A graduate of the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, University of London, Mr. Stephens has over 45 years of international mining experience. He has lived and worked extensively in Chile, Mexico and Brazil and in the Copperbelt. Alan Stephens is the founder of Marimaca Copper, where he serves on the board of directors. Marimaca is developing a heap leach SX/EW project in Chile.
Before co-founding Marimaca, Mr. Stephens was Vice-President of Exploration for First Quantum Minerals Ltd., and he spent ten years with Cyprus Amax Minerals Company managing exploration teams in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia. He is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (US) and of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK). Mr. Stephens is also a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Alan is a respected exploration geologist, known for his involvement in the discovery of some of the world’s most significant copper mining operations, including Kansanshi in Zambia, Frontier in the DRC, Milpillas in Mexico, and Marimaca in Chile.
Mike Stuart is a geologist with over 25 years’ experience exploring for, and developing, copper deposits in Africa. Working for First Quantum Minerals for 9 years, including as Chief Geologist, he was involved the development and construction of both the Kansanshi Mine in Zambia and the Guelb Moghrein Mine in Mauritania, as well as other development projects. He then spent three years as a sell-side mining analyst in the City of London. Before joining the Omico team, Mike worked as exploration and development manager, and later mine manager, with Weatherly Mining Namibia, overseeing the transition from project developer into production at the heap leach SX/EW Tschudi mine in Namibia. Mike is a Professional Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Qualified Person.
Gary has over 30 years’ experience in the mining and exploration sector. Gary has previously held senior commercial and financial management roles with Rio Tinto and Xstrata. Gary has extensive experience in international finance and capital markets. He has been responsible for the financial management and control of several world class projects including acting as CFO for the Zanaga Iron Ore company during its listing on the London AIM and Xstrata’s subsequent investment in the Zanaga project.
Mathys du Preez has over 40 years’ experience as project and site manager across Africa, the Americas and Asia Pacific, including for 15 years with Freeport, Glencore and ERG on major copper projects. Most notable eight years with Glencore as Engineering Manager (Projects and Process) in the DRC, and four years as Manager of Special Projects covering Glencore’s global copper projects. His work with Glencore included the installation of seven Electro Wining and five Solvent Extraction plants in the DRC, on time and budget. Other experience includes the design of 220k ton copper cathode plant in the DRC, and the design of a Stacker Reclaimer and Heap Leach system for the Lomas Byas copper mine in Chile.