Management and Directors
A diverse group of officers and directors, with skills and experience in a variety of fields, including three independent directors.
David G. Watkinson, B.Sc., P.Eng.
President, Chief Executive Officer, Director – Emergent Mining Corporation and Subsidiaries
David Watkinson brings over 30 years of professional engineering experience in underground and open pit mine development, including mine permitting, engineering, feasibility, construction, and operations to Emergent. In addition, he has extensive experience in project management, having taken projects from grass roots start-up to successful operating status. Mr. Watkinson has been responsible for management of large capital projects and operations in Canada, the United States and the Philippines. He has held progressively senior positions with Placer Dome Inc., Kinross Gold Corporation, Thyssen Mining Construction of Canada, and Vulcan Materials Company. Mr. Watkinson holds a B.Sc. in Applied Science, Mining Engineering, from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario (1985) and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario. Mr. Watkinson is currently President of Emergent; President, CEO, and Director of Ameriwest Lithium Inc. (CSE:AWLI); and a Director of Tarku Resources Ltd. (TSXV:TKU).
Grant T. Smith, CPA, CA, C.Dir.
Chief Financial Officer and Director
Grant T. Smith is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over two decades of experience in the accounting field. He holds a BFA (1984) from York University and received his CPA designation in 2006. He has completed the Chartered Director Program from McMaster University (2020). Mr. Smith was previously the Chief Financial Officer of the Company from October 2012 to July 2018 and resumed the position in January 2024. He was a Managing Partner of Clearline Chartered Accountants from 2006 to 2019 and since that time has worked as the Executive Director of Clarity NPO, a consulting firm that provides financial services to non-for-profit organizations. Mr. Smith has served as CFO for several junior mining companies.
Denise Pilla
Corporate Secretary
Mrs. Pilla is the corporate and administrative clerk at Vancouver Corporate Solutions Inc. (“VCS”). Mrs. Pilla has years of experience in office administration and received a business administration diploma from the University of the Fraser Valley. She is currently completing the Canadian Securities Course. VCS provides corporate secretarial services, governance, and strategic advice to publicly traded companies, not-for-profit organizations, and public sector bodies and will provide additional support for Emergent when required.
Andrew MacRitchie, B.Sc., CA
Chair of Audit Committee, Independent Director
Andrew MacRitchie has over 20 years of experience in various mineral exploration finance and accounting roles. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a B.Sc. Honours degree from the University of British Columbia, and articled with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is Chief Financial Officer of Skeena Resources Limited (TSX:SKE, NYSE:SKE), and has assisted in raising over $400 million in funding for a number of NYSE, Toronto Stock Exchange, and TSX Venture Exchange listed companies.
Julien Davy, MSC, MBA, P. Geo.
Independent Director
Julien Davy is s a professional geologist with exploration and management experience in Canada and abroad. He has been involved in property acquisition, mine investment, and corporate management. He has a master’s degree from Université du Québec à Montréal and an MBA from HEC in Montréal. In 2015, Mr. Davy co-founded Eureka Exploration, a private exploration company, which was sold to Tarku Resources Ltd. in June 2017. Since that time, he has been President and CEO of Tarku. Mr. Davy is a former Director of the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association, member of the Ordre des Géologues du Quebec and is Qualified Person (QP) according to National Instrument 43-101.
Vincent Garibaldi, LLB.
Chair of the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee, Independent Director
Vincent Garibaldi is a partner at BCF LLP business law team in Montreal, Québec. His practice focusses on mergers, acquisitions, securities, and capital markets. Mr. Garibaldi holds a master’s degree in Business Law, Université d’Aix-Marseille, LL.B., Civil Law and a master’s degree in Economic Law, Institut de Droit des Affaires d’Aix-en-Provence, France. Mr. Garibaldi is a member of the Paris Bar since 2015 and the Quebec Bar since 2017.