About Forge Resources
Unearthing Opportunities,
Forging a Future
Forge Resources Corp (Formerly Benjamin Hill Mining) is a dynamic exploration company with a focus on the Alotta Exploration Project and Aion Mining Corp.’s Coal Project. With a strong presence in the mining industry, we’re driven to uncover valuable resources in promising geological settings. Our commitment to responsible mining practices and efficient resource utilization ensures a brighter future for all stakeholders.
Experienced Leadership
Team Driving Sustainable Growth
Forge Resources Corp is led by a seasoned and dedicated team of professionals with a wealth of experience in the mining industry. Our leadership, comprised of individuals with extensive backgrounds in various facets of mining, is committed to not only enhancing shareholder value but also prioritizing responsible mining practices and community well-being. With expertise spanning from management consultancy to geological exploration and community development, our team is poised to drive sustainable growth in the Colombian mining sector. Meet the individuals who are shaping Benjamin Hill Mining’s future and contributing to positive change in the communities we serve.
Our Team
Executive & Technical Team
COLE MCCLAY - CEO & DIRECTOR
Mr. McClay is a key figure in securing venture capital and serves as a consultant for global industries including mining, exploration, agriculture, and healthcare. With over a decade of senior management experience, he plays a pivotal role in shaping corporate strategy, operations, and marketing. He excels in team leadership, from startups to full company acquisitions, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Royal Roads University.
LORNE WARNER - PRESIDENT, P.Geo
Mr. Warner is a geology graduate from the University of Alberta (1986) and a registered professional geologist in NWT and Nunavut. With over 30 years of experience in underground and open-pit mining mineral exploration, he has worked for major mining companies like Noranda Exploration and Placer Dome Inc. Notably, Mr. Warner’s team made significant discoveries, including the extension of the Detour Lake Gold Deposit in Ontario after its closure by Placer Dome. He also played a pivotal role in discovering the Falea North Zone (Uranium, Silver, Copper Deposit) and the Fatou Main Gold Deposit, both located in Mali, West Africa.
GREG BRONSON - SENIOR PROJECT GEOLOGIST, DIRECTOR, P.Geo
Mr. Bronson is a highly experienced geologist with 30 years of expertise in mineral exploration and mineral project development. He holds P.Geo. designations from APEGBC and NAPEG, along with a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta. Mr. Bronson serves as a qualified person for Forge Resources Corp (Formerly Benjamin Hill Mining Corp.) and holds director positions at Sentinel Resources, Bathurst Metals, and Avanti Energy.
DR. GUOWEI ZHANG - SENIOR ADVISOR, P.Geo
Dr. Zhang is a highly experienced Structural Geologist with over 30 years of expertise as a consulting geologist, particularly renowned for his specialization in structural geology. He earned his PhD from McGill University in 1994 and has conducted extensive work in Canada, the United States, Asia, and Africa. Dr. Zhang is recognized as a professional geoscientist and holds the esteemed title of Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada.
JUAN J. DUARTE BRAVO - DIRECTOR
Mr. Duarte Bravo is an experienced Lawyer, serving as a counselor and legal representative for international mining companies in Mexico for more than 20 years. He is recognized as a leader in the acquisition of mining concessions that encompass government, private, and ejido-owned properties. Mr. Bravo excels in managing corporate environmental compliance, expediting mine exploration and exploitation permits in protected natural areas, and securing permits for Mexican territorial water rights and development environmental permits.
TYRONE MCCLAY - DIRECTOR
Mr. McClay is a seasoned management consultant who specializes in working with mining companies in both South America and North America. His expertise spans corporate finance, investment banking, and capital markets, with a specific focus on the mining sector. He possesses exceptional skills in facilitating public and private equity offerings, conducting valuations, providing fairness opinions, and overseeing merger and acquisition transactions. Additionally, Mr. McClay has served on the boards of Cicada Ventures, Stealth Resources, and Mosquito Creek Mines.
RUSSELL BALL - SENIOR ADVISOR
Russell Ball is a seasoned mining executive with over 30 years of experience, including notable roles as EVP and CFO at Newmont Mining and Goldcorp. With a background in finance and a track record of successful leadership, he is a respected figure in the industry. Currently, Russell serves as a Non-Executive Chair and director for several prominent mining companies, contributing his extensive expertise to their growth and development.
Our Team
Colombia Project Team
BORIS CORDOVEZ VARGAS - Country Manager – Colombia
Mr. Cordovez was a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Colombian Coal Producers (FENALCARBON) for 10 years, and currently sits on the board of the Association of Railway Engineers of Colombia (AIFC). Boris was the operator of a thermal coal mine in Cesar, Colombia with CERROL S.A. for 3 years, and founder of C&ENER SAS, a company focused on the development of mining and energy projects. Together with Vale Do Rio Doce, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, they explored nearly 800,000 hectares in Colombia for various resources. He has acted as a consultant for infrastructure projects such as Puerto Sinú, Alternate Airport of Villavicencio. He studied International Trade at Tadeo University and completed is Master’s Degree in Multimodal transport.
CAMILO CORDOVEZ AMADOR - VP Finance
Camilo has been in investing banking for the last 14 years as Managing Partner of PrimeCap S.A.S. and Investment Banking Associate of Yun Capital, NYC. He brought projects to the firms in sectors such as energy, transportation, agriculture, infrastructure, and real estate. He worked as an investment advisor in equity funds for Professional de Bolsa in Colombia, with AUM of $700m. With Colombian Mineral Resources PLC made a listing at ISDX London for US$ 75M market cap. Most recently with C&ENER S.A. as a financial consultant, commodity broker as manager of business development in Mining and Infrastructure. Camilo holds a Bachelor degree in Finance and Business from the EU University of Barcelona. He was certified in International Corporate Finance from Columbia Business School NYC and Private Equity Funds from EAFIT University.
GERMAN ANDRES GARCIA QUINTERO - Mining Engineer
Mining Engineer from the Francisco de Paula Santander University (UFPS), Cúcuta Norte de Santander, Specialized in environmental engineering from the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), Bucaramanga Santander, with more than 6 years of experience in the exploitation of underground coal mines. He worked for coal producing companies in the Norte Santander region, holding positions as resident mining engineer and then mine manager for Minas La Aurora, technical advisory engineer for the Cooprocarcat mining cooperative for more than 3 years reaching production ceilings of 5000 Mt/month.
SERENEL SOLOZA - Civil Engineer
Civil Engineer with more than 17 years of experience in different areas of engineering: business management, engineering project management, construction management and residence (infrastructure, private and institutional buildings, earthworks, hydraulic structures, slopes, handling of management and residence of works supervision, budget preparation, execution of purchasing and investment programs, direction and management of SGC, management of personnel, mining operations and infrastructure, residence, supervision and consultancy of works, development of systems of georeferenced information, environmental impact studies, elaboration of contracting documents, diagnosis of the physical state of constructions, information management, elaboration of cadastral and infrastructure censuses.
ELVIRA VERA BOLAÑO - Social and Environmental Manager
Social worker graduated from the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), Specialist in Family Law-National University of Colombia (UNAL). With more than 11 years of work experience in which she has been able to perform in different areas of Social Work within the public and private sector, Elvira has led community processes in different municipalities of the departments of Santander, Meta and Magdalena Medio area. Much of the professional experience has been in the coordination of social, educational and community projects for the development of projects in oil and mining, in which interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work teams have been led with excellent results and positive community impact. Before joining AION MINING, she has worked as a social professional in the company Business and Quality Services, in the environmental compensation project of the company Ecopetrol S.A for the Orinoquía region.
DANIEL ESCOBAR PINZON - Junior Geologist
Junior Geologist graduated from the Industrial University of Santander, with experience in the Oil and Gas industry and with skills developed in Structural Geology, Field Geology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Sedimentology and Petrophysics. He has skills in Technical and GIS geological software. In 2020 he was on the winning team of the Imperial Barrel Award regional Latin America and the Caribbean (IBA LACR) organized by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). He has participated in different geology courses and symposia where he has developed different technical and soft skills. He currently works as a Junior Geologist for AION MINING CORP.
JUAN CARLOS ZÚÑIGA VERA - Technical Advisor
Geologist specialized in management and development of geological-mining projects. 32 years of experience in the entire value chain of the industry, Titling, Formalization, exploration, mapping, and auditing in government, private and multinational companies. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Geology from the Krivoi Rog Ukrainian University and MBA from Santo Tomas University of Colombia and other studies in evaluation of mining resources, Minex, Arcgis 10, English, NLP, Diploma in research and development, project evaluation, appraisals and mining environmental legislation.
STRATIGIC PROJECT PARTNERSHIP
ARCHER CATHRO & ASSOCIATES has been selected as the consulting firm to provide logistical,
permitting and drilling services. The company has been the preeminent explorer in the Yukon for the
last 50 years and has discovered or significantly advanced a wide variety of deposits, including:
Casino
Porphyry - copper-gold-molybdenum
Osiris
Carlin style – gold
Klaza
Epithermal vein - gold-silver-lead-zinc
Wellgreen
Magmatic – nickel-copper-platinum-palladium
Wolverine
Volcanogenic massive sulphide – zinc-silver-copper-lead-gold
Tiger
Intrusion related replacement – gold
Carmacks Copper
Skarn oxide and sulphide – copper
Marg
Volcanogenic massive sulphide – zinc-copper-lead-silver-gold
