Corporate
Email 'Management & Directors' item to a friendShow printable version of 'Management & Directors' item in a New Window
Management
Helio Resource Corp has an experienced management team and a strong Board of Directors.

Chris MacKenzie and Richard Williams, the founders of BAFEX (which acquired Helio through a reverse takeover) form the executive management of Helio. They are supported by a seasoned board of industry professionals with extensive experience of discovering, commissioning, and operating mines in various countries throughout the world.
 
MANAGEMENT & DIRECTORS

 
Christopher J. Mackenzie, M.Sc., C. Geol.
Position: Chief Operating Officer & Director

Chris MacKenzie is a Chartered Geologist who has worked widely in Africa, Europe and the Americas. Chris holds a B.Sc. Honours Degree in Geology from Portsmouth University, UK and an M.Sc. Degree in Exploration Geology from Rhodes University, South Africa.

Chris started his career in 1989 as a mining / exploration geologist working on the Selebi-Phikwe, Selkirk and Phoenix Cu-Ni deposits in Botswana. In 1996 Chris joined Canarc Resource Corp. working as an exploration geologist / manager in Central and South America, before being appointed Managing Director of Canarc van Suriname, being responsible for exploration and acquisition opportunities in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana.

In 2000, after completing his M.Sc., he and Richard Williams formed the BAFEX group of companies, the precursor to Helio Resource Corp. Chris was based in Namibia between 2001 until early 2007 when he relocated to the UK to focus on developing the company's exploration portfolio and operational aspects.

 
Richard D. Williams, M.Sc., P.Geo
Position: Chief Executive Officer & Director

Richard Williams is a Professional Geologist with 20 years experience in gold mining and precious and base metal mineral exploration in southern Africa, south, central and north America, and most recently in southern Europe.

Richard graduated from Portsmouth University, UK in 1988, before becoming a mine geologist in the Witwatersrand goldfields, South Africa. In 1993, he completed a Master's degree in Mineral Exploration at Queen's University, Ontario and joined Canarc Resource Corp. as its Exploration Manager in Suriname, South America. In 1998, based in Vancouver, Richard assumed the role of Acquisitions Manager for Canarc, working mainly in Mexico.

In 2001, Richard formed his own exploration consulting company - RDW Consulting - as well as assisting Chris MacKenzie in the formation of the BAFEX group of companies. As a consulting geologist Richard worked for a variety of exploration companies, with experience gained in the exploration for IOCG deposits in northern Canada and Chile, and also for high and low sulphidation gold deposits in Sardinia, Italy. Richard is based in Vancouver and is responsible for Helio's corporate affairs.

 
MANAGEMENT

 
Andrew MacRitchie, C.A.
Position: Chief Financial Officer

Andrew MacRitchie holds a B.Sc. Honours degree from the University of British Columbia. He received his Chartered Accountant designation in 2003 while articling with PricewaterhouseCoopers. During that time, Andrew provided services to public companies in the technology and commodities industries. Prior to joining Helio in 2007, Andrew spent four years as the Corporate Controller for a group of exploration-stage companies with gold, silver, diamond and base-metals projects in North America, South America, and Africa.

Andrew volunteers as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Canadian Cancer Society, (BC and Yukon division) and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

 
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

 
D. Grenville Thomas, P. Eng.
Position: Chairman & Director

D. Grenville Thomas is best known as as the founder (and has held positions as Chairman, President and Director) of Toronto-based Aber Resources Ltd. (now Harry Winston Diamond Corporation). Harry Winston holds interests in various properties throughout the Northwest Territories, including the Diavik Diamond Mine, Canada's second diamond mine.

More recently, Mr. Thomas was a Director of both Navigator Exploration Corp. and Strongbow Resources Inc. Strongbow Resources merged in 2004 to become Strongbow Exploration Inc. Mr. Thomas currently holds the position of Chairman of the Board with Strongbow Exploration.

In January of 2009, Mr. Thomas was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.

Mr. Thomas brings significant exploration experience and demonstrated exploration success to the Board.

 
Clifford T. Davis, CA
Position: Director

Cliff Davis is the CEO of Nevsun Resources Ltd, which is building the Bisha gold-copper-zinc mine in Eritrea. Mr. Davis is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. Prior to joining Nevsun in 1994, Mr. Davis was an audit partner in the international accounting firm, KPMG where he provided services predominantly to public companies in the resource, industrial and financial sectors.

Mr. Davis was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Nevsun in August 2008 after having served as Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer since 2002 and CFO from 1994 to 2000. During the period from 2000 - 2002 he was the Chairman and CEO of a public chemical manufacturing company.

Mr. Davis brings to the Board his international business experience in operations and finance as well as his experience in accounting and corporate governance.

 
Stephen M. Leahy
Position: Director

Mr. Leahy is a businessman who has participated actively in the formation, growth and financings of numerous mining and oil & gas companies in Canada and internationally. Since 1981 Mr. Leahy has served as President, Chairman, CEO or Director of numerous private and publicly traded companies with listings on the TSX Venture Exchange and TSX including Startech Energy, Wellco Energy Services and First Silver Reserve.

Mr. Leahy is currently Chairman & CEO of North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd, which owns 100% of the CanTung Mine and MacTung deposit in the Yukon/NWT.

 
Colin Jones, B.Sc., MAusIMM
Position: Director

Colin Jones is a graduate of Massey University, New Zealand having obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Sciences in 1980. He is also a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Mr Jones has 26 years experience as a mining, exploration and consulting geologist. He has worked globally on producing mines, as part of feasibility teams and as an explorationist. He has managed large exploration and due diligence projects, and has undertaken numerous bankable technical audits, technical valuations, independent expert reports and due diligence studies worldwide.

Mr. Jones has worked for Anglo American Corporation in South Africa, BP Minerals in Indonesia, San Martin Mining in Kenya, and Freeport Indonesia. In 1998 he became Partner and Manager Audits for RSG Global in Australia. He now holds the position of Executive Vice President with Dundee Resources Limited, Toronto.

Mr. Jones brings significant technical and due diligence experience to the Board.