Fernando L. Benalcázar, Mining Vice Minister, Ministry of Energy and Natural Non-Renewable Resources

Fernando L. Benalcázar is a civil engineer with 27 years of experience in the national and international extractive industry, graduated from the Catholic University of Ecuador; Master in Civil Engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and certified professional in Industrial Safety in the United States (CSP).

His professional experience has taken him to Syria, France, Canada, the United States, Oman, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador.

From September 2018 to January 2020, Benalcázar led the Vice Ministry of Mines and now returns from March 17, 2020 to continue his management in front of this Vice Ministry with a clear vision of transparency and institutional efficiency, promoting the development of economically profitable projects, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable.

During his administration, he will give priority to the project of the new mining cadastre in order to maintain the commitment to reopen it towards the third quarter of 2020 in order to promote national and international investment in the sector.

Piers Craven, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul, British Embassy Quito

Mr. Craven studied English Literature at University College of London.

Piers has been part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 2005. He has held several important job positions in different countries, such as Desk officer for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Political Officer and Spokesman at the British Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan; Head of UK Trade & Investment in Hanoi, Vietnam; and he was appointed as Deputy Head of Mission for Ecuador in June 2015.

Piers speaks Spanish, Arab and English.

 He is married and has 2 sons.

Xavier Andrade, Partner, Andrade Veloz

Xavier Andrade is a partner of Andrade Veloz who focuses his practice in mining and dispute resolution.

He worked with the International Transactions Department of Holland & Knight in Washington D.C., and with the Arbitration Department of Dechert in Paris, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Ecuadorian Mining Chamber. He currently lectures International Arbitration and Economic Analysis of Law at the San Francisco de Quito University and chairs the Ecuadorian Arbitration Institute.

Xavier obtained his LL.B. and J.D. degrees from the Catholic University of Ecuador, a LL.M. from McGill University, and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Economics from King’s College London.

EMILIA GABRIELA ARMENDARIZ MENDOZA, COMMUNICATION ANALYST, MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NON-RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES

Emilia Armendáriz Mendoza, a social communicator, obtained her degree from the Salesian Polytechnic University with a specialization in Development.

She has studies and training in Label, Protocol, Journalistic Writing, Community Manager, Mobile Applications, Art, among other subjects, which have allowed him to perform successfully in the area of his competence.

She has over ten years of experience in the field of journalism, during which time he has worked in both the public and private sectors.

Among her most outstanding achievements was being a delegate of the then Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, (MEER) to attend in 2013, the Communication Course with the Public in Case of Nuclear or Radiological Emergency, in La Paz, Bolivia. The meeting was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In addition, she was editor of the “Electricity” Magazine of the MEER, focused on disseminating advances in projects and projections of the Ecuadorian electricity sector.

Shee currently works as an Analyst in the Social Communication Department of the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources.

René Silvio Ayala Lomas, President, Association of Mining Engineers of Ecuador AIME

He received his degree in Mining Engineer from the Central University of Ecuador in 1999; Master in Business Management in the Mining Energy Sector of the Central University of Ecuador, Quito in 2016; Master in Strategic Mining Planning National University of Guancavelica, Paturpama 2017, Master in Prevention of Occupational and Environmental Risks, Central University of Ecuador, Quito 2008. His fields of research and work are related in the strategic sectors (Mining, Petroleum, Energy and Telecommunications) of Ecuador. He currently serves as: President of the Association of Mining Engineers of Ecuador AIME, General Manager of FERLAT CORPORATIÓN CÍA. LTDA, Executive Director of the FERLAT Foundation, Industry Exponent SME- Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc., student chapter FIGEMPA, Central University of Ecuador and External Reviewer Indexed magazine FIGEMPA, Complex Systems Modeling Group-UC.

Pablo de la Flor, Executive Director, Mining, Petroleum and Energy Society of Peru (SNMPE)

Pablo de la Flor is the Executive Director of the Mining, Petroleum and Energy Society (SNMPE). Previously he served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Banco de Credito del Peru (BCP) and the Antamina Mining Company. In the public sector he has worked as Executive Director of the Authority for Reconstruction, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Head of the FTA Negotiating Team with the US, and Vice Minister of Integration and Tourism.

He has also worked as an international consultant for various multilateral agencies, Program Officer at the Ford Foundation and International Economist at the First National Bank of Chicago. He has been President of the Executive CADE, the Education CADE and the PRUMIN national business conference. He participates in the boards of various non-governmental organizations linked to educational and CSR issues. He has published several books and academic articles in different international journals, and his opinions are regularly featured in the Peruvian press.

Mr. de la Flor holds Masters degrees in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University and International Relations from Yale University. He is a Ph.D(C) in Political Science from the University of Chicago.

DANILO ENRIQUE ICAZA ORTIZ, GENERAL MANAGER, EMPRESA NACIONAL MINERA - ENAMI EP

On February 11, Danilo Enrique Icaza Ortiz assumed the position of General Manager of the National Mining Company ENAMI EP, appointed by the entity's board of directors.

Danilo Icaza is a lawyer, with more than 15 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He obtained his Law degree from the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. He holds a Master degree in Intellectual Property and a Specialization in Public Contracting and Government Control.

During his professional career, he has held senior and management positions in various institutions and state companies. He has exercised his professional practice with emphasis on Administrative Law, Judicial Sponsorship and Regulatory Law.

Alexandro M. Padrés, Partner, Project Development & Finance, Shearman & Sterling LLP

Alexandro M. Padrés is a partner in the Project Development & Finance practice at

Shearman & Sterling. He represents sponsors and lenders throughout Latin

America, crafting novel financing structures to fund diverse infrastructure projects in

various sectors, including mining, energy, oil and gas, and telecommunications.

Some of Alex’s notable projects include advising Orion and Blackstone in the

financing of Lundin Gold’s over $1 billion Fruta del Norte Project in Ecuador, which

was named “Latin America Mining & Metals Deal of the Year” by IJGlobal; advising

Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation, a joint venture between Barrick Gold and

Goldcorp, on the $1.035 billion project financing for the gold/copper resource in the

Dominican Republic; representing ENGIE and its affiliates in the limited recourse

hybrid portfolio project financing and related interest rate hedging in respect of four

solar parks and two wind farms in Mexico; and advising on Enel Green Power's

portfolio project financing of three solar photovoltaic plants in Mexico, a transaction

that received awards from LatinFinance, FT Innovative Lawyers, S&P Global Platts

and PFI. He is recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Latin Business Chronicle

as a leading project finance lawyer in Latin America.

Richard G. Reeves , Managing Director , Northcott Capital

Rick joined Northcott Capital in November 2016, and he brings 36 years of experience in the mining sector.  Before joining Northcott, Rick led MUFG Union Bank’s mining project finance business in North and South America.  Prior to MUFG, Rick worked as an investment banker for Deutsche Bank, Barclays BZW and as a consultant.  Rick’s experience includes:  marketing, structuring and executing mineral finance transactions; advisory; mine and mineral property valuation; mine feasibility; and independent consulting.  Rick has a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and is a registered Professional Engineer.

Alfredo Rodríguez Muñoz, Director General of Mining, Ministry of Energy and Mining of Peru

Responsible for the management of the General Mining Directorate for the issuance of the necessary regulations of the mining sector, the granting of concession titles, authorization for the start or restart of mining exploration and exploitation activities, registration of mining contractors, inspection mining company in Metropolitan Lima, management of the remediation of mining environmental liabilities, approval of the Investment Programs and Feasibility Studies for the Guarantee Contracts and Investment Promotion Measures as well as their modifications and executions; Among other functions.

Mr. Rodríguez is a professionally licensed mining engineer with more than 35 years of experience in operation and mining projects, worked for several mining companies, engineering consulting companies and government entities in Peru.

Between 2003 and 2009, he worked at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, where he was Advisor to the Vice Minister of Mines, General Director of Mining, General Director of Environmental Affairs, Director of Mining Control, Director of Promotion and Development of Mining Activities and Advisor of the General Directorate of Mining.

Rogério Segala, Head of Mining Competence Centre Americas, Scania

Rogério Segala has over than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry in areas such as production, sales, marketing and after sales services.  Since 2015 is the Head of the Latin American Mining Competence Centre, the regional arm of the Scania Mining organisation, a business area dedicated to understand the challenges and operational needs of the mining companies and their contractors thus translating it in solutions of products & services that delivers an optimum Total Operating Economy (TOE) either for goods or people transportation.

Andrew Taunton, Vicepresident for Ecuador Subsidiaries , SolGold

Andrew Taunton, MBE, B.Tech. E.Eng,  CPP

Andrew Taunton was born in Scotland and obtained a degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Bradford, England.

Andrew´s diverse business activities have taken him to over 20 countries and span more than 40 years, well over half of that time in Ecuador.

Andrew has held senior management positions for international companies in Ecuador in the security, petroleum, airport management and mining industries and since 2017 is the Vice President for the Ecuador subsidiaries of Solgold PLC.

Since 2012, the Solgold team has developed detailed knowledge of Ecuador’s largest copper and gold deposit in the Cascabel concession in Imbaburra province. The Alpala deposit is of “world class” characteristics in terms of size and mineral quality. Having completed the Preliminary Economic Analysis in 2019 the company´s technical team is currently working on the Prefeasibility Study for the project.

In 2017 Andrew was awarded an MBE by Queen Elisabeth II for voluntary services of significant impact to British interests in Ecuador.

Manuel Viera F., President, Chilean Chamber of Mining

Mining Engineer from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile , Master in Industrial Engineering U. de Chile, Doctor in Finance and Mining Economics from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, At present CEO & Managing Partner of Metaproject Group leading a multidisciplinary group of 300 professionals as Director of development projects of Conceptual, Basic, and Detailed Engineering, International Consultant in Open pit  and Underground Mining Engineering and Construction Company, Mining Entrepreneur, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cia Minera Panulcillo Ltda. Has been Director of TECK, ENAMI, Instituto de Ingenieros de Minas de Chile, is a Qualified Person in certification of mining resources, Qualifying Commission of Competencies in Resources and Mining Reserves Chile Registration is 0022, since June 2009, preparation of Bankable documents and search for financing in Toronto Stock Exchange. Extensive experience in Mining Economy

President of the Polish Chilean Chamber of Commerce

Director of the School of Mines of the Universidad de las Américas de Chile

Government advisor on mining, public policy and mine closure issues

International Specialist in Mining Project Engineering, Construction, and valuation of mining assets.

He has more than 200 international papers

Andrés Ycaza Palacios, Partner, FLOR & HURTADO

Andrés leads the mining practice of Flor & Hurtado (FH) since 2017. Thus, he has been involved in some of the most important transactions of recent years, such as the financing of the Fruta del Norte project (acting by the bank syndicate), the merger between Atico Mining and Toachi Mining or the latest private placement at INV. Andrés also has extensive regulatory experience, having been successful in sponsoring several companies in obtaining mining titles, as well as permits for processing plants, licenses to trade minerals, and also in sanctioning processes, such as those for expiration of mining concessions. Andrés is also  professor of  Mining Law  at the San Francisco University of Quito, was Legal Counsel for the Chamber of Mining of Ecuador, and also its Vice President.

Fredy Salazar, CEO & President, Salazar Resources Ltd.

Fredy Salazar is a professional geologist registered in Ecuador and he holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in environmental sciences from Central University, Quito. From 1988 through 2000, Fredy worked in the mineral resource sector throughout Ecuador, including eight years with Newmont Overseas Exploration Ltd from 1990. He was Newmont’s regional exploration geologist, reviewing and evaluating over 100 gold prospect submittals. Mr. Salazar has an extensive and detailed knowledge of Ecuador’s geological potential. During a worldwide downturn in resource exploration activities  Newmont left Ecuador in 2001. At which point In 2001 Fredy formed an environmental consulting company, Congeminpa Ltda., which became one of Ecuador’s most important Environmental Consulting firms. In 2004, Fredy resumed resource exploration and he was instrumental in Aurelian Resource’s acquisition of its Fruta del Norte property. In 2007 he founded Salazar Resources Limited and listed the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange.

ANA MARIA ZAMORA DEL CASTILLO, VICE PRESIDENT, COLOMBIAN MINING ASSOCIATION

Vice President of the Colombian Mining Association since 2015, previously worked

as Legal Director in Mineria a Gran Escala. During her experience at the public

sector, she participated as part of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit team

that modified Colombia´s Royalties General System, worked as an direct advisor of

the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development and the Vice

Ministry of Interior for more tan 5 years.

Her professional experience has special emphasis on designing public policies,

analysis and legislative and regulatory follow-up, as well as lobbying and

inter-institutional relations. She is a lawyer and was awarded in 2003 a Fellow for

the National Democratic Institute in the Democracy Strengthening program.