Board of Directors

Peter MacPhail joins Marathon’s Board with over 35 years of operational mining experience in Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Between 2015 and his recent retirement, Peter was Chief Operating Officer of Alamos Gold Inc. Prior to Alamos, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of both AuRico Gold Inc. and Northgate Minerals Inc.

During his tenure at these organizations, Peter oversaw the construction of the Young Davidson mine, initial expansions at the Island Gold mine and construction of the La Yaqui Grande mine in Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mineral Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario.

Douglas Bache is a finance professional with executive management and board experience in both publicly-traded and private companies. He has over 30 years of corporate finance, commodity and capital markets, business and corporate development experience in mining, financial services and information technology.

Over the past fifteen years, Douglas has provided executive management, corporate finance and corporate strategy/M&A development services to various companies including mining, consumer and industrial products and information technology.

From 1999-2005, Douglas served in various senior management roles with Vale Canada Limited (formerly, Inco Limited) and North American Palladium Ltd. In his roles with Vale Canada and North American Palladium, he was responsible for management of the treasury, commodity trading, corporate and project budgeting, financial reporting and investor relations, corporate strategy and development.

During the prior ten years, his banking career included various roles in investment and corporate banking with CIBC World Markets and Société Générale Canada, where he managed client relationships, arranged debt and equity financings and provided risk management advisory services to mining and metals, oil & gas, manufacturing and financial service companies.

Douglas received a Bachelor of Mathematics in Business Management from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and has continuously enhanced his skills and expertise over 25 years through executive training in management and development programs with Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, as well as various business and industry-specific certification programs.

Ms. Bennett is a successful business executive with over 35 years of experience across multiple sectors including mining, government, energy, manufacturing, and technology. Between 2014 and 2018, Ms. Bennett was a Member of the Newfoundland & Labrador House of Assembly, with service in government as Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, and Minister for the Status of Women.

Ms. Bennett currently serves on the boards of the Business Development Bank of Canada, and Vigilant Management. She is founding and managing partner of Sandpiper Ventures. Amongst many previous affiliations with businesses and service organizations within Newfoundland and Labrador and the broader Atlantic Canada region, Ms. Bennet has served on the boards of Nalcor Energy, New Millennium Iron Ore, Bell Aliant, the Institute of Corporate Directors (NL) and the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.

Ms. Dechev has over 25 years experience in capital markets, corporate finance, and the mining sector. Since 2009 she has served as President, CEO and Director of Mundoro Capital Inc. (V:MUN), a public mineral exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC.

Prior to Mundoro, Ms. Dechev was employed in several investment banking roles with Desjardins Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets, and National Bank Financial, advising resource companies on IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and financings. Ms. Dechev has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, at York University in Canada, a Bachelor of Applied Science and Engineering in Geological & Mineral Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Professional Engineer in both British Columbia and Ontario.

James (Jim) Gowans has over 30 years of experience in mineral exploration, technical and economic project studies, and mine construction, commissioning and operations. Between 2016 and 2018 he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Arizona Mining Inc. prior to Arizona’s acquisition by South32 Limited.

Prior to that, he was with Barrick Gold Corporation as Senior Advisor to the Chairman from August to December 2015, Co-President from July 2014 to August 2015, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from January to July 2014. From 2011 to 2014, Jim was the Managing Director of Debswana Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd., and prior to that he held executive positions at various companies including De Beers SA, De Beers Canada Inc., PT Inco Indonesia and Placer Dome Inc. He serves on the boards of Trilogy Metals, New Gold and Cameco.

Julian Kemp is a Business Executive, Consultant and Corporate Director.  Julian has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry, mostly serving in senior financial and administrative management roles. His experience has been focused on restructuring and transforming exploration and development companies into producers. Julian has guided various junior mining companies with precious metals, base metals and coal operations in North America and internationally, as well as mining engineering and contracting companies.

Julian was the Interim President & CEO of Rubicon Minerals Corporation (renamed Battle North Gold Corporation) (“Battle North”) from April to December 2016. After a successful restructuring transaction, he remained on Battle North’s board of directors as a non-executive Chairman until the completion of the sale of the Company to Evolution Mining Limited in 2021. Julian’s previous executive role was Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Fortune Minerals Limited, a position he held from 2004 to 2013. He is currently director and Audit Committee Chairman of Marathon Gold Corp. In addition to Marathon and Battle North, Julian has served as a Director for a number of other public companies including Claim Post Resources Inc. and Goldgroup Mining Inc. (formerly Sierra Minerals Inc.).

Julian is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. In addition, he obtained the Chartered Director designation from The Directors College (a joint venture of McMaster University and The Conference Board of Canada) in 2012.

Matt was appointed President and CEO of Marathon Gold in August 2019. He has over 25 years in mining exploration, project development, construction and operation. Matt was previously the President and CEO of Stornoway Diamond Corporation where he led the C$947M project financing for the Renard Diamond Mine in north central Quebec and oversaw its successful construction and ramp-up.

Prior to Stornoway (and its predecessor companies), Matt was employed by Aber Diamond Corporation (now Dominion Diamond Corporation) as Vice-President, Marketing, and thereafter Vice-President, Technical Services and Control, during which time he participated in the US$230m project financing for the Diavik Diamond Mine and oversaw Aber’s technical and marketing operations.

In 2015, Matt was awarded the Viola Macmillan Award by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, and in 2017 he was the Northern Miner Mining Person of the Year and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Mining and Energy, Quebec), Matt is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh (B.Sc. Geophysics, 1987) and the University of Toronto (Ph.D. Geology, 1996).

Janice Stairs has over 30 years’ experience working with companies involved in the resource sector. Since 2004, Janice has held senior executive positions with various resource companies including Endeavour Mining Corporation, Etruscan Resources Inc. and Namibia Critical Metals Inc.

Prior to 2004, Janice was a partner with the law firm of McInnes Cooper (formerly Patterson Palmer) located in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she continues to act as counsel to the firm. Janice practiced law in private practice for almost 20 years specializing in corporate finance, securities and resource-related issues for private and public companies. She is currently a director and chair of the board of Trilogy Metals Inc. as well as a director of Gabriel Resources Ltd. and Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Corporation. Janice holds a law degree from Dalhousie University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Queens University.