Guy Elliott
(aged 51), Senior Non-Executive Director
Mr. Elliott is a co-founder of F3 Capital Management, LLC, an
independent alternative asset management firm specialising in
early stage financings in the natural resources field. Prior thereto,
Mr. Elliott was president and co-founder of Croesus Capital Management,
a specialist emerging markets hedge fund manager which grew over
several years to about $800 million under management. He was a
manager of proprietary trading at HSBC New York from 1992 to 1993
and worked for EBF & Associates as a portfolio manager from
1990 to 1992. He has also worked for Merrill Lynch International
in New York focusing on fixed income securities and Cargill in
London, Geneva and Minneapolis trading fixed income, foreign exchange
and derivatives. Mr. Elliott is a director of Aurelian Oil &
Gas an AIM listed E&P company and Direct Petroleum Exploration
Inc, a private Denver based E&P company.
Bryan Smith (aged
70), Non-executive Director
Mr Smith has more than 30 years of experience in the securities
industry and is a recognised leader in the Canadian financial
industry.
Mr Smith began his career in 1967 with Nesbitt Thomson. In
1973 he joined Draper Dobie Limited, holding subsequently senior
roles, including Vice President and Director. Mr Smith has also
held the role of Senior Vice President of Gardner Watson Limited,
now Dean Witter, and Senior Vice President and Director of
Walwyn Stodgell Limited.
Mr Smith was a co-founder and Director of Burgundy Asset Management.
He was pivotal in the firm's growth to its position as top Canadian
equity performer in 2000 and ranking in the number two position
for the past five years. Burgundy has significant assets under
management for clients that range from pension funds, charitable
foundations, public and private corporations as well as wealthy
private clients. Mr Smith has been a director of a number of
public and private companies, including Northbridge Financial
Corporation and Bioscrypt Inc.
Mr Smith holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration
from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.
Jim Mellon (aged
52), Non-executive Director
Mr. Mellon has been a fund and asset manager for nearly thirty
years. He is an avid participant in a number of markets, in particular
the stock markets of emerging nations.
Mr. Mellon started his career with GT Management Plc in 1978.
In July 1984, he moved to the Thornton Group where he was Managing
Director of the Asian operation. From 1988 to 1990, he was an
Executive Director of Tyndall Holdings Plc, responsible for
business expansion and corporate development.
Mr. Mellon is the founder, principal shareholder and co-Chairman
of the Regent Pacific Group, quoted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
He is also founder, principal shareholder and a Non-Executive
Director of Charlemagne Capital and Non-Executive co-Chairman
of Emerging Metals Limited, both listed on the AIM market.
Mr. Mellon holds a masters degree in Politics, Philosophy and
Economics from Oxford University.
