Erdene’s Board of Directors have extensive experience in the mining and financial industries. They provide a strong base for the strategic management in the company.
The Board is comprised of ten directors, six of whom are "independent" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. An independent director is defined to be a director who has no direct or indirect relationship with Erdene which could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a member's independent judgement. The six independent directors are John Budreski, William Burton, John Byrne, David Carnell, Stuart Rath and Philip Webster.
Peter C. Akerley is one of the founders and principals of the Erdene group of companies and has held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and Director of Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX listed) since March 2003.
Since becoming a public company in March of 2004, Erdene has successfully raised in excess of $50 million and today is well funded with advanced projects in three countries. Mr. Akerley has 24 years’ experience in the mining and mineral exploration business carrying out precious and base metal exploration in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Guyana, Mongolia and the Philippines as well as extensive work with the Rio Tinto Group of companies involved in North American Industrial mineral exploration and project development. His work in Mongolia began in the mid-90’s during which time he was involved in managing a country-wide regional exploration program providing the background for an eventual initial public offering of Erdene. Mr. Akerley has also been President of BRM Exploration Ltd., a mineral exploration consulting company providing geologic exploration and managerial services to junior and senior exploration and mining companies globally. He is also a Director of Temex Resources Corp.
Mr. Akerley holds a BSc (Geology) from Saint Mary's University in Halifax.
Member of Pre-Clearance and Technical Committees
John Budreski was appointed a Director on January 18, 2012. He was formerly a Vice Chairman of Cormark Securities Inc. and prior to that, President and CEO of Orion Securities Inc., both based in Toronto. He has over 25 years of experience in the resource and resource financing industries. Mr. Budreski is also a Director of Sandstorm Gold Ltd., Sandstorm Metals & Energy Ltd., and Alaris Royalty Corp. John holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Dalhousie / TUNS University and an MBA from the University of Calgary.
William B. Burton has been a director since February 2003. Mr. Burton was President and Chief Executive Officer of MagIndustries Corp., a TSX listed resource company, from 1997 to 2010. Mr. Burton was previously Vice-President of Exploration for International Pursuit Corporation, evaluating gold properties in Asia, including Mongolia, and was President of Mongolian Goldfields Corporation from 1996 to 1997. Mr. Burton is also a director of Adex Mining since 2007 (New Brunswick mining project). Mr. Burton has more than 40 years of experience in exploration and operating junior resource companies
Member of the Compensation and Technical Committees
John Byrne has been a director since August 2004. Mr. Byrne is President of Petroleum Corporation of Canada Exploration Limited (“Petrex”) since 1997 and brings more than 30 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience to Erdene. Pretrex helped establish and finance Enerplus Energy Services Ltd. For which Mr. Byrne served as its Vice Chairman (1986-2000). Mr. Byrne has also served in senior executive roles with Levesque Beaubien Geoffrion Inc. (now National Bank Financial), A.E. Ames & Company/Dominion Securities Ames and The First Boston Corporation. Mr. Byrne holds a B.A. from McGill University and an LL.B from the University of Toronto Law School. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Member of the Audit and Governance and Disclosure Policy Committees
David Carnell has been a director since November 2003. Mr. Carnell is the President of Bedford Capital Group Inc. (an investment holding company). From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Carnell was a director of AquaGold Resources Inc. (now Atlantic Industrial Minerals Inc.). He retired 2000 from a bank-owned investment dealer after a 32-year career in sales and management.
Member of the Audit Committee
J. C. (Chris) Cowan was appointed Vice President Asia in June 2006. Mr. Cowan is a Co- Managing Director of Erdene Mongol XXK, a wholly owned Mongolian subsidiary. He has been a director of the company since February 2003. Mr. Cowan has acted as a minerals consultant, providing services to exploration and mining companies world-wide since 1990. He previously spent 28 years with Falconbridge Limited in a variety of senior management and board positions including President and Director of New Pascalis Mines Ltd. from 1984 to 1990; Vice-President and Director of New Quebec Raglan Mines Ltd., between 1981 and 1990; Chairman of the Board of Indusmin Ltd., from 1984 to 1990; President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of United Keno Hill Mines Ltd., between 1981 and 1990; and President of Wesfrob Mining Division, from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Cowan has also been responsible for the technical direction of Falconbridge's worldwide surface and mining exploration as well as exploration manager in Southeast Asia and Chief Geologist for Sudbury Operations. Mr. Cowan, holds a Masters of Science degree (Geology), and is a member of the Professional Engineer Society of Ontario. He has over 40 years of experience in mining and mineral exploration.
Member of Pre-Clearance and Technical Committees
Malcolm F. Cox, was appointed on May 31, 2010 as the Xstrata Coal representative on the Board of Directors. Mr. Cox is the Business Development and Group Manager Technical Development for Xstrata Coal and is involved in evaluation of potential coal and iron ore acquisitions globally. Mr. Cox has previously managed both major underground and open pit coal mines in Australia and the USA. During Mr. Cox's 30 years’ experience in the mining industry, predominantly in the coal mining sector, he was Underground and Open Cut Manager of the Ulan Mine in NSW Australia. Mr. Cox obtained his Engineering Degree from the University of Queensland in 1978, and obtained an MBA degree in 1994 from Deakin University of Melbourne, Australia.
Member of the Compensation Committee
Ken W. MacDonald was appointed Vice President Business Strategy in September 2007. He previously held the positions of Vice President North America and Vice President Finance beginning March 2003. Mr. MacDonald is also the Chief Financial Officer of Erdene, a position he has held since March 2003. He has been a director of the company since February 2003. In February 2009, Mr. MacDonald was appointed President and CEO of the Company’s controlled subsidiary, Advanced Primary Minerals Corporation.
From September 1992, Mr. MacDonald has also been the President and owner of Fisher Transport Limited, a specialized transport company. In addition, he was the Vice President of Finance for Kaoclay Resources Inc. from 1996 to June 2006. Prior to 1985, Mr. MacDonald, a chartered accountant, was a senior manager with one of Canada’s major accounting firms. From 1985 to September 1992, he was vice president finance with public and private corporations in the resource sector.
Mr. MacDonald graduated from St. Mary's University in 1977 with a BCom and received his chartered accountant designation in 1980.
Member of Pre-Clearance Committee
Stuart Rath has been a director since June 2006. Mr. Rath was a director of Kaoclay Resources Inc. from December 1997 to June 2006. He is also President and a director of Stuco Holdings Ltd., a private investment company. From 1985 to 1995, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Halifax Cablevision Ltd., a cable television business with systems in Halifax, Yarmouth, Liverpool and Shelburne. From 1976 to 1985 he was the President and General Manager of Eastern Cablevision Ltd. and from 1960 to 1976 he was employed by the Bank of Montreal as Manager, Commercial Credit from 1975 to 1976. He is the Vice President of Truro Centre Ltd. and Chairman of the Truro Industrial Society.
Member of the Audit Committee
Philip Webster has been a director of the company since June 2006. Mr. Webster was a director of Kaoclay Resources from December 1997 to June 2006. Mr. Webster's principal occupation for the past five years has been as a private investor and as President of Imperial Windsor Group Inc. and Emster Holdings Inc. and, since 1998, as President of Imperial Windsor Group Inc. From 1984 to 1990 he was an adjunct professor at McGill University, School of Architecture. He was a designer with Anderson Architects from 1986 to 1989 and was Executive Assistant to the President of Imperial Trust Company from 1979 to 1981. Mr. Webster is presently a director of Western Financial Group Inc. Detroit Marine Terminals Inc., Imperial Windsor Group Inc., Emster Holdings Inc., PBI Kinmont Inc., R. Howard Webster Foundation and the Zellers Family Foundation.
Member of the Corporate Governance and Disclosure Policy Committee
