Minerals North 2015
Presenter Biographies provided in order of presentations
Mining Essentials Workshop
Dr. Robert Stevens
Robert Stevens is a professional geologist who is well known for his involvement in the
mineral exploration community in Vancouver and for delivering dynamic and
enlightening courses on the mineral exploration and mining industry to various industry
participants and stakeholders in western North America. Dr. Stevens is the Associate
Dean of Natural Resources at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), prior
to which he was a faculty member and head of the Mining and Mineral Exploration
Technology department at BCIT for 10 years. He received his Ph.D. in geology from the
University of Alberta with a focus on structural geology and an Honours B.Sc. in geology
from the University of Waterloo, Ontario. He has worked across Canada for a number of
exploration companies and for provincial and federal geological surveys.
Dr. Stevens has been a director of the Association for Mineral Exploration BC since
2001 and was the Chairman from 2008-2010. In 2005, while on sabbatical from BCIT,
he was the Executive Director of Geoscience BC; a position that involved initiating and
directing Geoscience BC's programs and development in its inaugural year. In 2011, Dr.
Stevens was awarded the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of
British Columbia’s premier award for professional geoscience, the C.J. Westerman
Memorial Award, for his significant contribution to professional geoscience. In 2013 he
received the Gold Pan Award from the Association for Mineral Exploration BC for
exceptional meritorious service to the mineral exploration community. Dr. Stevens is
passionate about the mineral exploration and mining industry and enjoys the mix of
science, engineering, business, discovery and entrepreneurialism that are integral to the
industry.
Geoscience BC Short Course
Wayne Jackaman, Noble Exploration Services
Wayne Jackaman is President of Noble Exploration Services. He graduated from
University of Victoria with a B.Sc. in Physical Geography and worked with the British
Columbia Geological Survey for over 15 years coordinating and executing large-scale,
multi-media regional geochemistry programs. Wayne started Noble Exploration
Services Ltd. in 2001 and has continued to provide support for private and government
exploration projects across the country.
Dave Sacco, Quaternary geoscientist
Dave Sacco graduated from Simon Fraser University with a M.Sc. in Earth Sciences
and worked as a geoscientist with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum
Resources and consulted to private exploration companies. Dave specializes in multicommodity regional and targeted surface geochemistry programs, and providing the
glacial context required to interpret surface geochemical data sets.
Ray Lett, Consultant Geochemist
Dr. Ray Lett retired from the BC Geological Survey after 20 years with government as a
geochemist. Currently he consults, and teaches (part time) undergraduate university
courses in geochemistry and economic geology at the University of Victoria and serves
on various geoscience committees for the Geological Association of Canada and the
Association of Applied Geochemists. He is also Chair of the BC Certified Assayers
Foundation scholarship committee.
Regional Geologist updates
Paul Jago, BC Ministry of Energy and Mines
Paul Jago is the Regional Geologist for the Omineca and Northeast regions with the BC
Ministry of Energy and Mines. From 2005-2008, Paul was enrolled with the Mineral
Deposit Research Group at UBC where he studied the Mt. Milligan deposit for his
Masters Degree in Geological Sciences. Paul worked seasonally with Exploration
companies in north-central BC, and then several years with Freeport-McMoran in the
United States. Publications include co-authorships in the survey’s Geological Fieldwork,
and Geoscience BC summary reports. A paper summarizing his Masters thesis has
been accepted by the Society of Economic Geologists. Paul is happy to be back
learning and exploring in the Omineca region of BC, and raising a young family near
grandparents in the community of Prince George.
Jeff Kyba, BC Ministry of Energy and Mines
Jeff Kyba grew up near Falkland BC and completed an undergrad degree at the
University of Victoria. He has been the Skeena Regional geologist since late 2011. Jeff
spent multiple summers working in northwest BC for a junior exploration company
exploring ultramafic rocks for nickel, copper and platinum group elements before taking
a regional mapping job with the BC Geological survey near Terrace in 2007. Warm
waves and exotic geology led to three years in Australia working as an exploration
geologist in a world renowned Iron Oxide Copper Gold district in the Mount Isa Inlier for
Ivanhoe Australia. When not working Jeff finds himself enjoying skiing fresh lines, riding
local single track and the life-long mission for more waves!
News from AMEBC and MABC
Gavin C. Dirom, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mineral
Exploration BC
Gavin C. Dirom is the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Association of
Mineral Exploration BC and joined AME BC in late 2008. He brings over 20 years of
mineral exploration and mining industry experience, with a focus on project permitting,
safety, environmental management and sustainable mineral development in British
Columbia.
Before joining AME BC, Gavin held the role of Vice President, Environment, Health and
Safety at the Mining Association of British Columbia. Prior to this he served as Senior
Policy Advisor with Natural Resources Canada and has over a decade experience
working for a number of exploration and mining companies.
As President and CEO of AME BC, Gavin provides leadership to the growing and
diverse membership in order to successfully advocate for a safe, economically strong
and environmentally sound mineral exploration and development sector. He is
responsible for the management, organization and implementation of all AME BC
activities and programs.
Born in Smithers, BC, Gavin has explored, worked and travelled throughout much of the
province. He and his wife Kathy have four children and reside in North Vancouver, BC.
Karina Briño, President and CEO Mining Association of BC
Karina Briño assumed the role of President and CEO of the Mining Association of
British Columbia in August 2011, bringing with her a wealth of experience in the
province’s mining sector.
Previously, Ms. Briño was BC’s senior mining bureaucrat. She served as Assistant
Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Mines after many years of experience
focusing on mineral policy and in managing regional operations for the Mining Division.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Briño has held progressively senior positions for the
Province of British Columbia in the area of social services, providing direct client service
to youth at risk and adults with special needs and in designing and developing programs
aimed at promoting self-reliance and re-attachment to the labour force.
News from the Industry Training Authority
Jeff Nugent, Chief Operating Officer, Industry Training Authority (ITA)
Jeff Nugent is the Chief Operating Officer for the Industry Training Authority. He is
responsible for ITA’s program standards, training delivery, labour supply and customer
service activities.
Jeff joined ITA in August 2004 after three years as a senior policy analyst with the
Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Prior to that, he worked for two years
with the Alberta government in the area of business planning and performance
measurement.
Jeff is involved in a number of pan-Canadian level strategic initiatives. Most recently,
this includes chairing a national working group overseeing the pilot of new assessment
approaches for the Red Seal program and an initiative to engage stakeholders to
investigate opportunities to strengthen the existing Red Seal program.
In September 2014, Jeff was recognized for his many accomplishments, and was
included in Business in Vancouver’s prestigious list, Forty Under 40. This annual award
acknowledges the achievements of BC’s most outstanding entrepreneurs, executives
and professionals in public or private business and non-profit sectors.
Geoscience BC update
Andrea Clifford, Director Business Development, Geoscience BC
Andrea’s first geology field experience was as a summer student employed with the
Geological Survey of Canada in the Northwest Territories in 2000; an experience that
sealed her fate as a field geologist. She graduated from the University of Alberta in
2003 with a B.Sc. in Geology and spent the next eight field seasons in the Canadian
Arctic exploring for diamonds. Until spring of 2013, she worked with junior mining
companies within the Aurora Mineral Resource Group. Her field work has spanned from
the top of the world in the Arctic islands and Greenland to the bottom of Colombian
emerald mines. Two years ago, Andrea started with Geoscience BC and is now
Director, Business Development. She loves that her job involves meeting different
people and organizations from around B.C. and enjoys learning about and being a part
of the projects going on in her own backyard.
Mount Polley Update
Dr. 'Lyn Anglin is the Chief Scientific Officer at Imperial Metals Corporation based in
Vancouver. She joined the company in September 2014. In her present role she is
providing Imperial with advice and guidance on environmental impact assessments and
remediation work at the Mount Polley Mine, and on new exploration technologies and
research opportunities in BC and elsewhere.
Prior to joining Imperial, ‘Lyn was the President and CEO of Geoscience BC, a nonprofit geoscience research organization. During her tenure, Geoscience BC was very
successful in delivering on its mandate to attract and support investment in mineral
exploration, mining and oil&gas development in the Province. Prior to joining
Geoscience BC, she was the Associate Director of the Pacific Division of the Geological
Survey of Canada.
'Lyn’s research expertise is in mineral deposit geology and geochemistry. She has a
BSc from Queen's University in Kingston, an MSc from Memorial University in
Newfoundland, and a PhD from Carleton University in Ottawa. She is also registered as
a Professional Geologist with the Association for Professional Engineers and
Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC).
In addition to her work with Imperial, ‘Lyn sits on a number of volunteer Boards and
Committees. She is a member of the Premier's Women's Economic Council for BC and
she was recently elected to the Council of APEGBC. She is also a member of the
Advisory Committee of The School of Exploration and Mining at Northwest Community
College in Smithers, and serves on committees of the Association for Mineral
Exploration BC, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and the Society
of Economic Geologists. She has also served on a number of NSERC grant review
committees and is a former President of the Geological Association of Canada.
Exploration Sector Talks
Tom Broddy has been working for Taseko Mines as Manager of Engineering Projects
for the past 8 years. He is the Project Manager for Taskeko’s Aley Niobium project.
Prior to working with Taseko, Tom worked as a manager on the Vancouver waterfront,
and for Teck Resources in Tumbler Ridge.
David W. Moore, P. Geo. President, CEO and Director of Serengeti Resources Inc.
Mr. Moore joined Serengeti in 2004 and since that time, has lead a team that has raised
over $35 million in exploration funds and discovered two significant mineral deposits.
This success was recognized by AMEBC co-awarding him the prestigious Prospector of
the Year for 2011.
Prior to joining Serengeti, Mr. Moore had a 30 year career with a major mining
company, where he participated in the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits in
several countries. He brings experience and expertise ranging from grassroots
prospecting to international exploration, business management and development, as
well as a proven ability to recognize exploration targets of high potential and transform
them into successful projects.
Mike Roberts, VP Exploration Kiska Metals
Mike Roberts is the VP of Exploration for Kiska Metals Corporation and has over 15
years of experience in mineral exploration and research in economic geology. Mike
joined the group, then Rimfire Minerals in 2005 where he was part of the team that
generated and executed grassroots exploration projects in Alaska, Yukon, British
Columbia, New South Wales and Nevada. Prior to Rimfire Michael was involved in
academic research of mineral deposits in Finland, South Africa and Southwestern USA.
Michael earned a Batchelor of Science in Earth Sciences from the University of Victoria
and a PHD in Geology from James Cook University in Australia.
Tim Bekhuys is a mining environmental and social responsibility specialist at New Gold.
New Gold is a mid-tier gold producing company based in Vancouver with mines in
Australia, Mexico, Calfornia and BC and with development projects in Ontario, BC and
Chile. While at New Gold, Tim held the position of Director, Environment &
Sustainability and is now the Director for the Blackwater Gold Project in central BC
responsible for Project Development of New Gold’s flagship project. Prior to joining
New Gold, Tim worked for 30 years in permitting and CSR for mining projects located in
Africa, Asia, South and North America.
Mining Sector Talks
Susan Craig, Director Government Affairs & Community Relations –Aurico Gold
Inc.
Susan Craig is a Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations for Aurico
Gold Inc.. She is a professional Geoscientist who has spent her +20 year career in BC
and the Yukon. Susan’s expertise includes liaising on technical, environmental, and
socio-economic issues on projects ranging from exploration through to production and
closure.
As Environmental Manager at NovaGold between 2004 and 2006, Susan was
responsible for the environmental assessment of the Galore Creek Project. Susan was
part of a team that won the first Robert Hedley award in 2006 from the Association of
Mineral Exploration BC for excellence in social and environmental responsibility.
Susan co-founded and was President & CEO of a junior resource company between
2006 and 2012 during which she helped raise +$25 million dollars from investors and
defined significant +million ounce resource deposits on the Company’s main project.
Susan is currently providing support on the assessment of the Kemess
Underground Project and is helping implement the Interim Measures Agreement
between AuRico and Tse Keh Nay. Susan did her first presentation at Minerals North
twenty years ago, in Tumbler Ridge in 1995 and has also presented in 2005 and 2014.
Susan is and is excited to be providing an update on the Kemess Underground Project
at Minerals North 2015.
Steve Robertson, VP Corporate Affairs, Imperial Metals
Steve Robertson is Vice President Corporate Affairs of Imperial Metals Corporation, a
Vancouver based company active in the acquisition, exploration, development, mining
and production of base and precious metals in British Columbia.
Steve’s career in British Columbia’s mining exploration sector began over 25 years ago.
The past 20 years have been with Imperial. Steve’s current responsibilities encompass
liaison with government, community relations, aboriginal affairs and corporate
communications. Prior to his appointment as VP Corporate Affairs, Steve was the
Exploration Manager responsible for the exploration programs at the Red Chris
copper/gold porphyry deposit, the Mount Polley copper/gold deposit, the Silvertip
silver/lead/zinc project, and the Giant Copper copper/gold/silver project. He began his
career with Imperial as the mine geologist at the Goldstream copper/zinc mine.
Steve received a BSc Geology (1989) from the University of Alberta. He is active in the
mining community having formerly served as director for AME BC and on the
Geoscience BC technical advisory committee for many years, and he was a founding
director of BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association. Steve currently serves on the AME
BC Awards Committee and the organizing committee for the Society of Economic
Geologists 2013 conference in Whistler BC. Steve lives with his family on the sunshine
coast.
Ian Berzins, VP & General Manager Mt. Milligan Mine
Ian Berzins is Vice President and General Manager at Mount Milligan Mine. He
Thompson Creek in June 2014 as the Assistant General Manager of Mount Milligan
Mine. In August 2014 he was appointed Vice President and General Manager. He has
over 35 years of progressive experience in open pit and underground gold, copper, oil
sands, and coal mining, with responsibilities in mine design, mine supervision, mine
maintenance, human resources, environmental compliance, and management. Prior to
joining Thompson Creek, Mr. Berzins served as President, Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Operating Officer, and a director of San Gold Corporation, a gold mining company
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mr.
Berzins served as the Chief Operating Officer of San Gold since May 2008. Previously,
he held senior management positions with Sherwood Copper, Albian Sands Energy
Inc., and Suncor Energy Inc. and served as General Manager of several gold mines,
including Harmony Gold Canada Incorporated, Echo Bay Mining - Lupin Operations,
and Miramar Mining Corp.. Mr. Berzins is a registered member of the Association of
Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. He received a B.S. in
Mining Engineering from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
Exploration Environmental Assessment and EPCC
Brad Horne, AMEC Foster Wheeler
Brad Horne has over 20 years’ experience as a professional fisheries biologist
working for government, First Nations, non-governmental organizations, and
business sector clients from the Beaufort Sea to the Laurentian Great Lakes. For the
past 12 years, Brad has been the freshwater fish discipline lead for environmental
impact assessments for mining, oil and gas, hydroelectric projects, and linear
developments in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Yukon and
Northwest Territories. In this capacity, Brad has been responsible for the design and
implementation of baseline studies, development of mitigation measures to avoid
“serious harm to fish”, qualitative and quantitative assessment of potential effects to
fish and fish habitat, and development and negotiation of “offsetting” plans to sustain
the productivity of commercial, recreational, or Aboriginal fisheries.
Brad has prepared development applications under the BC Environmental Assessment
Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and the National Energy Board Act.
He has permitted numerous projects under the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act,
and the Metal Mines Effluent Regulation. Brad has extensive experience with stock
assessments, habitat inventories, radio-telemetry studies, mark-recapture population
estimates, and instream flow and water temperature modelling, particularly in large
rivers.
Dr. Paul Mitchell-Banks, AMEC Foster Wheeler
Dr. Paul Mitchell-Banks has 25 years of experience in land and resource planning,
management, and research. In this capacity, he has worked throughout British
Columbia, the Yukon, NWT, and Alberta, as well as Europe. At Amec Foster
Wheeler, he serves as Group Lead of the Human Environment Team that addresses
the following areas: Public and Indigenous Consultation and Engagement; Social and
Economic Baseline and Effects Assessment; Traditional (Indigenous) Knowledge and
Traditional Land Use; and Indigenous peoples chapters that include rights, interests
and consultation. He has worked on Environmental Assessments that include major
Transmission lines, gold, copper and coal mines, and Solid Waste Landfills. He is a
member of the Association of Mineral Exploration of British Columbia Corporate
Social Responsibility Committee. He has served as a Program Manager for the BC
government, responsible for the 64,000 km2 Muskwa-Kechika Management Area in
northeast British Columbia, with legislation and policy that focused on maintaining
wilderness and wildlife values while promoting economic development. Earlier, he
served as a commercial and corporate lender, managing up to Cdn $1 billion dollar
portfolios, specializing in the government, manufacturing and resource sectors with a
large Canadian bank.
Dr. Mitchell-Banks’ formal training spans four disciplines from three universities. His
undergraduate degree was in Life Sciences, and he undertook additional study in
Wildlife Biology. He has an MBA with an international business, finance and policy
focus; and, a Master of Science in Planning degree with an environmental focus. His
doctorate was in forestry, specializing in management, tenure, property rights, policy
and economics. He has received extensive training in public facilitation, wilderness
management (University of Natal), project management, environmental assessments,
public planning and conflict over land use (European Forest Institute), and other
courses related to land and resource management and planning. Paul has a number
of professional certifications: he is a Registered Professional Planner and is a
member of the Canadian Institute of Planning and is a certified Environmental
Professional through ECO Canada. He has also completed Public Participation
training through the International Association of Public Participation. Paul is an
Adjunct Professor and member of the Professional Advisory Team for the University
of British Columbia Land and Water Systems Program.
Eric Young, AMEC Foster Wheeler
Eric Young is the Engineering Manager for the Pretium Resources, Brucejack project.
Eric is a project management professional with more than 10 years of experience on
mining, infrastructure and other projects. He has managed multi-discipline teams on
projects from concept through commissioning. Eric was Engineering Manager for the
detailed design of the Nico cobalt-bismuth-copper-gold mine in the NWT as well as the
Engineering Manager for the detailed design of the 35,000 tpd Copper Mountain
concentrator in BC.
Geroy Simon – keynote speaker
Like you, Geroy Simon is a winner!
Geroy is a three time Grey Cup winner. He is the CFL’s All-Time Leader in receptions
and receiving yards and has over 100 career touchdowns. Using his experience from
his 17 year professional football career, Geroy now brings his winning attitude and
philosophy that made him successful on the field, into the corporate setting. More than a
speaker, Geroy engages audiences and shares succinct, powerful stories and
experiences that will guide your business, company or firm to greater levels of
achievement and performance.
Geroy is also a winner in the business and philanthropic worlds. He is currently the
Head Corporate Athlete for a major medical company, as well as a partner and Director
of Business Development for one of western Canada’s most exciting marketing,
advertising and publication firms. Geroy has also touched every community he has
been a part of. This year, he spearheaded the creation of The Huddle Up Foundation to
support kids across Canada by embracing the power of sport. Huddle Up’s first
initiative was Geroy’s Coats 4 Kids, a now annual coat drive that puts thousands of
warm coats on kids throughout the province and eventually the country. This year,
Huddle Up is also launching an exciting toque and mitten campaign to take on the long,
tough Saskatchewan winters.
Geroy believes that through a focus on performance, winner can be made of us all.
Come listen to the stories of a champion.
The use UAV’s for Mapping and Data Collection
John Rankin, JU Canadian Mapping Ltd.
John Rankin is President of J.R. Canadian Mapping Ltd. located in Prince George, BC.
He began JRCanMap in 2001 and has been directly responsible for the completion of
hundreds of mapping projects across the globe in a variety of industry sectors. John
has a B.Sc. degree in physical geography with an emphasis on remote sensing from the
University of Calgary as well as a technical diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute
of Technology majoring in photogrammetry and surveying.
John developed his interest in maps during his service in the Canadian Forces as a
member of the 1st battalion PPCLI in which he served for five years. After his service in
the military John entered U of C and after graduation went to Japan to experience a
foreign culture for a few months and stayed for seven years. He returned to Canada to
attend SAIT before embarking on his career as a photogrammetrist.
John’s expertise doesn’t stop at photogrammetry, but includes LiDAR post processing,
quality control assessments, project management, and UAV deployment and
development.
Christina Tennant, JR Canadian Mapping Ltd
Christina has added value to J.R. Canadian Mapping Ltd with her expertise in
photogrammetry and natural resource management. Christina graduated from the
University of Northern BC with a Masters in Natural Resource and Environmental
Studies in addition to her BSc in Physical Geography. Christina also has 7 years of
experience with satellite imagery and aerial photos with several years’ experience
deploying UAVs.
Amazing Tales from the Gold Rush
James Douglas, Barkerville Historic Town
James originally received acting training at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in
New York. In 2000 James was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree (English Literature)
from the University of Victoria, and in 2004 completed a year of graduate coursework at
the UVic’s Theatre department before embarking on an internship with renowned avantgarde theatre director Charles Marowitz, during an historic production of President
Vaclav Havel’s Temptation at the National Theatre of the Czech Republic.
In 2005 James traveled to the Netherlands to write, produce, and direct The Tulip and
the Maple Leaf, a documentary short film celebrating the enduring post-WWII friendship
between the Canadian and Dutch peoples, which premiered at Ontario’s Royal
Botanical Gardens in 2006. Since then he has written dramatic scripts and screenplays
for projects funded by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Hatley Park
National Historic Site, Barkerville Historic Town, Destination BC, and the Provincial
Capital Commission.
James was the on-air host of Shaw TV’s BC150 Years series of documentary shorts in
2008, and in 2010 began production (with Patrick Curling and Jacy Schindel) of
a broadcast television documentary about British Columbia’s past and current gold
rushes (narrated by CBC Radio’s Mark Forsythe) called Wilds to Riches. Wilds to
Riches was officially presented by CBC Television in July of 2013, and has been
rebroadcast throughout British Columbia and internationally via satellite more than a
dozen times since. The film was nominated for a 2014 Leo Award for Best Documentary
Screenplay, and for his role as co-producer James received the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Tourism Association’s Best Marketing Initiative award.
As an historical interpreter and interpretation consultant, James has worked with (and in
many cases continues to work with) organizations like Barkerville Heritage Trust, Royal
Roads University, the Royal British Columbia Museum, British Columbia Museums
Association, the Heritage Tourism Alliance of BC, North Vancouver Museum and
Archives, Storyeum, Carr House, BC’s Legislative Assembly, the Provincial Capital
Commission, Historical Xperiences, Inc., Legend Excursions, Armand Hammer’s United
World College of the American West, and the Boy Scouts of America. He is currently
the Manager of Visitor Experiences and Public Relations for Barkerville Historic Town
(western North America’s largest living history museum) and has been Artistic Associate
and General Manager of Histrionics Theatre Company since 2001.
Field Safety – Coming Home in One Piece
Walter Bucher, Raven Rescue Executive Director
Raven Rescue owner, Executive Director and Senior Instructor Walter Bucher has over
25 years of experience in technical rescue instruction. He has taught technical rescue
around the world, from Sweden to South Africa, to a broad spectrum of students, from
firefighters and outdoor educators, to surveyors, park rangers, SAR volunteers, and
members of the Canadian Forces. Walter’s expertise is curated from training this
tapestry of individuals, giving him the unique advantage of bringing the best of every
industry to his technical rescue work.
In addition to serving as the Deputy Emergency Coordinator for the Town of Smithers,
and a volunteer fire fighter with the Smithers Fire Department, Walter has served as a
subject matter expert on many occasions, including during the development of the 5th
Edition of AME BC’s Safety Guidelines for Mineral Exploration in Western Canada.
First Nations Cultural Workshop – biographies will be posted when they come
available.
Education and Mine Training Workshop – biographies will be posted when
they come available.
Minister of Energy and Mines, the Honourable Bill Bennett - keynote
Minister Bill Bennett was re-elected to a fourth term as MLA for Kootenay East in 2013
and was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core
Review June 10, 2013.
He previously served as Minister for Community Sport and Cultural Development,
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Minister of Community and Rural
Development, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and Minister of State for
Mining.
Bennett has chaired the BC Legislative Select Standing Committee on Finance and
Government Services, and chaired the BC Legislative Special Committee on Cosmetic
Pesticides. He has been a member of various legislative committees and government
committees, particularly focused on land use and natural resource issues.
Before being elected, Bennett was a partner in a law firm in Cranbrook. He also owned
and operated fly-in wilderness fishing and hunting lodges in the Northwest Territories
and Manitoba.