Management Team
Steven Bowles – Chair of the Board
Steven Bowles has extensive experience in the mining and metals sector, encompassing private equity investment, project management and operations management. He currently serves as managing director at Nebari Partners. Prior to this role, he was the senior director of investment in natural resources and energy within Investment Quebec’s private equity group. Throughout his career, Bowles has led development teams on numerous large-scale mining projects, guiding them from study phases to construction and commissioning in various regions, including the Canadian Arctic, the Middle East and Latin America. He has been recognized for his outstanding leadership and was awarded the Bedford Canadian Young Mining Leaders Awards.
Peter van Alphen – President, CEO and Director
Peter van Alphen has over 25 years of experience in leadership roles within the mining industry, encompassing all aspects from construction projects to production. Most recently, he served as the chief operating officer at Premier Gold Mines, managing the company’s mining and development endeavors. Prior roles include country manager for Canada at Pan American Silver, vice-president of operations at Tahoe Resources and Lake Shore Gold, and various management positions at FNX Mining in Sudbury, Ontario. Van Alphen holds a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Steve Filipovic – Chief Financial Officer
Steve Filipovic is a chartered professional accountant with more than 23 years of financial management and oversight experience. He was a founding executive team member and chief financial officer at Premier Gold Mines, playing an integral role in transitioning the company from explorer to producer until its acquisition by Equinox Gold in 2021. Prior to that, he served as chief financial officer of Zinifex Canada and was vice-president, finance of Wolfden Resources, until its acquisition by Zinifex in 2007. Filipovic holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Lakehead University and is an ICD.D designated member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Gilles Roy – Director of Exploration
Gilles Roy is a highly skilled geologist with over 30 years of experience in mineral exploration across various countries, including Canada, Peru, Chile, Kazakhstan, Australia and Burkina Faso. Specializing in base metal deposits in volcanic host rocks, he spent much of his career at Glencore, leading exploration programs that resulted in the discovery of the McLeod deposit in 2004 and the Bracemac deposit in 2006. Roy holds a Bachelor of Science in geology from Université du Québec à Montréal and is a member of the Ordre des géologues du Québec.
Bastien Fresia – Technical Services Director
Bastien Fresia brings over 15 years of international experience in geology, mine planning, and resource development to Nuvau Minerals, where he serves as technical services director. He previously held senior technical roles at Glencore Zinc, leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering strategic studies across Canada, Burkina Faso, Peru, Bolivia and Kazakhstan. His accomplishments include the discovery of satellite deposit extensions in Matagami and Perkoa, as well as the implementation of technical frameworks that significantly improved business performance in Peru and Kazakhstan.
At Nuvau, Fresia leads the company’s technical planning, integration, and execution. He holds two M.Sc. degrees in Geosciences and an MBA in Strategy and Risk Management, and is a registered professional geologist with the Ordre des Géologues du Québec and a chartered professional (Mining) with the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Philippe Rio Roberge – Director of Project Development
Philippe Rio Roberge is a project management professional with 19 years of experience in the mining sector. With a strong background from the consultation world, he is specialized in geotechnics, tailings and water management, as well as in project management and construction. He has been involved in multiple feasibility studies for greenfield and brownfield projects and has overseen heavy earthwork construction projects. Roberge has been involved in the full life cycle of mine waste management facilities, from design through permitting and construction to closure and reclamation. While doing so, he has ensured the strategic development and integration of projects in a sensitive environmental and economic context. Philippe holds a degree in civil engineering from Université de Sherbrooke
Christina McCarthy – Director
Christina McCarthy is a geologist with over 15 years of experience in the resource capital markets. She is the former president and CEO of Paycore Minerals, which was acquired by i-80 Gold Corp for a $90 million valuation. Previously, she was vice-president of corporate development for New Oroperu Resources, acquired by Anacortes Mining in 2021. McCarthy also served as director of corporate development for McEwen Mining from 2014 to 2019. She has held various management and board roles, including positions in equity research at Euro Pacific and institutional sales at Haywood Securities. Prior to entering the resource capital markets, she managed exploration programs in Scandinavia for a junior exploration company. McCarthy holds a Bachelor of Science in geology.
Ewan Downie – Director
Ewan Downie is a successful company builder and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the mining industry. He currently serves as the chief executive officer of i-80 Gold. Previously, he was the president and CEO of Premier Gold Mines, and is now serving as non-executive chairman and director of Wolfden Resources, as well as a director of Clean Air Metals. Throughout his career, Downie has been part of several gold and base metal discoveries, earning recognition for his achievements, including being awarded the 2003 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s “Bill Dennis Prospector of The Year.”
Michael Vitton – Director
Michael Vitton served as the executive managing director and head of US equity at BMO Capital Markets, where he was instrumental in originating and executing over US$200 billion worth of public and secondary offerings and M&A transactions across all sectors. In the metals and mining sector, he has been involved in numerous significant deals as a seed investor, lead/co-lead underwriter, or in an M&A capacity. Vitton holds a degree from the University of Michigan Business School and has served as a seat holder on the NYSE, and president of the New York Society of Metals Analysts.
Fariah Mir - Director
Fariah Mir is currently the senior manager, accounting policy & advisory at TD Bank Group. Prior to that, Mir worked as a senior accountant, assurance advisory at Deloitte LLP, and as a senior financial analyst at IAMGOLD Corporation. Mir holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Honours Accounting from York University. She is also a member in good standing with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.