Leadership

Following an earlier career as a reporter and editor, Leah has been employed in BC’s post-secondary system for 20 years where she has been a change-maker through creating and delivering industry-relevant education in BC. She ran the Continuing Education department at the Fort St. John campus of Northern Lights College in the late nineties, then spent 13 years as the Fernie Campus Manager of College of the Rockies before starting her job as Director in Cranbrook. Leah has worked with both the oil and gas industry and mining in her roles at these colleges. One of her key accomplishments at COTR was and most launching the Haul Truck Operator program. In 2012-2013 she also managed the Secretariat supporting the Kootenay Regional Skills Training Plan. She is passionate about creating and delivering industry-relevant education in BC. Leah has an unwavering passion for empowering women and other equity-deserving individuals into non-traditional employment related to trades and mining.

Jonathan joined AME in 2005. Jonathan grew up in the mining town of Elliot Lake, Ontario, and first moved to BC to study at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a B.A. in Geography. In addition to a background in communications for the mineral exploration and mining sector, Jonathan has studied, lived, and worked in Japan, and is the author of Inside the Torii Gate: The Journal of an Exchange Student in Japan.

He served as 2015-2016 Chair of the BC Technical & Research Committee on Reclamation, on which he represents AME and is a member of the Health & Safety Committee of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada. He has received the Advanced Communicator Gold award from Toastmasters International, and is an active member of Vancore Toastmasters.

As Director of Employment and Training for the Tahltan Central Government, she developed OnTrack: Tahltan Essential Skills Database, that allows Tahltan people to access job opportunities in their Territory and allows the Nation to hold employers accountable to their IBA’s. OnTrack has also revolutionized how the industry views applicant eligibility for jobs in the mining industry.

As the Director of Community Relations with Skeena Resources, the goals Campbell developed for the Tahltan Mentorship Program are to prepare Tahltan mentees for management roles in the mining industry and connect mentees with Tahltan Territory, culture, and community. The program provides opportunities for the Tahltan mentees to go home to Tahltan Territory, many for the first time, to connect with their families and participate in cultural activities.

Freda Campbell, was awarded the 2023 Indigenous Trailblazer Award by Women in Mining Canada, which recognizes and celebrates the contribution of Indigenous Women to the development of the Canadian Mining Industry.

Additionally, she co-owns a family-based heavy-duty mechanical maintenance company for the past 14 years. Taryn is a member of the Tahltan Nation and a member of the wolf clan and her husband is a member of Witset First Nation, from Witset BC. Taryn brings board experience with currently sitting on the Coast Mountain College-Foundation as a board member. She has a passion for education and training, and support initiatives that enhance education and training for all community members.

She has been employed with Seabridge Gold since 2011, and held her current role as manager, office and community affairs where she is responsible for meaningful engagement with local communities and other stakeholders in relation to Seabridge Gold’s premier assets, KSM Project, Snip Gold and 3 Aces Project. She has represented Seabridge Gold at career fairs, business expos, mining forums, trade shows and open houses. She travels to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to address project related questions/concerns and to share regular updates with community members. She manages all of Seabridge Gold social media platforms and websites. She has assisted in designing and implementing scholarship programs for Seabridge Gold for the past eight years to assist students from northwest BC further their education and training and develop a strong, educated workforce in the region. Through such initiatives, she encourage young women and Indigenous youth with information to support their career aspirations in the mining sector.

Sonia enjoys passing on her knowledge as a mentor and a university lecturer, and is an adjunct professor at UBC and SFU.
Sonia values fairness and believes in values-based leadership to create a work environment that encourages self-awareness, perspective-taking and empathy, fosters creativity and supports the development of personal strengths.

She has vast experience supporting communities’ economic development  through experience such as, Economic Development Officer for the Squamish Nation for 13 years, representing capital projects, procurement, vetting proponents and advising key decision makers on impact-benefit agreement negotiations. In addition, she was the project administrator for the Squamish Nation Trust for 13 years.

She has a powerful track record spanning over two decades and has become known as a driving force behind the growth of over 800 Indigenous entrepreneurs, organizations, and First Nations communities.  Her exceptional expertise in business development has been instrumental in igniting economic transformation and empowering Indigenous ventures on an unprecedented scale.

Geena is a board member of Four Pillars Society, responsible for the management and distribution of a $2.8 billion settlement from the Government of Canada to the 325 Band Class members who signed on to the class action lawsuit concerning Residential Day Scholars.  She also Chair of Golden Eagle Rising, advisor to Sam’s Foundation, Live Different and previously Right to Play, She is the current president of Indigenous Initiatives dedicated to assisting Indigenous communities to increase economic development and operating profitable businesses through strong and meaningful partnerships, principal at Sunspear Microgrid, which provides turnkey energy solutions for remote and northern locations, and principal for Open Sky Services that sources talent for organizations. Geena Jackson is a well known key-note speaker on subjects of procurement, entrepreneurism, youth education, and more and has recently emceed events such as the BC Achievement Awards, Indigenomics, Vancouver Island Economic Alliance Summit and much more. Finally, she continues to share her knowledge and passion as the Executive Producer & Creator of Bear’s Lair TV Show, Beyond the Lair Podcast and Bears’ Lair Dreams Camps.

Douglas has come to appreciate the dedication of Canada’s mining industry to improve training practices, operational sustainability, and community benefits. Critical mineral mining in Canada is essential for supporting the ongoing transition to the digital economy and broader economic changes from electrification of the country’s energy and transportation infrastructure.

Douglas looks forward to continuing his contribution to the BC mining sector through CTEM and a more active leadership role working with the other Executive Council members. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Skills Development and Recognition with the Mining Industry Human Resource Council of Canada (MiHR) and is a cheerleader of the work to standardize training best practices across the country.

Elaine is currently the Director of Finance of Allnorth Consultants Ltd.  Prior to joining Allnorth, she was an independent consultant with BC Hydro and Telus as her major clients.  She has also co-founded a project delivery consulting firm, PDO Solutions, and was a Senior Finance and Accounting Manager at Hatch Ltd.  Through these experiences she has demonstrated her ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively and build trust.

Elaine is a graduate of BCIT, in Financial Management, and holds an Executive MBA from Simon Fraser University.  She is certified as a Prosci Change Practitioner and Prince2 Agile Practitioner.  Elaine has been on CTEM’s Finance Committee since October 2016, an Advisory Council member from 2018 – 2021, and has held the role of Finance Committee Chair since 2019.

Aldea’s mining career enjoyed many highlights. She was recognized in the Barrick Gold’s quarterly newsletter as a “pioneers A Safety First” of mining because of the development of a new position in the mining industry the Social Development Coordinator. In the spring of 2008 AMEBC published their Stepping Stone Issue 5, an article that is titled “Support in all the Right Places, Eskay Creek Mine initiates an industry first in employee wellbeing” that featured Aldea and her position with Barrick Gold. She led and presented the results of the Wolverine Mine Heavy Equipment Certification Pilot Project at the 3rd Annual Yukon First Nations Conference in 2012 and in 2013 she was presented with the Yukon Chamber of Mines Community Award at the 2012 Yukon Geoscience Forum Awards. The award was for the workshop development and community presentations “Working in the Mining Industry.”   Aldea maintains a holistic, person-centered approach in her various roles.

During his time in the BC public service, Tim served as Deputy Minister of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction, and Liquor Distribution; Associate Deputy Minister of the BC Major Investments Office, charged with accelerating permitting and authorizations for complex major natural resource and infrastructure projects; and founding Executive Director (Assistant Deputy Minister) of the BC Progress Board, a board of blue-chip CEO’s tasked with benchmarking BC’s performance and providing strategic advice to the Premier of British Columbia.

Tim’s work in economic development also includes serving as President & CEO of Initiatives Prince George Development Corporation — the economic development authority for Prince George, BC – where he was responsible for collaborative cross-organizational efforts to advance the city as a globally connected, knowledge-based, resource economy hub.

Apart from his current role with MABC, Tim has also worked with other leading BC business associations, including most recently the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association as Senior Vice President, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement. Early in his career, he was Director, Programs & Policy with the Business Council of BC, where he worked on public policy advocacy initiatives, including the landmark multi-association, two-year BC Business Summit process.

Tim has served as a member of the Deputy Ministers Council of BC and the Board of Governors of the Business Council of BC, along with numerous other government and non-profit organizations.

Tim holds a B.A and an M.P.A. from the University of Victoria, and lives with his wife Cynthia McEwan in Tsawwassen, BC.

Uche’s mining experience spans across various jurisdictions (Alberta, NWT, Yukon, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia) and commodities (coal, diamonds, gold & silver).

Uche has been on the Advisory Council of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia and Yukon (BPHR BC & Yukon) for the past three years. He has also worked with under-represented groups as well as a number of remote communities.

He holds a M.A. Energy and Mineral Resources, Petroleum Engineering, from the University of Texas at Austin (1985); a M.A. English, from the University of Texas at Austin (1983); and B.A. Hons. English, from Simon Fraser University (1979). Mike has been an Advisory Council member of CTEM since 2014 and has held leadership roles of Finance Committee Chair and Executive Council member.

Mike Schoen served as lead Director, Chair of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees for Bucking Horse Energy from 1996-2013. From 2003-2013 he served as Director, Chairman of the Board, and Chair of the Audit Committee, for Gemini Energy. From 1992-2005 he was Director of Netco Energy, Cubix Acquisitionco, Ultra Petroleum Holdings, CubixUltra Petroleum, Ultra Petroleum and Ris Resources. He was a founding Director of Ultra Petroleum, which today is known as PureWest Energy, the largest producer of natural gas in Wyoming.

During her time at AME BC, Tracey was a member of the BC Human Resources Mining Task Force, a team lead on the Diversity Women committee and currently lead support on the integrated social responsibility committee and the communications and marketing committee. She is currently Senior Stakeholder Engagement specialist at the B.C. regulator for the financial services sector.  Tracey has a Master’s Degree from Royal Roads University in Professional Communications to complement her Project Management Certificate from UBC.

Mieke Vink is proud of her involvement at Skeena Resources promoting social, economic, and environmental sustainability. During her tenure, she held five positions with increasing levels of responsibility starting as a GIS/Geosciences Intern, and eventually assuming the role of Sustainability Project Specialist. Through her work, she gained well-rounded experience in both the corporate and site operations for the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project. Mieke used her years of experience in training and program development to co-develop and manage Skeena’s Tahltan Mentorship Program. This program aims to develop young Tahltan professionals into management roles by developing their technical skills and facilitating their participation in Tahltan communities, culture, and governance. Mieke has forged strong remote and rural community partnerships and enjoyed working in northern BC.

In 2024, Mieke made the leap to consulting, joining One-eighty Consulting Group Inc. (one-eighty) as a Senior Coordinator. One-eighty is a regulatory affairs consulting firm that specializes in helping companies advance mineral properties and other resource assets toward permitting and development in a timely, cost-efficient, and reputation-enhancing way. At one-eighty, Mieke works in a fast-paced environment of a growing team of highly experienced professionals, applying her experience and knowledge to create conditions for success. Mieke is an advocate for young professionals in the mining industry and is passionate about promoting diversity within the mining sector.

During this period companies under Dr. Webb’s management have raised over $80 million in development funds.  This includes permitting and developing the only active gold mine in the Northwest Territories, Canada and first in the past 30 years.  As a consultant, he co-authored a Qualifying Report recommending the acquisition of an exploration property which has now been developed into Fortune Mineral’s Nico Project, NWT, a gold, cobalt IOCG deposit hosting the world’s largest reserves of bismuth, currently in permitting. Dave has worked with associations and training organizations to support industry-specific training in NWT.