About Us - Directors

President and CEO

Patricia Dillon, a graduate in Geology and Education from the University of Toronto, has been President of PDAC Mining Matters since its inception in 1994. Her efforts to increase awareness of the Canadian minerals industry’s contributions to society were recognized by CIM, who awarded her its Past Presidents’ Memorial Medal in 1998.

Patricia, retired from her position in 2011 as Director, Employee Communications and Engagement with Teck in Vancouver, continues to be very active in mineral association initiatives. She chaired the Minerals and Metals Industry Sector Study Steering Committee, was President of the Minerals and Economics Management Society, President of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (2006-2008) and President of the CIM (2000-2001).  In addition, she is a Director of the Ontario Mining Association and the Mining Industry Human Resources Council and chairs the International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM) Communications Task Force. She is involved with the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining initiative and was chair of the Ontario Mining Association First Nations Video Task Force that developed Mining New Opportunities resource for aboriginal communities.

Chair of the Board 

John B. Heslop was President of Thundermin Resources Inc., a junior exploration company listed on the TSX that explores for base metal and gold deposits in Canada. A graduate from the University of Western Ontario with a B.Sc. (Honours Geology) and from Carleton University with an M.Sc. in Economic Geology, Mr. Heslop has been actively involved in base metal, gold, and uranium exploration throughout Canada over the past 40 years.

Since 1974, Mr. Heslop has moved through the positions of Exploration Manager, Central Canada for Texasgulf Inc., Vice-President, Project Development for Kidd Creek Mines Ltd., and Director of Exploration for Falconbridge Limited, before becoming President at Thundermin Resources. He is a member of the National and Toronto branches of the CIM and has served as a Director of several junior resource companies. 

Mr. Heslop was a Director of the PDAC from 1982 to 1998; he served as Vice-President from 1993 to 1995 and President in 1996 and 1997. Currently, in addition to serving as Chairman of the PDACMM charitable foundation, Mr. Heslop serves on the PDAC Awards Committee. 

Secretary

Carol Burns is a partner and a member of the Tax Group at Aird & Berlis LLP. Carol's practice focuses on income tax with an emphasis on corporate taxation. She contributes to Tax Profile, TaxLine (a monthly newsletter that examines current tax issues of interest) and Canadian Tax Highlights. Carol serves as lecturer for the Aird & Berlis LLP Tax Breakfast Club, which provides accountants with interesting and informative updates on topical tax issues. Carol is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation. She has a B.Sc., LL.B. and MBA from Dalhousie University.

Treasurer

Lee Hodgkinson, KPMG

Lee Hodgkinson is a partner with the firm KPMG and has over 20 years of experience in public accounting, specializing in the mining industry. He serves as the National lndustry Leader of KPMG's Canadian Mining Practice and served as the Global Director of Mining Group for eight years.

Lee has led a variety of projects in the mining industry building a deep understanding of the Industry's issues, including reserve estimation processes, mine valuation techniques and methodologies as well as associated securities rules. These have ranged from financial due diligences, participating in equity and debt offerings, initial public offerings and valuations. His work with his clients has also given him experience working in many different countries, including several key mining geographies. His work with KPMG's international mining group has taken him to over 30 mines and metal sites on six continents.

Directors

Ilan Bahar, BMO Capital Markets’ Global Metals & Mining Group

Ilan Bahar is Co-Head of BMO Capital Markets’ Global Metals & Mining Group, having joined the firm in 2005. Ilan is responsible for the strategic direction, coordination, and performance of the Global Metals & Mining practice. Representative transactions include advising Newmont on its US$10 billion combination with Goldcorp and Nevada joint venture with Barrick, advising Vale on its US$690 million cobalt stream sale, advising Thompson Creek on its US$1.1 billion sale to Centerra, advising Osisko on its hostile defence and C$3.9 billion sale to Agnico Eagle and Yamana, acting as bookrunner for over C$2.5 billion of equity offerings for Detour Gold, and advising Quadra FNX on its C$3.5 billion sale to KGHM. Ilan graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering and was awarded the W.S. Wilson Medal upon graduation.

Normand Champigny, Québec Precious Metals

Mr. Normand Champigny is the Chief Executive Officer of Québec Precious Metals. He is a geological engineer with extensive experience with both public and private companies, both domestically and internationally. He has been involved in many facets of the mining industry, including engineering, project evaluation, and project management. Mr. Champigny is a member of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec. Previously, Mr. Champigny was an Executive Committee Member of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada and Chair of the Board of Directors of Minalliance, an organization raising awareness about the mining industry in Québec and highlighting its positive contribution to Québec’s social, economic, and environmental development. Mr. Champigny is a graduate from École Polytechnique in Montréal (B.A.Sc), University of British Columbia (M.A.Sc), and Paris School of Mines (Specialized Diploma in Geostatistics).

MaryAnn Crichton, Hatch Ltd.

A chemical engineer with an MBA, MaryAnn is currently Managing Director, Investment and Business Planning, and Senior Partner at Hatch Ltd. She has over 30 years’ experience with a broad range of mining, metals and exploration companies, as well as financial institutions, private equity, pension funds, investors, industry associations and governments in support of strategy development, marketing, investment and business decisions. MaryAnn has been a PDAC member for 23 years and joined the Board of Directors in 2017, putting her expertise to work on the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and the Public Affairs Committee. Elsewhere in the industry, MaryAnn held a position on the Ontario Mining Association Board of Directors and was a Founding Chair of Education Outreach for the Mining Association of Canada Environment Committee. As a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), she was a founding member of the Women in Engineering Advisory Committee and of the Environmental Committee, and she received the PEO Order of Honour at officer level in 1995. She is also a member of CIM, Toronto Chapter, and of the Mineral Economics Society.

Steven Reid, CIBC Mining Investment Banking Group

Steven Reid is a Managing Director with the CIBC Mining Investment Banking Group with experience working in both in the Toronto and London capital markets. With more than 15 years experience in the metals, mining and financial services sector, Steven has an extensive track record in advising a wide range of metals and mining companies around the world and in structuring and executing equity financings, initial public offerings and other capital raisings. Steven has also historically been involved with other Toronto based charitable foundations including Out of the Cold and HouseLink. Steven holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Masters in Finance M.Sc. from London Business School in London, England.