John LaGourgue

CEO, President and Director

Mr. LaGourgue brings extensive experience in leadership, capital markets, commercial and governmental relations, business development, and operations in the resource sector. He has a proven track record in project oversight, corporate finance, risk management, and commercial operations. This includes over 25 years in senior executive roles, board positions, advisory roles, and investments in private and public companies with a focus on microcap issuers. Mr. LaGourgue has successfully led commercial and mining exploration programs, secured more than $100 million in debt and equity funding, and advanced projects through multiple stages.

Scott Kelly

CFO

Mr. Kelly has over 20 years of experience acting as a senior officer and/or director of private and public companies with large-scale resource assets throughout North and South America. He has helped manage companies through all stages, from IPOs, developing assets to commercial production and through to successful take-out transactions. Mr. Kelly has acted as CFO of Marlin Gold Mining Ltd., Mako Mining Corp.; V.P. Finance for Pediment Gold Corp.; and served as CFO of Ely Gold Royalties, which was eventually acquired by Gold Royalty Corp. Mr. Kelly helped co-found Dryden Gold Corp. in 2021 and currently acts as director and CFO.

Antoine Fournier

Vice President of Exploration

Antoine Fournier is a geologist with 35+ years of experience in mineral exploration. He holds a B.Sc. from Concordia University and an M.Sc. in Economic Geology from McGill University, where his research focused on REE mineralization at the St-Honoré Carbonatite. His work spans industrial minerals, high-tech metals, and critical minerals. He has contributed to several notable discoveries, including the Knife Lake Graphite Deposit, Freightrain diamondiferous kimberlite, Youga Gold Deposit, and the Mercier phosphate–REE–copper occurrence. Most recently, he led the team recognized with the AEMQ “Discovery of the Year” (2024) for the Adina lithium deposit. He has held senior roles including VP Exploration, CEO, and President within junior mining companies operating in Canada and internationally.

Mr. Fournier currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ordre des Géologues du Québec as an Industry Representative and sits on the GEOTOP Research Center Committee. A registered member (Permit #0516), he is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and has recently acted in that capacity for First Canadian Graphite, including reviewing technical disclosures for its Berkwood airborne EM and magnetic surveys.

Shelley McDonald

Corporate Secretary

Shelley McDonald has been appointed to the role of Corporate Secretary. Shelley brings over 25 years of experience supporting public and private organizations in regulatory compliance and corporate governance, ensuring adherence to industry standards and government regulations.

John LaGourgue

CEO, President and Director

Mr. LaGourgue brings extensive experience in leadership, capital markets, commercial and governmental relations, business development, and operations in the resource sector. He has a proven track record in project oversight, corporate finance, risk management, and commercial operations. This includes over 25 years in senior executive roles, board positions, advisory roles, and investments in private and public companies with a focus on microcap issuers. Mr. LaGourgue has successfully led commercial and mining exploration programs, secured more than $100 million in debt and equity funding, and advanced projects through multiple stages.

Rich Beaven

Director (Independent)

Mr. Beaven is an experienced investment executive with expertise in portfolio management, capital markets, corporate governance and small-cap value investing. He is the Lead Portfolio Manager and Principal at Signia Capital, an institutional-focused asset management firm and previously served as Assistant Director of Research and a Portfolio Manager for a $2B Pacific Northwest asset management firm. Mr. Beaven also serves on the board of directors of Idaho Strategic Resources, providing strategic oversight to a gold producer with rare earth and thorium assets. He holds a business degree from the University of Kentucky, an MBA from Gonzaga University, is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charterholder and is a past President of the CFA Society of Spokane.

Albert De Luca

Director (Independent)

Mr. De Luca is a Fellow CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) and retired tax partner of Deloitte Canada with extensive experience advising leading Canadian and international organizations across sectors including government initiatives, metals & mining and many others. Throughout his career, he played a key role in helping attract some of the largest foreign investments to Canada. Mr. De Luca has also served as a trusted advisor to the federal and Québec governments on policies affecting Canada’s core industries and has chaired and served on the boards of several Québec government-sponsored organizations dedicated to advancing industrial innovation, including Axelys, CENTECH, and ADRIQ.

The Honourable Christian Paradis, P.C.

Director (Independent)

The Honourable Mr. Paradis is a corporate director and senior strategic advisor with more than 25 years of leadership experience in government, corporate strategy, governance and business development. A member of the Québec Bar since 1997, he has extensive expertise in corporate governance, public policy, government relations and market development across highly regulated industries, critical infrastructure, defence and security, natural resources and advanced technologies. Mr. Paradis served as Member of Parliament for Mégantic–L’Érable from 2006 to 2015, holding senior Cabinet portfolios including Public Works and Government Services, Natural Resources, Industry, and International Development and La Francophonie and served as Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Québec Lieutenant from 2008 to 2013. Following his public service, he joined GardaWorld as Senior Vice President, Strategic Development – Protective Services. Since 2020, Mr. Paradis has served as a corporate director and senior strategic advisor, advising organizations on strategic growth, governance, business development and stakeholder engagement. A member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada since 2007, he is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025).

Mike Iverson

Director (Independent)

Mr. Iverson is a seasoned mining executive and capital markets professional with more than two decades of leadership experience in the resource sector. In 1998, he founded Niogold Mining Corp. and co-founded Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., serving in senior executive roles including Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President through 2016. Since 2007, he has also held various executive positions with Volcanic Gold Mines Inc.

At Niogold, Mr. Iverson led the acquisition and exploration of a significant land package in Val-d’Or, Québec, positioning the company for its acquisition by Oban Mining Corp. (now operating as Osisko Mining Inc.) at a substantial premium to Niogold’s market capitalization. At Fortuna, he played an integral role in the company’s evolution into an established silver producer with operating mines in Peru and Mexico.

Over his career, Mr. Iverson has raised, invested, and co-invested more than $100 million in companies he has led and advised. He brings deep expertise in public and private equity markets, strategic planning, corporate governance, and sales and marketing. Companies where he has served as CEO and/or director have achieved aggregate market capitalizations exceeding $1 billion.

Tony LaMantia

Mr. LaMantia, ICD.D, is the President and CEO of the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation (Waterloo EDC). A University of Waterloo alumnus, he has extensive executive experience spanning investment marketing, technology sales, mining and the public sector. Mr. LaMantia previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Investment and Industry, at Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in advancing economic development and fostering investment opportunities across multiple sectors.