governance matters at Lundin Gold and played an integral role in the Company’s US$300 million project financing by Orion Mine Finance, US$250 million strategic investment by Newcrest Mining Limited and US$350 million syndicated senior lending facility. She co-leads on key ESG matters including climate strategy and ED&I programs and initiatives. Prior to Lundin Gold, she was Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Denison Mines Corp. Ms. Colman graduated from Queen's University with a B.A.(H) and then received her LL.B. from Queen's University. She is a member of both the British Columbia and Ontario Bars and has a Global Competent Boards designation (GCB.D) from Competent Boards.

Rodney A. Cooper, P.Eng., MBA, is a professional engineer who, from 2011 to 2017, was President and Chief Operating Officer of Labrador Iron Mines Limited where he maintained stakeholder relationships including several complex agreements with First Nations, multiple rail and port logistic agreements, and negotiations with the Quebec and Newfoundland provincial regulatory regimes. He was actively involved in approximately $100 million in equity financings and $30 million streaming deal financing. He was also instrumental in negotiating a $30 million joint venture with Tata Steel on one deposit.

From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Cooper was Vice President and Senior Mining Analyst at Dundee Securities where he covered 17 listed companies in the commodity space, of which 7 became the targets of successful mergers and acquisitions. During his tenure he was actively involved in equity and debt deals exceeding $5 billion in value.

From 2000 to 2009, Mr. Cooper was Vice President, Technical Services in the corporate office of Kinross Gold Corporation where he established a team of engineers and geologists responsible for project evaluation, project development, technical and economic studies and for the integrity of the resource and reserve base and reporting system. He worked extensively with the operating mines and projects in Ontario, Alaska, Nevada, Washington, Nunavut, Russia, Zimbabwe, Chile and Brazil. He successfully implemented a complex geotechnical and mine closure effort for 14 historical mines simultaneously, in joint venture with the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, in and around Timmins, Ontario. The program was completed under budget and a year ahead of schedule, paving the way for the formation of the Porcupine Joint Venture with Placer Dome, which effectively consolidated gold assets in the Timmins Gold Camp. The assets are now owned and successfully operated by Goldcorp.

Mr. Gariepy is currently the VP Exploration of O3 Mining Inc. He is a geological engineer with over 30 years of international mining experience, including substantial experience in Québec and Latin America. Mr. Gariepy most recently served as Exploration Manager of Anglo American plc in Peru, during which time he was instrumental in the delineation of their exploration programs. Prior to his role at Anglo American plc, Mr. Gariepy served as Exploration Manager of IAMGOLD Corporation in Peru from 2005 to 2012, working on a wide array of projects in Latin America. Mr. Gariepy has also worked for Compañia Minera Milpo from 1999 to 2005, where he contributed in making of the Cerro Lindo VMS deposit a world-class mining asset. Mr. Gariepy began his career as a mining explorationist with Noranda Inc. in Québec from 1986 to 1997.

Mr. Henry is the managing partner of Hampton-Metrix Capital Partners Inc. which primarily organizes financings and structures for: the acquisition, enhancement, development and disposition of various real estate opportunities in domestic and international markets. Since 1981, Mr. Henry has held various positions in the investment banking industry. He managed various tax-assisted and other private placements, public equity financings and alternative investment products both in Canada and internationally. Throughout his career Mr. Henry has established a reputation for developing innovative real estate and capital market offerings. Mr. Henry currently is an active member on the boards of several public and private corporations. Mr. Henry qualified as a Chartered Accountant while with Deloitte & Touche LLP in Toronto, Ontario. While in public practice Alex lectured and was published in his focused areas of taxation, real estate and corporate finance.

Krista Muhr brings nearly 20 years of experience working with public companies in the global metals and mining sector with strong ESG and capital market credentials at senior levels. Advisor to both corporate and trade association boards during her 10 years in executive roles, Krista most recently served as Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Sustainability for Eldorado Gold Corporation. She has led award winning investor relations programs, been a key team leader in friendly and hostile acquisitions totaling $7B with Andean Resources Limited and Meridian Gold Inc., and participated in bought-deal financings worth over $320M.

She has been a board member of the Canadian Mining Innovation Council and of the Mining Association of Canada.

Krista is currently a member of Ensign Minerals Inc. Board of Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University and a Corporate Directors International designation. She is based in British Columbia.

Mr. Gary O’Connor, is currently CEO and Chief Geologist and Director of the Company. He has over 30 years of experience in international mineral exploration and development. He is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM), a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geology, and holds a graduate degree in geology, geophysics and environmental studies from the University of Auckland.

Mr. O’Connor was Vice-President of Dundee Resources from 2007 to 2017 where he guided investment decisions with his technical due diligence on 200+ resource projects across all continents and covering gold, diamonds, base metals, bulk commodities and uranium.

From 2000 to 2007, Mr. O’Connor was Vice-President, Exploration of Gabriel Resources Ltd. where he directed the drill out and feasibility of the 16+Moz Rosia Montana gold resource, the discovery and scoping of the Rodu-Frasin gold deposit (~2Moz), as well as the drill out and scoping studies of the large (500+MMt) Tarnita and Rosia Poieni Cu-Au porphyry deposits. Mr. O’Connor was Vice-President, Exploration of European Goldfields from 2000 to 2003 where he was responsible for the discovery, drill out and scoping studies of a number of deposits in the belt including the Certej gold deposit (3Moz), the Teascu (0.5Moz) gold deposit, and Hanes gold deposits (0.6Moz).

From 1990 to 2000 he worked as District Exploration Manager for Freeport-McMoRan (“Freeport”) in Indonesia where he was responsible for exploration of the Papuan Belt. His successes include the discovery, drill out, resource estimation and scoping study of the Wabu Gold skarn deposit (12+Moz), the drill out of two large (500+MMt) Duwagu and Komopa Cu-Au porphyry deposits, the discovery of the Etna Bay Cu-Au porphyry deposit for which he received the Freeport President’s Award for exploration success, the discovery of the Mamoa Au-Cu porphyry system, as well as a number of epithermal gold, skarn and porphyry copper-gold projects including the Siduarsi Ni-Co laterite deposit (100+MMt @ 1.1% Ni, 0.12% Co). During his term at Freeport, Mr. O’Connor also worked on the due diligence which led to the revelation of the major fraud committed by Bre-X Minerals with its Busang gold “deposit” in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Josef Vejvoda acts as a special advisor to K2 & Associates Investment Management Inc., a multi-strategy investment fund. Previously Josef was a portfolio manager at K2 from Aug 2013 and became K2’s Chief Executive Officer in Oct 2018 and Chief Compliance Officer in Mar 2017, until stepping back from administrative duties in March 2021 to focus solely on special projects.

Mr. Vejvoda has over twenty-five years of extensive capital markets experience and has held senior management roles at a number of the country’s largest financial institutions including Merrill Lynch Canada, National Bank Financial, and TD Securities. Josef has served on numerous public company boards and has contributed to the realization of significant increases in shareholder value. Mr. Vejvoda has served as a director of Moneta Porcupine Mines Inc. (TSX:ME), a gold exploration company, since July 2019. Josef was a director of ShoreTel Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOR) from Oct 2015 until the company’s sale to Mitel Networks for US$540 million in Sep 2017. Mr. Vejvoda served as a director of Dominion Diamond Corporation (TSX:DDC, NYSE:DDC) from Jan 2016 until the company was sold for US$1.2 billion to Washington Corporate in Nov 2017. Josef also previously served on the board of Acerus Pharma (TSX:ASP) and was a member of the Strategic Review Committee from Dec 2015 until Jun 2016, when a control block purchase was enacted by the company’s chairman. Additionally, Mr. Vejvoda also served as a director of PNI Digital Media Inc. (TSX: PN) from Mar 2013 to Jul 2014 and presided over the company’s sale to Staples Inc. for almost $75 million.

Josef Vejvoda graduated from Queen’s University with a bachelor degree in computer science. Josef has also earned the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation from the Canadian Securities Institute and is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors having achieved the ICD.D designation.

Mr. Zaritsky is currently Chief Financial Officer of Osisko Mining Inc. He has over 15 years of Canadian public practice experience, with exposure to various types of engagements and clients, gained through managing audit engagements of publicly listed companies traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, and Canadian Securities Exchange. Mr. Zaritsky currently serves as a Director of Talisker Resources Inc. and Silver Mountain Resources Inc. 

 Mr. Zaritsky obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2003 and holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in accounting and economics from Brock University and Western University, respectively.

Mr. Vizquerra is a former Director of Moneta Gold and currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Company. He is President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of O3 Mining. Prior to his appointment at O3 Mining, Mr. Vizquerra was Executive Vice President of Strategic Development for Osisko Mining Inc. Mr. Vizquerra joined Osisko Mining Inc. from Oban Mining Corporation, where, as President and Chief Executive Officer, he played a leading role in the combination of Oban Mining Corporation, Corona Gold Corporation, Eagle Hill Exploration Corporation, and Ryan Gold Corporation to form Osisko Mining Inc.

Mr. Vizquerra currently serves as a Director of Osisko Mining Inc. and Silver Mountain Resources Inc., and as an advisor to the boards of Discovery Metals Corporation and Palamina Resources.

Mr. Vizquerra is an alumnus of the General Management Program and the Advanced Finance Program, at the Wharton School of Business. He holds an MSc in Mineral Exploration from Queens University and a BSc in Civil Engineering from UPC Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas.