Management

John Begeman, President and CEO

 

Mr. Begeman is a mining engineer with over 30 years of mining experience. He is currently the President and CEO of Valencia Ventures Inc. and was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Zinifex Canada Inc. (formerly Wolfden Resources Inc.). In addition, he has served as Vice President, Western Operations of Goldcorp Inc.

 

Chris Bradbrook – VP Strategic Development

 

Mr. Bradbrook has almost 30 years experience in the mining industry in progressively more senior roles and has worked both as a direct industry participant and in the financial sector as a mining analyst. Most recently he was CEO of New Gold where he was responsible for re-branding the company and raising almost $500 million. Prior to holding that role he was Vice President, Corporate Development with Goldcorp Inc. during the period of its most dramatic share price increase

 

Rene Bharti, VP Corporate Development

 

Mr. Bharti has held roles in several public and private companies, including those in the resource, technology, and entertainment sectors. Previously, Mr. Bharti also served as Vice President of Business Development for a publicly listed resource company with gold assets in the former Soviet Union. Mr. Bharti holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Queen’s University, Canada.

 

Andrew Bradfield, Chief Operating Officer

 

Andrew Bradfield has over 24 years of operations, technical, and management experience in the mineral resource industry. He has held positions at mines in Australia, Canada, China, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sweden. His experience includes start-up, development, operations, as well as technical and financial evaluations. Mr. Bradfield was most recently VP, Operations for TVI Resources. Prior to joining TVI, he was the Chief Operating Officer for a mining and exploration company, which operates a diamond mine, and explores for diamonds and gold in China. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. with honours) in Mining Engineering from Queen’s University, Canada

 

Don Dudek, Senior VP Exploration

 

Mr. Dudek has held various roles with junior to senior exploration and mining companies over the past 25 years. Most recently Mr. Dudek served as Exploration Manager for Aur Resources Inc. During his career Mr. Dudek was part of the team that discovered new VMS deposits in the N.W.T., Manitoba and Saskatchewan, a shear zone Au deposit in Manitoba that was mined, and a sediment-hosted copper zone in Saskatchewan. He also supervised work at Aur’s high profile La Verde Cu-porphyry deposit in Mexico. Mr. Dudek holds a B.Sc. Geology (honours) from the University of Saskatchewan

 

Greg Duras, CGA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer

 

Gregory Duras joined Avion Gold Corporation in May 2008, bringing with him more than a decade of corporate and project finance experience in the resource sector. From 2004 to 2007, he held the position of Vice President of Finance and Administration at S.C. Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A. (RMGC), a mineral exploration and mining development company based in Romania with responsibility for financial reporting, project financing, taxation, auditing and budgeting activities. Prior to RMGC, Mr. Duras served as Controller for TSX-listed Gabriel Resources Ltd. from 2000 to 2004. In this role, Mr. Duras was responsible for overall general accounting, internal auditing, cost accounting and budgetary controls. He also established, implemented and monitored financial controls. Mr. Duras entered the resources sector in 1996 as Controller with High River Gold Mines. Mr. Duras is a Certified General Accountant and a Certified Professional Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Administration from Lakehead University.

 

Pat Gleeson, Corporate Secretary

 

Patrick Gleeson joined Avion Gold Corporation as Corporate Secretary in 2007. Prior to joining Avion, he worked at a major Canadian law firm, with a focus on securities law, particularly mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Gleeson holds a Juris Doctor and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Toronto, and holds a Bachelors of Arts from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

 

Nejib Biya, Vice President, African Development

 

Mr. Abba Biya has strategic connections across Africa, and is one of the founders of the African New Comers Association, as well as the founder and Chairperson of the African Training Employment Centre. Mr. Abba Biya has founded, ran and sold several technology companies over the past two decades. Mr. Abba Biya was born in Ethiopia, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Toronto

 

Peter MacLean, Exploration Manager North America

 

Dr. MacLean was previously the Regional Exploration Manager for  Aur Resources in Mexico from 2003 to 2007. With Aur, Dr. MacLean was instrumental in the acquisition and evaluation of the La Verde Cu-porphyry deposit. Dr. MacLean has also worked with other mining companies in Mexico and consulted for companies including Newmont Mining Corporation. Dr. MacLean acquired his Ph.D at the University of Western Ontario