Position: Director
Mr. Johnson was involved with Bema Gold and its predecessor companies since 1977. When Bema was created by the amalgamation of three Bema group companies in 1988, Mr. Johnson became the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Johnson was instrumental in Bema's transition from a junior exploration Company to an international intermediate gold producer. Bema had producing gold mines in Russia, Chile and South Africa and development projects in Russia and Chile. In February 2007, Bema and Kinross Gold Corporation completed a plan of arrangement whereby Kinross purchased all of the outstanding shares of Bema, valuing the company at over CdN$3.5 billion.
Position: Director
Mr. Keep is Executive Vice-President of Fiore Financial Corporation and former Managing Director, Corporate Finance of Endeavour Financial. An MBA and P.Geo, his career in corporate finance has spanned over 20 years, where his responsibilities have included financings, mergers & acquisitions and public company administration. Previously, he held positions as Senior Vice President of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Vice-President Corporate Finance of Yorkton Securities Inc., and Chief Financial Officer & Secretary of UrAsia Energy Corp. (sold to Uranium One for over $3 billion in 2007). Mr. Keep also served as a director of New Gold Inc. (current market cap of $1.2 billion) and Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (current market cap of $2.6 billion).
Position: Director
Mr. Garagan was appointed Vice President Exploration of Bema Gold in 1996, after joining the Bema group of companies in 1991. A 1980 geology graduate from the University of Ottawa, he has worked in North and South America, East and West Africa and Russia. With the Bema companies, he has been instrumental in several discoveries, including the Cerro Casale (Chile) and Kupol (Russia) deposits.
Position: Director
Mr. Sujir is a securities and natural resources lawyer who has extensive experience in advising and assisting public companies. He has been a partner with Anfield Sujir Kennedy & Durno and its predecessor firms since 1991. Mr. Sujir obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria in 1981 with a double major in Economics and Philosophy and obtained his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Victoria in 1985. He is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association, and the British Columbia Advisory Committee of the TSX Venture Exchange.