Mining Industry NL

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Board members
Paul McNeill
Paul McNeill
  • Signal Gold
  • VP Exploration

Paul McNeill joined Signal Gold in 2014. Formerly, he served as Principal Geologist with Paladin Energy Ltd. of Perth, Australia and Vice President – Exploration for Aurora Energy Resources Ltd. based in St John’s NL, where he was focused on the development of the Michelin Project in Labrador, as well as working on uranium projects in Australia and a gold project in Nevada. Mr. McNeill has developed expertise in structural controls on mineralization, project development and grassroots exploration. Mr. McNeill is a Professional Geologist registered in the Provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.  He currently serves on the board of Mining NL and is the Past President of the CIM NL branch.

Paul Moore
Paul Moore
  • Buchans Minerals
  • VP Exploration

Paul holds a M.Sc. and B.Sc. Honours degrees in Earth Sciences from Memorial University and is a registered Professional Geoscientist in Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) and New Brunswick (APEGNB). Paul currently serves as Vice President Exploration for Buchans Resources and has worked in mineral exploration throughout Canada for more than 30 years having held senior technical roles with several Canadian and international mining and exploration companies, including Teck Corporation (now Teck Resources), Anglo American, and several Canadian junior exploration companies. Paul has served on executives of several industry and professional associations including Director of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL), Vice President of the New Brunswick Prospectors and Developers Association (NBPDA), and Director of Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Mineral Resources (NLCMR, now MiningNL). Paul is a Fellow of both Geoscientists Canada and Society of Economic Geologists and continues to serve on various industry-focused committees, including a long-standing member of the Technical Program Committee for Mineral Resources Review (2006-2022).

Lawrence Winter
Lawrence Winter
  • Altius Minerals
  • VP Exploration

Lawrence holds B.Sc. Honours and M.Sc. degrees from Memorial University and a Ph.D. from The
University of British Columbia, is a registered Professional Geoscientist (PEGNL), and a Fellow of the
Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). He has worked in mineral exploration internationally and as Vice
President Exploration is responsible for Altius’ project generation and marketing efforts both in
Newfoundland and Labrador and globally. Lawrence has served on the board of the PDAC, as chair of
the Technical Program committee for Mineral Resources Review, and currently sits on the board of the
SEG Canada Foundation and the CIM NL Awards committee.

Justin Hewitt
Justin Hewitt
  • Stewart McKelvey
  • Senior Associate Lawyer

Justin Hewitt is a corporate lawyer in the St. John’s office of Stewart McKelvey. He has particular experience in the areas of mining and natural resources, real estate, and business and corporate finance. He also has experience in advising boards of directors of for-profit and not-for-profit corporations. In the mining space, Justin regularly acts for mining companies, exploration companies and prospectors on a wide range of commercial, corporate finance, land tenure and mineral rights matters. Justin holds a BA from Memorial University, a JD from the University of New Brunswick, and a Certificate in Mining Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.

Amy Stoodley Thorne
Amy Stoodley Thorne
  • Rio Tinto
  • Principal Advisor, External Affairs and Media

Amy leads Rio Tinto IOC’s engagement with external stakeholders, including industry, government, and media. An accomplished leader, senior public affairs professional, and a national award-winning journalist, Amy brings a wealth of experience in communications and engagement in large-scale natural resource projects.

Amy is committed to contributing to the thriving mining industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to establishing meaningful community partnerships, promoting collaboration and inclusivity.

James Powell
James Powell
  • Calibre, Valentine Gold Mine
  • VP, Regulatory and Government Affairs

James holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the University of New Brunswick and a Master of Engineering (Mining) from McGill University. He is a professional engineer with over 25 years of technical and project management experience in mining, civil, geotechnical and environmental disciplines. James has over 18 years of increasing responsibility in senior leadership, in both consulting and mining team roles, and currently holds the role of Vice President, Regulatory and Government Affairs for Calibre’s Valentine Gold Mine. James has served past terms on the Board of Mining Industry NL (and formerly the Chamber of Mineral Resources) and is a past-President of the NL Branch of CIM.

Pieter Loock
Pieter Loock
  • Vale Base Metals
  • General Manager

Pieter Loock is the General Manager of Vale Base Metals’ Labrador Operations, which includes the Voisey’s Bay Mine complex in Northern Labrador. Born in South Africa, Pieter began his career in mining over 23 years ago, after obtaining his Bachelor of Mining Engineering from the University of Pretoria. He is a professional engineer (ECSA) with a proven track record of project development, mine construction and senior operational management specifically in challenging hard rock underground mines, with extensive international experience across Africa, Australia and most recently Canada.

Staff members
Amanda McCallum
Amanda McCallum
  • Mining Industry NL
  • Executive Director

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, she is a transformative leader in the mining and minerals sectors, driving the strategic agenda of one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s vital industries. McCallum has navigated through both private and public sectors, demonstrating proficiency across various aspects of the mining domain. Whether leading prospect generation and exploration initiatives or enhancing investment appeal, her versatile skill set epitomizes a steadfast dedication to driving industry progress.

Amanda is a graduate from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Bachelor of Education. McCallum further honed her acumen by earning a Masters Certificate in Project Management from Schulich School of Business, York University. Additionally, her credentials include completing the Directors Education Program, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

She is committed to engaging with Mining Industry NL’s membership, and stakeholders to foster and cultivate further growth in the minerals industry, looking for interconnectivity with other industries associations and creating interactions and opportunities building on strategic relationships with all industry partners and government departments.