Management
Kiril Mugerman
PRESIDENT, CEO, & DIRECTOR
Mr. Mugerman joined GéoMégA in September 2014 and was promoted as Director of Corporate Development in January 2015.
In September 2015, Mr. Mugerman was nominated as President and CEO of GéoMégA Resources. He brings both technical and financial experience to GéoMégA. Prior to joining Industrial Alliance Securities Inc. (“IAS”) as a mining specialist, Mr. Mugerman worked on advanced stage exploration projects internationally with Gold Fields Ltd. in West Africa, central Asia and Latin America.
At IAS, he served as a mining analyst in the industrial minerals sector focusing in the rare earth elements, graphite and potash sectors. He holds a bachelor’s degree with Honors (earth and planetary sciences) from McGill University.
Dr. Pouya Hajiani, Ph.D
CTO
Mr. Hajiani joined GéoMégA in February 2013 and brings experience in process design and optimization to GéoMégA. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering with a strong background in physical separation, particularly magnetic separation.
Before joining GéoMégA, he worked in collaboration with IFP Group of France as process engineer and later, as a supervisor to develop process simulators for several petrochemical companies in the Middle East. In 2007, he joined a research group in Canada to pursue higher education.
He holds a Ph.D. cum laude (chemical engineering) from Laval University, a M.Sc. cum laude (process design) and a bachelor’s degree (chemical engineering) from Tehran University. Mr. Hajiani received his PhD under the supervision of Professor Faïçal Larachi. During his PhD, he developed a new concept in process intensification that uses magnetic material to intensify chemical processes in micro/nano scale, far beyond the molecular transport limitation.
Dr. Hajiani is the inventor of the physical separation process proprietary to GéoMégA.
Mathieu Bourdeau, CPA, CA
CFO, CORPORATE SECRETARY
Appointed to this position since October 2018, Mr. Bourdeau brings a solid expertise in financial accounting and corporate finance, with an operational profile.
A member of the Order of Chartered Professional Accountants, Mathieu Bourdeau holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from HEC Montréal, which he obtained in 2010.
From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Bourdeau worked for Deloitte where he served as Director of Audit and Advisory Services for the Montreal and Luxembourg offices. Subsequently, Mr. Bourdeau joined Explorance Inc., a Montreal-based fast-growing software company where he participated among others in the implementation of financial systems, the acquisition of companies and the opening of offices abroad.
Alain Cayer, P.Geo
VICE PRESIDENT EXPLORATION
Mr. Cayer joined GéoMégA in 2011 as chief geologist, a position he held until he was nominated as VP exploration in April 2012.
Mr. Cayer has over 15 years of experience in mineral exploration on several advanced projects, most notably the Éléonor gold deposit.
Mr. Cayer is currently the qualified person for Geomega Resources Inc.
Prior to joining GéoMégA, Mr. Cayer was Senior Project Geologist at Virginia Mines, which he joined in 2002. In 2003, he was part of the team that discovered the Eleonore gold deposit in James Bay, which he worked on until it was sold to Goldcorp. In 2005, Mr. Cayer and the Virginia Mines team received the Prospectors and Developers association of Canada’s Bill Denis award, which is awarded to the prospector of the year in Canada, for the Eleonore discovery. Mr. Cayer started his career at Soquem in 1998 where he was exploring for rare earth and base metal ore bodies in Quebec’s Côte Nord region.
He has a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in mineral resources from Université du Québec à Montréal. The subject of his Master’s dissertation was the characterization of an iron oxide and rare earth ore body.
Directors
Matt Silvestro
DIRECTOR
As a member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Silvestro brings over 25 years of operational and magnetic materials marketplace experience within Canada and North America to the Geomega Board. As president and owner of Jobmaster Magnets, Mr. Silvestro is a Canadian entrepreneur with an established track record of leading companies during both growth stages and market downturns. His operational experience spans all sides of a business from financial, procurement, administration, quality management and production. He has an expertise in developing technical solutions to industrial and commercial clients.
Before entering the magnetics industry, Mr. Silvestro worked in the environmental services industry focusing on waste management, water treatment, industrial cooling water and power generation chemical treatment programs. Mr. Silvestro holds a BA in Social Science (Geography – focus on soil science and hydrology) from University of Western Ontario.
Gilles Gingras, CPA, CA
DIRECTOR
Mr. Gingras was an audit and advisory services partner at Deloitte LLP, a global professional services firm, from 1987 to 2013. As managing partner of the Québec City audit department from 1994 to 2002, Mr. Gingras was involved in numerous audit and tax and financial planning mandates for private and public companies. He also participated in many initial public offerings (IPO), financing mandates, restructuring mandates and due diligences in connection with mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Gingras sat on Deloitte’s Canadian board of directors and its finance, risk management and governance committees from 2002 to 2010.
Mr. Gingras holds a BA in Business Administration from Laval University in Québec City. He is a member of the Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec and holds a diploma from the McGill Executive Institute.
Nicholas Nickoletopoulos, P. Eng. (ON), Ph.D
DIRECTOR
Over 25 years of operational, technical and executive management experience in the metals industry. Currently, President, Managing Director and minority shareholder of Metalunic, a Quebec-based manufacturer of metallic building envelope products primarily composed of Canadian base materials.
Previously, Mr. Nicholetopoulos led Urecon as President, CEO, minority shareholder and Director from 2013, a Canadian-based manufacturer of factory-insulated piping systems and insulated product solutions until its acquisition by Switzerland based Georg Fischer Ltd. in 2019. From 2009 to 2013, he was General Manager for Sivaco Wire Group and Ifastgroupe concurrently, both Quebec-based manufacturers of carbon and alloy steel products with 5 manufacturing facilities in Quebec and Ontario and 7 distribution facilities across North America. From 1994 to 2009 he held various posts including Manager of Technical Services and Product Development and Director of Marketing for Ivaco Rolling Mills. Dr. Nickoletopoulos sat on the Board of Directors of Durabox Paper Inc. from 2003 to 2016 until it was acquired by Supremex Inc. (SXP on the TSX). He sat on the Board of Wire Association International based in Madison, Connecticut, and acted as President and Chairman in 2012. Dr. Nickoletopoulos holds a Ph.D. and a Bachelors degree in Metallurgical Engineering from McGill University and is a member of the Professional Order of Engineers of Ontario since 1997.
Mario Spino, M.Sc
DIRECTOR
Mr. Spino is currently an independent consultant in risk management. From 2008 to 2011, he held the position of principal advisor with KPMG’s consulting services where he advised asset managers and Canadian banks in financial market risk management and on the evaluation of derivatives. From May 2004 to November 2008, Mr. Spino served as advisor in market risk management at Caisse Centrale Desjardins.
Mr. Spino became a director of GéoMégA in May 2010 and contributed significantly in the success of the company’s Initial Public Offering.
Mr. Spino holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in financial engineering from the Hautes Études Commerciales business school in Montreal.
Kosta Kostic, B.C.L/LL.B
DIRECTOR
Mr. Kostic is a Partner and member of McMillan LLP National Capital Markets and M&A group.
Mr. Kostic practice is predominantly focused on corporate finance, securities and M&A in the mining, renewable energy and information technology.
Mr. Kostic is a member of the Local Advisory Committee for the TSX Venture Exchange. He has also served as a director or corporate secretary of several publicly-listed and private companies.