Board of Directors
Mariana Fregonese
Chair
Ms. Mariana Fregonese has over 16 years of experience working in the mining industry in Canada. As Vice President, Social Responsibility Mariana leads Great Panther Mining’s overarching social performance and stakeholder engagement strategy for its projects and operations. Since 2014 s...
Ms. Mariana Fregonese has over 16 years of experience working in the mining industry in Canada. As Vice President, Social Responsibility Mariana leads Great Panther Mining’s overarching social performance and stakeholder engagement strategy for its projects and operations. Since 2014 she has been committed to advancing the social and sustainable development of the local communities in which Great Panther operates in Mexico, Peru, and Brazil. Prior to this, she also has held roles in corporate communications and investor relations which allowed her to experience first-hand the changes around environmental, social and governance issues and how these have changed expectations of corporate performance and transparency among a wide range of stakeholders.
Mariana also manages strategic relationships on behalf of the company with the appropriate governments, public agencies, and non-governmental organizations. She focuses on building strategic partnerships with numerous stakeholder groups to maximize the local benefits of mining and to achieve effective and sustainable community development.
Visiting Great Panther’s hosting communities regularly and engaging first-hand with its neighbours for over a decade have allowed her to appreciate the power of women coming together. As a proud aunt of four beautiful nieces, she is committed to joining bright men and women to advance women’s and girls’ rights towards an inclusive and equitable world.
Mariana is a Certified Sustainability Practitioner (CSR-P), certification issued by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and holds a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy (Hons) from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is also a member of the stewardship group of the Social Practice Forum which was established to provide active leadership on social performance around the world.
Ms. Mariana Fregonese has over 16 years of experience working in the mining industry in Canada. As Vice President, Social Responsibility Mariana leads Great Panther Mining’s overarching social performance and stakeholder engagement strategy for its projects and operations. Since 2014 s...
Ms. Mariana Fregonese has over 16 years of experience working in the mining industry in Canada. As Vice President, Social Responsibility Mariana leads Great Panther Mining’s overarching social performance and stakeholder engagement strategy for its projects and operations. Since 2014 she has been committed to advancing the social and sustainable development of the local communities in which Great Panther operates in Mexico, Peru, and Brazil. Prior to this, she also has held roles in corporate communications and investor relations which allowed her to experience first-hand the changes around environmental, social and governance issues and how these have changed expectations of corporate performance and transparency among a wide range of stakeholders.
Mariana also manages strategic relationships on behalf of the company with the appropriate governments, public agencies, and non-governmental organizations. She focuses on building strategic partnerships with numerous stakeholder groups to maximize the local benefits of mining and to achieve effective and sustainable community development.
Visiting Great Panther’s hosting communities regularly and engaging first-hand with its neighbours for over a decade have allowed her to appreciate the power of women coming together. As a proud aunt of four beautiful nieces, she is committed to joining bright men and women to advance women’s and girls’ rights towards an inclusive and equitable world.
Mariana is a Certified Sustainability Practitioner (CSR-P), certification issued by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and holds a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy (Hons) from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is also a member of the stewardship group of the Social Practice Forum which was established to provide active leadership on social performance around the world.
Sarah Martin
Secretary
Sarah Martin is an associate at Fasken who works with clients on a wide range of mining, energy and environmental matters, with an emphasis on commercial and regulatory issues. Sarah assists with due diligence and risk assessments for acquisitions and other corporate transactions, as well as envi...
Sarah Martin is an associate at Fasken who works with clients on a wide range of mining, energy and environmental matters, with an emphasis on commercial and regulatory issues. Sarah assists with due diligence and risk assessments for acquisitions and other corporate transactions, as well as environmental assessments, permitting and compliance issues. Sarah discovered her interest in mining transactions as an articled student at Fasken and looks forward to helping advance women in the industry through her work with WIMBC.
Sarah Martin is an associate at Fasken who works with clients on a wide range of mining, energy and environmental matters, with an emphasis on commercial and regulatory issues. Sarah assists with due diligence and risk assessments for acquisitions and other corporate transactions, as well as envi...
Sarah Martin is an associate at Fasken who works with clients on a wide range of mining, energy and environmental matters, with an emphasis on commercial and regulatory issues. Sarah assists with due diligence and risk assessments for acquisitions and other corporate transactions, as well as environmental assessments, permitting and compliance issues. Sarah discovered her interest in mining transactions as an articled student at Fasken and looks forward to helping advance women in the industry through her work with WIMBC.
Zara Boldt
Treasurer
Ms. Zara Boldt is a professional accountant (CPA, CGA) who has served as the senior financial executive for several publicly-traded companies in Canada over the course of her career. Currently, Ms. Boldt is the CFO & Corporate Secretary for Lucara Diamond Corp. and a director and Chair of the...
Ms. Zara Boldt is a professional accountant (CPA, CGA) who has served as the senior financial executive for several publicly-traded companies in Canada over the course of her career. Currently, Ms. Boldt is the CFO & Corporate Secretary for Lucara Diamond Corp. and a director and Chair of the Audit Committee for both Bluestone Resources Inc. and Gold Standard Ventures Corp. Before Lucara, she served as the CFO & Corporate Secretary for Kaminak Gold Corporation where she was responsible for corporate due diligence and the negotiation, documentation and execution of a plan of arrangement for an acquisition transaction valued at $520 million. Prior to Kaminak, Ms. Boldt served as the Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Stornoway Diamond Corporation where she was a member of the senior management team responsible for arranging financing in excess of $900 million for the development of the Renard Diamond Mine in Quebec. In addition, Ms. Boldt served as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary for Strongbow Exploration Inc. for a number of years. Ms. Boldt has a Bachelor of Arts degree (History) from the University of Puget Sound (1994) and she earned a professional accounting designation in 2002.
Ms. Zara Boldt is a professional accountant (CPA, CGA) who has served as the senior financial executive for several publicly-traded companies in Canada over the course of her career. Currently, Ms. Boldt is the CFO & Corporate Secretary for Lucara Diamond Corp. and a director and Chair of the...
Ms. Zara Boldt is a professional accountant (CPA, CGA) who has served as the senior financial executive for several publicly-traded companies in Canada over the course of her career. Currently, Ms. Boldt is the CFO & Corporate Secretary for Lucara Diamond Corp. and a director and Chair of the Audit Committee for both Bluestone Resources Inc. and Gold Standard Ventures Corp. Before Lucara, she served as the CFO & Corporate Secretary for Kaminak Gold Corporation where she was responsible for corporate due diligence and the negotiation, documentation and execution of a plan of arrangement for an acquisition transaction valued at $520 million. Prior to Kaminak, Ms. Boldt served as the Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Stornoway Diamond Corporation where she was a member of the senior management team responsible for arranging financing in excess of $900 million for the development of the Renard Diamond Mine in Quebec. In addition, Ms. Boldt served as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary for Strongbow Exploration Inc. for a number of years. Ms. Boldt has a Bachelor of Arts degree (History) from the University of Puget Sound (1994) and she earned a professional accounting designation in 2002.
Jill Arias
Director
Jill Arias has been in the mining sector since 2004 as VP of Corporate Communications and Marketing for First Majestic Silver Corp. She plays a key role in the perception of the company through its branding in the media, and marketing materials for the company and for valued shareholders. F...
Jill Arias has been in the mining sector since 2004 as VP of Corporate Communications and Marketing for First Majestic Silver Corp. She plays a key role in the perception of the company through its branding in the media, and marketing materials for the company and for valued shareholders. First Majestic values diversity in the workplace and Jill also plays a role in mentorship within the company assisting with empowering and educating managers and shares efforts in the inclusion of a women in mining group within the office environment.
Outside of First Majestic, Jill also sits on the Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Gala Committee, and volunteers her time towards Make-A-Wish Foundation when she isn’t off on a plane to the next mining conference or being a mother to her sassy 7-year-old daughter.
Jill Arias has been in the mining sector since 2004 as VP of Corporate Communications and Marketing for First Majestic Silver Corp. She plays a key role in the perception of the company through its branding in the media, and marketing materials for the company and for valued shareholders. F...
Jill Arias has been in the mining sector since 2004 as VP of Corporate Communications and Marketing for First Majestic Silver Corp. She plays a key role in the perception of the company through its branding in the media, and marketing materials for the company and for valued shareholders. First Majestic values diversity in the workplace and Jill also plays a role in mentorship within the company assisting with empowering and educating managers and shares efforts in the inclusion of a women in mining group within the office environment.
Outside of First Majestic, Jill also sits on the Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Gala Committee, and volunteers her time towards Make-A-Wish Foundation when she isn’t off on a plane to the next mining conference or being a mother to her sassy 7-year-old daughter.
Kettina Cordero
Director
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Joey Freeze
Director
Joanne (Joey) Freeze has over 30 years of experience in exploration with junior and major mining companies. Joey co-founded, Candente Resource Corp. while living in Peru in 1997. She guided significant acquisitions in Peru and Mexico as well as the split of Candente Resource Corp into: Candente C...
Joanne (Joey) Freeze has over 30 years of experience in exploration with junior and major mining companies. Joey co-founded, Candente Resource Corp. while living in Peru in 1997. She guided significant acquisitions in Peru and Mexico as well as the split of Candente Resource Corp into: Candente Copper Corp. and Candente Gold Corp. in 2009 and Cobriza Metals Inc. in 2012. Joey oversaw the listing of the companies on the TSXV, TSX and the Lima Stock Exchange (BVL) and to date has raised over $100 million in equity financings.
Joey guided the acquisition, delineation and development of the Cañariaco project and developed Cañariaco Norte into a large scale advanced copper project with robust economics at US$2.50 Cu for Candente Copper Corp. To date the Company has spent US$62M developing Cañariaco and the Peruvian government has committed US$22M to community infrastructure near the Cañariaco project.
Joey also guided the acquisition and current exploration at one of Mexico’s highest grade historic gold and silver past producers, the El Oro Project. At El Oro, 8 million ounces gold equivalent of gold and silver were mined historically from four mines.
Since 2011, Joey has been on the Advisory Board of the Institute of International Development at McGill University. She also participates as part of the Peruvian delegation in Shared Value Initiative Leadership Summits. Joey also joined the Board of Directors of Durango Resources in December 2018. She is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, Canada (APEGBC). Joey holds a B.A. in Geography (University of Western Ontario 1978) and a B.Sc. in Geology (University of British Columbia 1981). She also previously served as a Trustee to the Society of Economic Geologists.
Joanne (Joey) Freeze has over 30 years of experience in exploration with junior and major mining companies. Joey co-founded, Candente Resource Corp. while living in Peru in 1997. She guided significant acquisitions in Peru and Mexico as well as the split of Candente Resource Corp into: Candente C...
Joanne (Joey) Freeze has over 30 years of experience in exploration with junior and major mining companies. Joey co-founded, Candente Resource Corp. while living in Peru in 1997. She guided significant acquisitions in Peru and Mexico as well as the split of Candente Resource Corp into: Candente Copper Corp. and Candente Gold Corp. in 2009 and Cobriza Metals Inc. in 2012. Joey oversaw the listing of the companies on the TSXV, TSX and the Lima Stock Exchange (BVL) and to date has raised over $100 million in equity financings.
Joey guided the acquisition, delineation and development of the Cañariaco project and developed Cañariaco Norte into a large scale advanced copper project with robust economics at US$2.50 Cu for Candente Copper Corp. To date the Company has spent US$62M developing Cañariaco and the Peruvian government has committed US$22M to community infrastructure near the Cañariaco project.
Joey also guided the acquisition and current exploration at one of Mexico’s highest grade historic gold and silver past producers, the El Oro Project. At El Oro, 8 million ounces gold equivalent of gold and silver were mined historically from four mines.
Since 2011, Joey has been on the Advisory Board of the Institute of International Development at McGill University. She also participates as part of the Peruvian delegation in Shared Value Initiative Leadership Summits. Joey also joined the Board of Directors of Durango Resources in December 2018. She is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, Canada (APEGBC). Joey holds a B.A. in Geography (University of Western Ontario 1978) and a B.Sc. in Geology (University of British Columbia 1981). She also previously served as a Trustee to the Society of Economic Geologists.
Kaeli Gattens
Director
Kaeli Gattens specializes in the development and execution of corporate communications strategies that enhance social impact and stakeholder value. Ms. Gattens holds over a decade of international experience working in various roles across the natural resource sector. Prior to her appointment as...
Kaeli Gattens specializes in the development and execution of corporate communications strategies that enhance social impact and stakeholder value. Ms. Gattens holds over a decade of international experience working in various roles across the natural resource sector. Prior to her appointment as Director of ESG at the JDS Group of Companies, Ms. Gattens gained her passion and holistic approach to sustainability working at Goldcorp Inc., Finning, VRIFY, and Sun Peak Metals Corp. Ms. Gattens holds a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from SFU, a Bachelor of Political Science and Economics, and a Diploma in Intercultural Communications from UVIC. Ms. Gattens is also an active volunteer with both the Canadian Cancer Society and Special Olympics B.C.
Kaeli Gattens specializes in the development and execution of corporate communications strategies that enhance social impact and stakeholder value. Ms. Gattens holds over a decade of international experience working in various roles across the natural resource sector. Prior to her appointment as...
Kaeli Gattens specializes in the development and execution of corporate communications strategies that enhance social impact and stakeholder value. Ms. Gattens holds over a decade of international experience working in various roles across the natural resource sector. Prior to her appointment as Director of ESG at the JDS Group of Companies, Ms. Gattens gained her passion and holistic approach to sustainability working at Goldcorp Inc., Finning, VRIFY, and Sun Peak Metals Corp. Ms. Gattens holds a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from SFU, a Bachelor of Political Science and Economics, and a Diploma in Intercultural Communications from UVIC. Ms. Gattens is also an active volunteer with both the Canadian Cancer Society and Special Olympics B.C.
Monica Hamm
Director
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Courtnay Hughes
Director
As Senior Consultant, Diversity and Inclusion at PHC Inc. Courtnay provides research, advisory, and project management services to mining employers, educators and communities seeking to increase the attraction, retention and development of more diverse workforces. Courtnay is a recognized ex...
As Senior Consultant, Diversity and Inclusion at PHC Inc. Courtnay provides research, advisory, and project management services to mining employers, educators and communities seeking to increase the attraction, retention and development of more diverse workforces. Courtnay is a recognized expert on gender diversity in mining and leads national and regional research and policy initiatives on diversity and inclusion for the mining sector.
Courtnay contributes to a number of national and regional committees focusing on increasing diversity and building HR capacity. These include the BC Mining HR Taskforce; Women in Mining Canada’s National Action Plan; Engineers and Geoscientists BC Taskforce on Gender Diversity; and the Engendering Engineering Success Consortium. Courtnay holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and a Masters of Applied Science in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Courtnay’s graduate research was one of the first studies to identify and investigate gender inequality within the Canadian mining workforce.
As Senior Consultant, Diversity and Inclusion at PHC Inc. Courtnay provides research, advisory, and project management services to mining employers, educators and communities seeking to increase the attraction, retention and development of more diverse workforces. Courtnay is a recognized ex...
As Senior Consultant, Diversity and Inclusion at PHC Inc. Courtnay provides research, advisory, and project management services to mining employers, educators and communities seeking to increase the attraction, retention and development of more diverse workforces. Courtnay is a recognized expert on gender diversity in mining and leads national and regional research and policy initiatives on diversity and inclusion for the mining sector.
Courtnay contributes to a number of national and regional committees focusing on increasing diversity and building HR capacity. These include the BC Mining HR Taskforce; Women in Mining Canada’s National Action Plan; Engineers and Geoscientists BC Taskforce on Gender Diversity; and the Engendering Engineering Success Consortium. Courtnay holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and a Masters of Applied Science in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Courtnay’s graduate research was one of the first studies to identify and investigate gender inequality within the Canadian mining workforce.
Tessa Jolly
Director
Ms. Tessa Jolly is Communications Specialist with Eldorado Gold Corp, a Vancouver based gold and base metals producer with assets in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Brazil. Tessa brings over 10 years of communication experience, specializing in shareholder activism, M&A, corporat...
Ms. Tessa Jolly is Communications Specialist with Eldorado Gold Corp, a Vancouver based gold and base metals producer with assets in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Brazil. Tessa brings over 10 years of communication experience, specializing in shareholder activism, M&A, corporate governance, and social media for public companies. Tessa is a current member and Director of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI). Tessa joined the Board of Directors of Women In Mining BC in January 2019. Outside of her professional life, Tessa is an avid tennis player and can often be found at the local park or the aquarium on the weekend with Paige, her two-year old daughter.
Ms. Tessa Jolly is Communications Specialist with Eldorado Gold Corp, a Vancouver based gold and base metals producer with assets in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Brazil. Tessa brings over 10 years of communication experience, specializing in shareholder activism, M&A, corporat...
Ms. Tessa Jolly is Communications Specialist with Eldorado Gold Corp, a Vancouver based gold and base metals producer with assets in Turkey, Canada, Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Brazil. Tessa brings over 10 years of communication experience, specializing in shareholder activism, M&A, corporate governance, and social media for public companies. Tessa is a current member and Director of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI). Tessa joined the Board of Directors of Women In Mining BC in January 2019. Outside of her professional life, Tessa is an avid tennis player and can often be found at the local park or the aquarium on the weekend with Paige, her two-year old daughter.