Board of Directors
Patrick Evans, B.A., B.Sc.
joined Forte Minerals as Independent Director and Chairman of the Board in 2025, bringing extensive experience in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and global mining leadership.
joined Forte Minerals as Independent Director and Chairman of the Board in 2025, bringing extensive experience in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and global mining leadership.
Mr. Evans has built a career helping mining companies grow through financing, development, and strategic transactions across global markets.
Over more than two decades, he has led public companies through exploration, M&A, and project advancement across Canada, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at Placer Dome.
Mining Leadership & Strategic Transactions
Mr. Evans is currently Chairman of Pan Global Resources Inc.
He previously served as CEO of Dominion Diamond Mines and Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.
His leadership includes successful company sales including Norsemont Mining to Hudbay Minerals, Weda Bay Minerals to Eramet S.A., and Southern Platinum to Lonmin plc.
Governance & Capital Markets
Mr. Evans’ boardroom focus includes governance, capital markets execution, and value realization through disciplined project advancement and M&A.
Education & Industry Recognition
A former South African diplomat, Mr. Evans served as Consul-General to Canada from 1994 to 1998.
He holds B.A. and B.Sc. degrees from the University of Cape Town.
His industry leadership has been recognized with the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s Viola R. MacMillan Award and the Association for Mineral Exploration’s Hugo Dummett Award.
Richard Osmond, P.Geo
Richard Osmond is a Director of Forte Minerals, bringing over 25 years of mining experience across exploration, discovery, and technical leadership in the Americas.
Richard Osmond is a Director of Forte Minerals, bringing over 25 years of mining experience across exploration, discovery, and technical leadership in the Americas.
Mr. Osmond has built a technical career across major mining companies, junior explorers, and copper-focused project generation in the Americas.
His career includes roles with INCO, Falconbridge, and Anglo American, where he built deep technical expertise across exploration, discovery, and project advancement.
Exploration & Discovery Experience
Mr. Osmond was involved in exploration discoveries at Vale’s Voisey’s Bay deposit and Glencore’s Raglan mine.
He currently serves as President and CEO of Element 29 Resources and as President of GlobeTrotters Resources Group, a private copper exploration company focused in Peru.
Technical Leadership
Mr. Osmond served as a senior technical leader at Anglo American, where he was responsible for exploration programs across North America and Europe.
His work included nickel exploration in northern Canada, Alaska, and Scandinavia, as well as IOCG and porphyry Cu-Mo exploration in Mexico and Alaska.
Executive Experience in Junior Mining
Mr. Osmond has over 14 years of executive experience as part of several junior mining management teams.
His work has focused primarily on porphyry Cu-Mo-Au and epithermal gold systems in Latin America.
Patrick Elliott, MSc. MBA
Patrick Elliott is President & CEO of Forte Minerals, bringing over 20 years of experience across economic geology, mineral exploration, mining finance, capital markets, and project development.
Patrick Elliott is President & CEO of Forte Minerals, bringing over 20 years of experience across economic geology, mineral exploration, mining finance, capital markets, and project development.
Mr. Elliott is an accomplished economic geologist with a BSc in Geology from the University of Western Ontario, an MSc in Mineral Economics, and an MBA in Finance from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia.
He currently serves as a director of Element 29 Resources (TSX-V: ECU), President and CEO of Lexore Capital Corp., and VP Corporate Development & Strategy at Globetrotters Resources Group, a private Peruvian copper exploration company.
Leadership in Exploration & Discovery
Mr. Elliott has over a decade of hands-on experience in mineral exploration across North and South America, as well as the Former Soviet Union.
He has contributed to major discoveries and development projects, including:
- Stibnite Gold – Feasibility stage, Idaho, USA
- Zafranal Copper Deposit (AQM Copper / Teck Resources) – Pre-Feasibility, Peru
These projects highlight his ability to identify, advance, and unlock value in large-scale mineral systems.
Capital Markets & Project Development Expertise
Mr. Elliott specializes in:
- Economic resource evaluation
- Financial modelling and CAPEX estimation
- Mining finance and capital raising
He combines technical expertise with strong capital markets experience, maintaining relationships across:
- Retail and institutional investors
- Corporate finance and research groups
- Venture capital networks
Driving Value in Copper & Gold Exploration
With deep experience in Peru’s mining sector and global exploration markets, Mr. Elliott plays a key role in advancing Forte Minerals’ strategy to discover and develop high-quality copper and gold assets.
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Stephanie Ashton, MA.
Stephanie Ashton is an Independent Director of Forte Minerals, bringing over 24 years of experience in natural resources, mining finance, corporate development, and Latin American project advancement.
Stephanie Ashton is an Independent Director of Forte Minerals, bringing over 24 years of experience in natural resources, mining finance, corporate development, and Latin American project advancement.
Mrs. Ashton has built a career across mining finance, corporate development, project advancement, and public company governance.
Her experience spans natural resources projects in Latin America, Turkey, and Utah, with a focus on exploration, development, financing, and strategic growth.
Corporate Development & Finance
Ms. Ashton has participated in the start-up of junior exploration companies and mining services companies, supporting corporate development, financing, IPOs, joint ventures, investor relations, accounting, and audit oversight.
Executive & Board Experience
Mrs. Ashton has served on the boards of junior mining companies and held officer roles including Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Corporate Development.
She currently serves as VP BD for IG Global Group of Companies.
Her earlier roles include founder, director, and CFO of AQM Copper Inc., which advanced projects in Peru and Chile between 2005 and 2012.
In 2011, Mrs. Ashton co-founded Griffith Drilling, a diamond drilling company serving the Chile and Argentina markets. The company was sold to Hy-Tech Drilling in 2025.
International Mining Network
Ms. Ashton has collaborated with an extensive international network of professionals and service providers in the mineral sector.
While based in Santiago, Chile, she was a regular contributor to opinion columns in Minería Chilena.
Education & Languages
Ms. Ashton is a graduate of Cal Poly State University in International Business.
She holds a Master’s degree in International Tax and Legal Strategy from Hautes Études Commerciales in Paris, France, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Mineral Economics from the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, Chile.
She is fluent in Spanish, French, and English.
Richard Leveille, MSc. MBA
Richard Leveille is an Independent Director of Forte Minerals, bringing over 40 years of global mining experience across copper exploration, major discoveries, and technical leadership.
Richard Leveille is an Independent Director of Forte Minerals, bringing over 40 years of global mining experience across copper exploration, major discoveries, and technical leadership.
Mr. Leveille has built a global career in mineral exploration, with deep experience across copper systems, discovery strategy, and technical leadership.
His work has spanned companies including AMAX, Kennecott, Rio Tinto, Phelps Dodge, and Freeport Copper & Gold.
Exploration Leadership & Discovery Experience
Mr. Leveille served as Senior Vice President of Exploration at Freeport Copper & Gold, where he led the team responsible for adding 54 billion pounds of copper to reserves.
He also played a key role in the discovery of the Čukaru Peki copper-gold deposit in Serbia, which was recognized with the 2016 PDAC Thayer Lindsley International Mineral Discovery Award.
Global Mining Career
Mr. Leveille has been involved in exploration and discovery programs across multiple continents, contributing to the advancement of major mineral systems worldwide.
His career spans over four decades, with extensive experience in copper-focused exploration and large-scale resource development.
Technical Contributions & Advisory Work
In addition to his operational leadership, Mr. Leveille has authored several papers on the psychological, technical, and economic aspects of mineral exploration.
Since 2017, he has worked as a Consulting Geologist, focusing on mineral exploration opportunities in Australia, South America, and the United States.
Peter Espig, MBA.
Peter Espig is Financial Advisor to Forte Minerals, bringing extensive experience in mining finance, investment analysis, capital raising, and strategic transactions.
Peter Espig is Financial Advisor to Forte Minerals, bringing extensive experience in mining finance, investment analysis, capital raising, and strategic transactions.
Mr. Espig has built a career across mining finance, private equity, investment analysis, and corporate turnaround.
Since November 2013, Mr. Espig has served as President and CEO of Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM).
Mining Finance & Corporate Turnaround
Mr. Espig has been active in the turnaround of mining projects and has served in management and director roles for numerous mining companies.
He is experienced in investment analysis, capital raising, deal sourcing, financial structuring, and corporate restructuring.
Private Equity & Transaction Experience
Mr. Espig has structured over US$2.0 billion in private equity and pre-IPO investment transactions from the principal side.
He is also a pioneer of SPACs, having completed over US$1.0 billion in transactions.
Capital Markets Background
Mr. Espig served as Vice-President of the Principal Finance and Securitization Group and Asia Special Situations Group for Goldman Sachs Japan.
Prior to Goldman Sachs, he was Vice-President of Olympus Capital, a New York private equity firm, where he participated in corporate restructurings, investment analysis, and financing negotiations for domestic and international investments.
Education
Mr. Espig received his B.A. from the University of British Columbia in 1989.
He later earned his MBA from Columbia Business School, where he was a Chazen International Scholar.
Mike Carter
Mike Carter is Lead Energy Advisor to Forte Minerals, bringing over 25 years of experience in renewable energy, sustainable mining, solar, storage, and clean energy development.
Mike Carter is Lead Energy Advisor to Forte Minerals, bringing over 25 years of experience in renewable energy, sustainable mining, solar, storage, and clean energy development.
Mr. Carter has built a career at the intersection of renewable energy, sustainable mining, project development, and clean technology.
He brings over 25 years of experience advancing energy projects across mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation.
Renewable Energy & Mining Integration
As a Founding Partner at First Green Energy Ltd., Mr. Carter has supported the development of renewable energy projects across solar, energy storage, hydroelectricity, and clean technology.
He has also led mineral exploration projects in Chile and Peru and has worked with mining companies to integrate solar energy into resource development.
Climate-Smart Mining & Innovation
Mr. Carter highlighted the benefits of combining renewable energy with traditional mining at the World Bank’s Climate Smart Mining conference.
He has helped develop and secure over $15 million in grant funding to demonstrate new viable technologies, supporting projects that later contributed to successful follow-on developments in Alberta’s power market.
Agrivoltaics & Community Energy
Mr. Carter is active in agrivoltaics, combining solar energy projects with agricultural land use.
He is a mentor in the 20/20 Catalysts Program, supporting Indigenous clean energy projects, and advises on governmental energy initiatives.
He also manages Carter Farm in Norval, Ontario, and is a founder of Agrivoltaics Canada and the Solar and Sustainable Energy Society of Canada.
Education & Technical Contributions
Mr. Carter completed a Combined Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Development from Huron University College in London, Ontario.
He has also completed certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and in Financial Modeling and Valuation.
He has co-written material on microgrid design and testing, reflecting his technical experience in distributed energy systems.
Thomas Henricksen, PhD.
Dr. Thomas Henricksen is a highly regarded economic geologist with over 50 years of global exploration experience across six continents.
Dr. Thomas Henricksen is a highly regarded economic geologist with over 50 years of global exploration experience across six continents.
Dr. Henricksen has built a global career in mineral exploration, contributing to major discoveries and project development across a wide range of deposit types.
He holds a BSc in Geology from the University of Wisconsin and a PhD in Economic Geology from Oregon State University.
Global Exploration & Discovery Track Record
Dr. Henricksen has worked on more than 40 mineral exploration projects across 14 countries and six continents.
He was a member of the Arctic exploration team that identified the Red Dog deposit in Alaska, now one of the world’s largest zinc operations.
He also played a key role in securing the Eskay Creek deposit for US Borax (Rio Tinto), which became one of the highest-grade gold and silver mines globally.
Leadership in Project Generation
Dr. Henricksen has held senior technical roles including Vice President of Exploration at Aegean Metals Group, where he led the identification and acquisition of high-grade gold-copper projects in Turkey.
He also contributed to exploration efforts that supported the advancement of the Zafranal copper-gold deposit in Peru.
Founder & Industry Contribution
Dr. Henricksen is the founder of Plan B Minerals Corp., now Forte Minerals Corp., and continues to provide strategic geological insight to the Company’s exploration programs.
