Meet Our People

The Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) is a charitable nonprofit organization based out of Victoria, BC, Canada. We are global experts leading the transformation to an environmentally sound, socially responsible, and formalized artisanal gold mining sector.

Our global team has extensive field knowledge and direct experience with Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining communities worldwide. We have decades of experience in the areas of business, sustainable development, social responsibility, governance, environment, health, geology, geospatial analysis, gold markets, and mercury science. We work with miners, government, and industry. Our diversity is our strength.

Victoria Head Office Staff

Rene Roger Tissot, MA, MBA

Rene Roger Tissot, MA, MBA

Executive Director

Roger brings extensive experience working in extractive industries in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, with emphasis on local content development.

Scott Gryba, P.Eng., P.Geo., MBA

Scott Gryba, P.Eng., P.Geo., MBA

International Finance Specialist

Scott is a professional engineer, a registered geologist in British Columbia, and a finance specialist with a strong background in mining and the precious metals.

Douglas Kao, BASc

Douglas Kao, BASc

Global Operations Manager

Douglas Kao holds a B.A.Sc. in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia and has been engaged in the world of ASGM since 2019.

Abel Ouedraogo, MSc

Abel Ouedraogo, MSc

Exploration Geologist, Project Manager (Burkina Faso)

Abel is a professional geologist with nearly 15 years of international experience in mineral exploration, mining, and environmental assessment.

Ryan Painter, BA

Ryan Painter, BA

Director of Development and Communications

As the Development and Communications Manager at Artisanal Gold Council

Olena Redkina

Olena Redkina

Senior Bookkeeper

Olena has over 20+ years of professional experience in finance and project management in the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine (10 years).

Karina Canevaro, M.Ed., M.P.M.

Karina Canevaro, M.Ed., M.P.M.

Senior Administrative Assistant

Karina is originally from Peru and she holds two master’s degrees, one in Education Management from UPAGU in Peru.

National Managers and Country Staff

Altanbagana Bayarsaikhan

Altanbagana Bayarsaikhan

National Project Manager Based in Mongolia

Experienced in project management, corporate communications, government relations, and community relations.

Saidou Kabre, MA

Saidou Kabre, MA

National Project Manager Based in Burkina Faso

Saidou is an economist and investment specialist with more than 20 years of experience.

Daniel Merino, MSc

Daniel Merino, MSc

National Project Manager, Based in Peru

Daniel Merino is a geological engineer with degrees from the National University of Engineering (UNI).

Abigail Ocate

Abigail Ocate

National Project Manager Based in the Philippines

For six years, Abi worked on promoting good governance in the extractive industries, particularly on improving fiscal transparency.

Julio Porras, Esp.MsC

Julio Porras, Esp.MsC

National Project Manager Based in Colombia

Julio is a geologist with experience in mineral projects and environmental studies.

Vasquez Ramdas

Vasquez Ramdas

National Project Coordinator Based in Guyana

Vasquez is a professional Forest Biologist with 10 + years of experience in Mining, Forestry, and Environment.

Renata Anderson

Renata Anderson

Information and Reporting Officer Based in Guyana

Renata Anderson is a business and economic professional with 5+ years experience in the management, economic and business industry.

Consultants

Mareike Kroll, PhD

Mareike Kroll, PhD

Consultant

Mareike brings over a decade of work experience in public health and sustainability research in South and South East Asia as well as in policy advice.

Peter Rosenbluth, MSc

Peter Rosenbluth, MSc

Consultant

Peter is a results based management specialist as well as an environment and development specialist with over a decade of experience.

Advisors

Brad Van Den Bussche, PGeol

Brad Van Den Bussche, PGeol

Business Development Consultant

Brad brings over thirty years of experience in the mining and resource business.

Anupama Ariyaratne, PhD

Anupama Ariyaratne, PhD

Consultant

Anupama is a communications expert specializing in both scientific and non-scientific communications targeting diverse audiences.

Hans Erasmus, MSc

Hans Erasmus, MSc

Business Finance Specialist

Hans is a Professional Geologist registered in British Columbia, Canada.

Shawn Blore

Shawn Blore

Artisanal Gold Supply Chain Expert Based in Canada and Brazil

Tracking and certifying artisanal gold along supply chains.

Agni Pratama

Agni Pratama

Based in Indonesia

Agni brings over 24 years of combined professional experience across both the private and development sectors.

Paul Cordy, PhD

Paul Cordy, PhD

Based in Canada and Peru

Paul has spent the past decade working with small miners for myriad UN and development organizations.

Jennifer O’Neill, MSc

Jennifer O’Neill, MSc

Research Scientist

Jennifer is a Research Scientist with over a decade of experience.

Board of Directors

Hugh L. Stephens, MA

Hugh L. Stephens, MA

Past Chair

Mr. Stephens has more than 35 years of government and business experience in the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Katherina Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon), BASc, MBA, DSocSci

Dr. Katherina Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon), BASc, MBA, DSocSci

Chair of the Board

Katherina’s influence as a role model for women in engineering and physical sciences crosses disciplines and international boundaries.

John Morgan, B.Sc.

John Morgan, B.Sc.

John R Morgan is a retired mining executive with over 40 years of experience.

Dr. Paul Schure, PhD

Dr. Paul Schure, PhD

Paul Schure is a Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Victoria where he has been since 2000.

Adrian Norfolk, BA, BEd

Adrian Norfolk, BA, BEd

Adrian joined Canada’s erstwhile Department of External Affairs, now Global Affairs Canada (GAC) as a foreign service officer in 1994.

Founding Member