Management
GORDON D. WATTS
P.Eng., B.A.Sc. (University of Toronto)
Chairman of the Board
Mr. Watts has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry in exploration, development and operations much of that with Watts, Griffis and McOuat, a Canadian-based firm of independent consulting geologists which has been serving the needs of the international mining community since 1962. He has specialized in the economic analysis of mining ventures and the development and application of computer systems to mining-related problems. Mr. Watts’ varied mining background also includes underground operations (cut and fill and sublevel caving), exploration, mine design and feasibility studies. Mr. Watts was until recently a director of Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation, a TSX listed company. Based on his professional qualifications and experience, Mr. Watts is a “qualified person” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
BRIAN BERNER
H.B.B.A. (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Chief Executive Officer and Director of Cuervo
Mr. Berner has been the owner and President of Berner & Company Inc., a capital markets consulting firm, since 1998. The firm provides advice on raising capital, corporate strategy and investor relations for junior resource companies. Between 1976 and 1998, Mr. Berner held positions in the securities industry specializing in fixed income and bond trading.
VELASQUEZ SPRING
B.A.Sc. (University of Toronto)
Chief Operating Officer and Director of Cuervo
Velasquez Spring has 45 years of experience in the mineral industry with a solid background in the planning and managing of exploration programs, due diligence, feasibility studies, and valuations of both large and small deposits, and operating mines. The experience has been worldwide but includes extensive work in South America with Watts, Griffis and McOuat, Noranda Exploration Co. Ltd. and Eluma S.A. Industria e Comércio. Mr. Spring’s experience also includes dealing with governments at all levels, diplomatic offices and institutional organizations and covering deposits of precious and base metals, iron, nickel, uranium, manganese and a suite of industrial minerals. Based on his professional qualifications and experience, Mr Spring is a “qualified person” as defined in National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
BRIAN M. CLONEY
CA ACC
Chair of the Audit Committee and a Director of Cuervo
Mr. Cloney has over 30 year’s financial and accounting experience including the audit of Noranda Mines. He recently successfully completed the Audit Committee Certified course from the Directors College McMaster University, Conference Board of Canada (Corporate Governance issues). Mr. Cloney has been a Director of HMZ Metals Inc., a TSX listed company.
KENNETH J. HELLSTEN
B.Sc.(Hons.) (Monash University)
Director of Cuervo
Mr. Hellsten is currently a consultant to Strike Resources Limited and has been a non-executive director of Heron Resources Limited since 2006 and Brierty Contracting Limited since 2010. Mr. Hellsten has an extensive managerial and exploration background related to iron ore and nickel projects including many years of service with Billiton Australia and BHP Billiton. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
WILLIAM JOHNSON
MA Oxon, MBA Victoria (New Zealand)
Director of Cuervo
Mr Johnson is currently the Managing Director of Strike Resources Limited and has held senior management and executive roles in a number of public companies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Most recently, Mr Johnson has acted as an executive and non-executive director of a number of ASX listed resource exploration and development companies and brings a considerable depth of experience in business strategy, investment analysis, finance and execution. Mr Johnson is also currently an Executive Director of Orion Equities Limited (ASX:OEQ) (appointed 2003), Bentley Capital Limited (ASX:BEL) (appointed 2009) and a Non-Executive Director of Alara Resources Limited (ASX:AUQ) (appointed 2009).
B.A. (University of Toronto)
Director of Cuervo
John Gruetzner has a diverse range of skills related to conducting business in Asia including market entry and sales development, investment advisory, capital raising and corporate government engagement strategies. Mr. Gruetzner’s focus is on facilitating commercial transactions arising from China’s new outward investment policy. Before founding Intercedent Limited in 1991, Mr. Gruetzner served as the head of the Canada China Trade Council in Beijing. Mr. Gruetzner has also worked for the National Broadcasting Corporation, De Laurentis Entertainment, and Filmline. Mr. Gruetzner received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto and studied Mandarin Chinese at the University of Nankai in Tianjin. He has lived and worked in China for over 28 years and in that time has developed a large network of commercial and political contacts.