Our Team

Duane Poliquin

FOUNDER & Chairman
 

Duane Poliquin received his degree in Geological Engineering in 1962. Ever since, Duane has been continuously active in mining exploration around the world. As a young geologist, Duane started out with a large Canadian mining company and was soon involved in a major copper-zinc discovery. This was followed by work with several of the world’s largest base metal and gold companies in some of the most important mining areas of the world.

In 1972, Duane identified the Santa Fe gold property in Nevada and formed Westley Mines Ltd. to explore the project. Westley was taken over and placed in production as a heap leach operation by a division of Homestake. Before founding Almaden, Duane also initiated several other projects that became producing mines. Duane discovered an extension to the Nevada Sheelite Mine as well as the Apex germanium-gallium mine - a specialty metals deposit in Utah that contained over one million tons of mineralized material with a gross value of over $1,000 per ton. The property was vended to Musto Exploration Ltd.

After founding Almaden Minerals and doing an IPO in 1986, Duane identified the Trinidad gold deposit in Mexico which was subsequently sold with a royalty retained to Eldorado Gold Corporation and became that company’s second mine. Having been in the exploration industry for many years, Duane has been through several metal and mining market cycles and remains confident that the next up cycle will be very rewarding.

Morgan Poliquin

President & CEO
 

Morgan Poliquin graduated from the UBC Geological Engineering program in 1994. He earned his Masters of Science in Geology at the University of Auckland, studying geothermal systems and epithermal gold deposits and his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Exeter (Camborne School of Mines) studying the geology and mineral deposits of eastern Mexico. His Ph.D. research was combined with the prospecting program he led in Eastern Mexico for the Company. This exploration directly led to the Company’s involvement in the Caballo Blanco and Ixtaca projects and the subsequent discoveries made on these projects.

Morgan first came to work with his father at Almaden after finishing his Master's degree in 1996. Morgan is the President and CEO of Almaden and with Duane manages the corporate and technical direction of Almaden. Morgan oversees and directs the company's prospecting and property exploration programs.

Doug McDonald

Executive Vice President
 

Doug has eighteen years experience in the resources and foreign trade and resource policy arenas. Prior to joining Almaden, Doug worked with an investment dealer where he advised numerous mineral resource companies regarding M&A opportunities, and assisted them in accessing the capital markets. He also spent five years as a Foreign Service officer with the Canadian government, where he focused on international trade issues, in particular in terms of their impact on the resources industry.

Doug graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Masters of Applied Science degree specializing in mineral economics.

Elaine Ellingham, Director

Elaine Ellingham is a professional geoscientist with over 35 years of experience in the mining industry, having held senior positions in several mining companies. Ms. Ellingham serves as President of Ellingham Consulting, an independent consulting firm providing geological and advisory services. She spent eight years with the Toronto Stock Exchange serving in various capacities, including four years as the TSX National Leader of Mining & International Business Development. Ms. Ellingham has also served as interim CEO and Director of Richmont Mines Inc. and Senior Vice President, Investor Relations at IAMGOLD, in addition to other corporate development experience with Campbell Resources and Rio Algom Limited. She is also an active director on the Boards of Aurania Resources, Wallbridge Mining and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

Ria Fitzgerald, Director

Ria has twenty years of experience in equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, project financing and project development with global and start-up companies in mining, infrastructure, and renewable power sectors. She has ten years of experience as an investment banker focused on the mining industry, where she was involved in numerous private and public equity financings for global mining companies. Ria holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan, where she graduated with High Honours and Great Distinction, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Kevin O’Kane, Director

Kevin O'Kane is based in Vancouver and is a registered professional engineer with nearly 40 years of experience in the global mining industry. He has held executive positions with BHP in South America, including Project Director, Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment, and Asset President. Most recently, Mr. O'Kane held the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for SSR Mining Inc. He holds the ESG Competent Boards Certificate and Global Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D), achieved in 2021. He is fluent in Spanish and brings a wealth of technical, operational and HSCE leadership combined with Latin American knowledge to Almaden's Board. Kevin also serves on the Boards of SolGold Plc and NorthIsle Copper and Gold Inc.

Alfredo Phillips, Director

Alfredo Phillips is a seasoned business executive in Mexican primary industries. He is currently Head of Government Affairs in Mexico for Arcelor Mittal, the world's largest steel producer. Prior to taking this position in 2020, he had served in a similar capacity for Torex Gold for over six years. Mr. Phillips is past President of the Mining Task Force of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, continues to serve on the Board of the Chamber, and is founding Chairman of the Guerrero Mining Cluster since 2016. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Latin American and Caribbean Council on Renewable Energy (LAC-CORE).

Mr. Phillips has also held numerous positions in the Mexican Government ranging from Deputy General Director for Technology at the National Council for Science and Technology, to Director General for Planning, Programming, and the Budget at the Ministry of Education, to Head of the Investment Promotion Office at the Ministry of Energy. His last position in the Mexican Government was as Minister for Economic Affairs at the Mexican Embassy in Washington DC. Mr. Phillips also participates in academic undertakings and is currently founding Board Member of the Global Sustainability Institute at the Monterrey Technology Institute jointly with Arizona State University, in addition to being a professor of Negotiation Theory at the Executive Education School at the IberoAmerican University in Mexico City.

Alfredo received a B.Sc. in Actuarial Mathematics from Anahuac University in Mexico City and a Master's in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and French.