Management

Christian Kargl-Simard

President, CEO & Director
P. Eng.

Christian Kargl-Simard is a professional engineer with over 19 years of experience in the mining industry, having worked both in technical and finance roles. Prior to starting Adventus, he worked for 10 years in investment banking roles at Raymond James Ltd. and Haywood Securities Inc. During his tenure in investment banking, Christian was involved in financings raising more than $7 billion, and he assisted in completing over 35 M&A transactions. Christian also worked for Dynatec Corporation in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta up to its sale to Sherritt International Corp. in 2007, both in metallurgical engineering and corporate development roles. Christian is a professional engineer (Canada) and holds a B.A.Sc. degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of British Columbia.

Christian is also non-executive chairman of Surge Copper Corp.(SURG : TSXV) and a non-executive director of Archer Exploration Corp. (RCHR : CSE).


Sam Leung

Vice President, Corporate Development
P. Eng.

Sam Leung is a mining professional with over 15 years of international experience in corporate strategy, due diligence, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Adventus as its second employee, Sam was Director of Corporate Development at Lundin Mining Corporation, where he helped execute several successful transactions with a combined value of over US$ 3.7 billion. He was also responsible for joint-venture related activities with Freeport-McMoRan Inc. in Africa and Europe as well as strategic assignments at Lundin Mining's operations in Europe and the Americas. Prior to Lundin Mining, Sam served a global range of corporate, financial, and governmental clients as a strategy and due diligence consultant for Hatch Ltd.’s metals and mining advisory practice based in London and Toronto. He began his career as a metallurgist and is a licensed professional engineer (Canada). Sam holds a B.A.Sc. degree in Engineering Chemistry from Queen’s University at Kingston, Canada, with first class honours.

Sam Leung is also non-executive director on the boards of AbraPlata Resource Corp. (ABRA : TSXV) and Canstar Resources Inc. (ROX : TSXV). 

Frances Kwong

Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary
FCPA (England and Wales), CPA

Frances Kwong is a financial and administrative professional with over 35 years of international experience from accounting and strategy planning to management of financial systems implementation in mining and other industries. She has over 15 years of experience in the global mining sector, ensuring compliance with financial and regulatory requirements, serving as Chief Financial Officer of Vaaldiam Mining Inc. and as senior consultant for a major mining-focused equity and royalty fund. Prior to the mining sector, Frances worked in the telecommunications and information technology industries. Frances is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a CPA, and holds a B. Soc. Sc. (Hons) degree from the University of Hong Kong.

Olivia Gamache

Vice President, Environmental Management & Community Development
P. Eng.

Olivia Gamache is a professional engineer with over 20 years of international experience specialized in integrating areas of environmental engineering and management, permitting strategy, community relations and corporate social responsibility on mining projects in the Americas and globally. The majority of Olivia's experience was with Hatch Ltd.’s water management and environmental services groups in progressive roles on international consulting assignments for both greenfield and expansion projects. Most recently, Olivia was Environment and Sustainability Manager for Yamana Gold Inc., responsible for the execution of environmental and sustainability related initiatives at mining operations and projects in Canada and South America. Olivia holds Bachelor and Master of Applied Science degrees in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto.

Alvaro Dueñas

Country Manager, Ecuador
Ph.D.

Alvaro Dueñas is Ecuadorian and a qualified lawyer with over 20 years of international business experience focused primarily on development of natural resources and foreign trade in Ecuador. Most recently, Alvaro was the Country Manager of Codelco's subsidiary in Ecuador and responsible for the growth and development of its exploration project portfolio and relations with government and community representatives. As an independent consultant and senior advisor, Alvaro has been an instrumental member of high-profile negotiation teams in Ecuador, including on the trade agreements between the Andean Community and European Union and Mercosur, Ecuadorian free trade agreement with the United States of America, and commercial agreements with the Governments of Canada and Chile. In other Ecuador government related roles, Alvaro is a former Undersecretary of International Trade and Investment, former Director of International Negotiations in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Industry, Fishing and Competitiveness, and Arbitration Secretary in the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Ecuadorean-American Chamber of Commerce. Alvaro holds a doctorate in jurisprudence from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, with additional specialization with the negotiation and conflict resolution program at Harvard Law School.

Dustin Small

Vice President, Projects
P. Eng.

Dustin Small is an engineering, construction, and project management professional with 20 years of experience primarily in the global mining sector, as well as experience in the water treatment, power generation, and oil and gas industries. Dustin has a proven track record in the successful planning and execution of projects in the Americas, including discipline roles in process plant design, contract and risk management, project controls and cost estimation. Dustin comes from a strong EPCM/EPC background and brings knowledge and expertise in all aspects of project development ranging from conceptualization, feasibility studies, engineering, construction, and commissioning. Most recently, he has held project and construction management roles on small to large scale mining projects ranging in size from US$100 million to over US$4 billion with Wood plc (formerly Amec Foster Wheeler) in North America and with Hatch Ltd in Santiago, Chile. Dustin holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from Dalhousie University and is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.

Skott Mealer

General Manager of the Curipamba Project, Vice President

Based in Ecuador, Mr. Mealer is a project and construction management professional with over 25 years of international experience, with the last 15 years successfully executing projects in the Americas and most recently with Kinross Gold Corporation. He is fluent in Spanish and English and has extensive project experience in Ecuador from his involvement with both major mines currently in operation within the country – the Fruta del Norte mine development while under Kinross ownership, and the Mirador mine while owned by Corriente Resources. Most recently, Mr. Mealer managed the restart of Kinross's La Coipa Mine in Chile. As General Manager at site, Mr. Mealer will be taking a 'hands-on' approach to the execution of the project and will report to Dustin Small, Vice President of Projects at Adventus Mining, and work closely with all stakeholders in Ecuador.

Nelson Yanes

Vice President, Human Resources & Chief Compliance Officer
MAHR

Nelson has more than 20 years of global experience as human resources leader in the natural resources and mining industry. Throughout his career, he has worked for world-class mining operations and projects, particularly in the Americas, including for Alamos Gold, Torex Gold, Baffinland, Barrick Gold and KGHM International. Mr. Yanes holds a LL.B, a Master’s Degree in Human Resources & Organization Development from Northeastern University (USA), a MBA Essentials certification from Rotman School of Management (Canada), and is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto (Canada).