Mineral Exploration

Joe Piekenbrock Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse Patrick McAndless 22 S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 Photographs : Velour Produc tions /AME BC Thomas is well known throughout the worldwide diamond community by geoscientists, project developers, mar- keters, cutters and investors. She is often sought after for her broad perspective on the diamond industry, and she has, through numerous media reports over the years, presented a positive voice for responsible and sustainable mineral development. She has been a tireless sup- porter of and spokesperson for the min- ing industry through her involvement in numerous advocacy groups and regula- tory advisory bodies. Colin Spence Award Excellence in Global Mineral Exploration Recipients: Joe Piekenbrock and Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse To be truly successful in exploration, one needs to first pick the right project, understand how geoscience can be used to build truly predictive models to rec- ognize ore controls, and have a willing- ness to work tirelessly to achieve one's goals. Joe Piekenbrock and Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse understand these prin- ciples and that is the reason they have had career-long success. It is for these achieve- ments that they are being recognized as the recipients of the Colin Spence Award for excellence in global exploration. More specifically, they are being acknowledged for their highly successful application of predictive geologic modelling techniques in Alaska – defining and significantly expanding the Donlin Creek gold deposit in western Alaska and the Arctic copper- zinc-silver massive sulphide deposit in the Ambler Mining District, as well as dis- covering and exploring the high-grade Bornite copper deposit. Piekenbrock attended the University of Colorado in his home state before earning a M.Sc. in geology from the University of Arizona in 1983. After grad- uation, he joined Cominco American Inc. and the very successful regional Alaskan exploration team whose discoveries are numerous, including the giant Pebble porphyry copper deposit. Piekenbrock left Cominco in the late 1980s and oper- ated as a consultant in Nevada during the Great Basin gold boom before joining up with Van Nieuwenhuyse at Placer Dome. In 1996, Piekenbrock left Placer Dome to start Brett Resources Inc. and build a portfolio of exploration properties in Peru and Central America. Returning to the United States in 1999, he joined Van Nieuwenhuyse as vice-president of explo- ration for NovaGold Resources Inc. in 2001 and subsequently NovaCopper Inc. in 2012. Van Nieuwenhuyse grew up in Alaska and undertook undergraduate studies in Belgium and Michigan before obtaining a M.Sc. in geology from the University of Arizona in 1980. His professional career started with Anaconda Copper Mining Company before working for Freeport- McMoRan Inc., Atlas Precious Metals Inc., Nautilus Exploration and Placer Dome. In 1998, Van Nieuwenhuyse became CEO of NovaGold and, over the following 14 years, built it into a junior powerhouse through the advancement of Donlin Creek, Galore Creek in northwestern B.C., and the Arctic and Bornite projects in the Ambler Mining District. In 2012, the Ambler assets were spun out to NovaCopper with Van Nieuwenhuyse as CEO. To be associated with any signifi- cant mineral development is a career achievement for most geoscientists, but what makes this duo remarkable is that the Donlin, Ambler and Galore Creek projects are truly world-class, yet are diverse in geologic terrain and deposit type. As well, Piekenbrock and Van Nieuwenhuyse understood that mean- ingful community and indigenous rela- tionships had to be incorporated into their exploration plans, and they set about forging groundbreaking agreements with the Calista Corporation and NANA Regional Corporation in Alaska and the Tahltan Nation in British Columbia. Robert R. Hedley Award Excellence in Social and Environmental Responsibility Recipient: Patrick McAndless Patrick McAndless is the recipient of the Robert R. Hedley Award for excellence in social and environmental responsibility. McAndless is recognized for his passion and talent in mentoring young profes- sionals and his commitment to advancing the human capital of the mineral explora- tion and mining sector. His efforts have positively impacted the lives of hundreds of individuals and communities in B.C., across Canada and beyond. Through his long career as an explo- ration geologist, much of it spent as the vice-president of exploration for Imperial Metals Corp., McAndless recognized that the cyclical nature of the industry can create wide gaps in talent and make it difficult for recent graduates and young professionals to build a career. Over

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