About Us

Rick is a professional geologist with a broad range of experience within the mining industry, having worked in both buy-side and sell-side positions as well as technically focused responsibilities with major mining companies. Rick was previously with Resource Capital Funds, a leading mining-focused private equity firm, where he was involved in executing a broad range of investments spanning the precious, base and minor metal spaces and was also responsible for establishing and managing the firm’s portfolio of exploration investments.   Prior to Resource Capital Funds, Rick worked as a mining industry equity research analyst in New York City and was an exploration geologist with leading gold producers such as Barrick Gold Corp, Meridian Gold Inc. and Yamana Gold Inc. in both the USA and Mexico. He holds a Master of Science in Economic Geology from the University of Nevada Reno and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Washington State University.

Mr. Waldkirch is a Senior Partner with the Public Accounting firm Michael Waldkirch and Company, Certified Public Accountants in Vancouver, BC. He has extensive experience in providing a wide variety of financial and business consultancy services to public and private companies. Mr. Waldkirch currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of TSX listed Gold Standard Ventures. Mr. Waldkirch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of British Columbia and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1998.

Ms. Welyki has more than 15 years of experience working with public and private mining companies, including Calico Resources and EMC Green Group S.A. She has broad knowledge of the mining industry, including financing, permitting, and stakeholder management and has worked across the United States, Peru and Canada.

Mr. Roberts is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in mineral exploration and mining. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Goldsmiths, University of London (1989) and a Master of Science in Mineral Exploration and Geophysics from Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines (1992). Throughout his career, Mr. Roberts has held various key roles, including geophysicist at Offshore North Sea Oil and Gas, director and exploration geologist at RIC Ltd, project manager at CED LLC, senior exploration geologist at Alaska Earth Sciences Inc, and since 2011 owner and President of Rockhead LLC, an exploration and development consulting company that has had many clients in the US and overseas. He is known for his expertise in designing and managing large-scale development projects within the gold mining sector; significant roles have included Exploration Manager for Newcastle Gold / Equinox at Castle Mtn in California. In most recent years, his roles have been the Vice President of Exploration for Otis Gold, Excellon Resources, Allegiant Gold and now Barksdale Resources. Mr. Roberts is an active member of industry organizations such as the American Institute of Professional Geologists and holds certifications from the Mine Safety and Health Administration as a certified surface and underground miner. Throughout his career, Mr. Roberts has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a strong work ethic, encapsulated by his motto: "if it's there, I will find it."

Ms. Francis brings over 20 years of experience in the public company sector, having served as either a director, Corporate Secretary, or corporate secretarial services provider to a number of companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, Canadian Securities Exchange, and/or NYSE American. She is the founder and principal of a private company providing regulatory compliance and corporate governance services to primarily public companies and other reporting issuers.

Ms. Heiser has many years of experience working in community and government relations in southern Arizona. Nancy has extensive knowledge of stakeholder and constituent management as well as communications, and public relations strategies. Prior to joining Barksdale, Nancy worked for Hudbay Minerals Inc. and spent several years leading the community relations team for Congresswoman Martha McSally. Nancy’s background is in education with undergraduate and graduate programs in elementary and special education from Northern Arizona University. She spent 15 years teaching in the primary grades and as an early childhood program administrator.

Lewis is a Certified Professional Geologist with over 35 years of experience in minerals exploration spanning both North and South America. Lewis worked with Newmont Mining Corporation in a variety of senior positions including Group Executive South American Exploration/Development from 2011 to 2015, Director South America Generative Exploration from 2006 to 2011 and Exploration Manager, Newmont - Minera Yanacocha from 2002 to 2006. Lewis holds a Master of Science in Economic Geology and a Bachelor of Science in Geology, both from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Peter is a Co-founder and Chief Exploration Officer of Mag Silver Corp (“MAG Silver”) with more than 30 years of relevant experience focused on silver and gold exploration in Mexico. He has a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Arizona and is a registered Certified Professional Geologist by the American Institute of Professional Geologists and an Arizona Registered geologist. Peter has been instrumental in a number of mineral discoveries in Mexico including new ore bodies at existing mines such as Excellon Resources' Platosa mine, as well as MAG Silver's Juanicipio and Cinco de Mayo properties. Peter is the author of numerous scientific publications on ore deposits and is a frequent speaker at academic and international exploration conferences. He is also the 2017 recipient of the prestigious Thayer Lindsley Award for mine finding from the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

Mr. Blasutti is the President and CEO of Americas Gold and Silver Inc and its predecessor company’s for the last 9 years. He was formerly the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick"). He reported to the Chief Executive Officer and played a lead role in the strategic development of Barrick for 13 years between 1998 and early 2011, during which time he executed over 25 gold mining transactions including the acquisitions of Sutton Resources, Homestake Mining Company, Placer Dome Inc., the consolidation of the world class Cortez property from Rio Tinto and the sale of 50% of South Deeps to Goldfields.

Mr. Blasutti also led the creation of Barrick Energy Inc. to hedge Barrick's exposure to energy prices and the initial public offering of African Barrick Gold. During his tenure at Barrick, Mr. Blasutti was integrally involved in numerous equity and financing transactions totaling over $5 billion. He also led the Investor Relations function at Barrick. Mr. Blasutti was previously at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he planned, supervised and managed audits for a variety of mining and financial clients.

Rick is a professional geologist with a broad range of experience within the mining industry, having worked in both buy-side and sell-side positions as well as technically focused responsibilities with major mining companies. Rick was previously with Resource Capital Funds, a leading mining-focused private equity firm, where he was involved in executing a broad range of investments spanning the precious, base and minor metal spaces and was also responsible for establishing and managing the firm’s portfolio of exploration investments. Prior to Resource Capital Funds, Rick worked as a mining industry equity research analyst in New York City and was an exploration geologist with leading gold producers such as Barrick Gold Corp, Meridian Gold Inc. and Yamana Gold Inc. in both the USA and Mexico. He holds a Master of Science in Economic Geology from the University of Nevada Reno and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Washington State University.

William began his career in Nevada as an exploration geologist contributing to the discovery of the world class Paradise Peak Mine in 1983. During the following 38 years, William contributed to the discovery, development and production of highly successful precious metal mines including the El Peñón mine in Chile as Chief Geologist and as VP Exploration of the Cerro Negro project, now a mine, in Argentina. William has critical experience in precious metal and copper project evaluations and has acted as a Qualified Person for resource and reserve reporting for Meridian Gold, Andean Resources, and Yamana Gold. William retired from Yamana Gold as SVP Exploration in 2018 and currently volunteers as President of the Society of Economic Geologists Foundation and consults within the mineral industry for select clients.

Mr. McRae is Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs of Americas Gold and Silver Inc. and brings over 15 years of robust corporate and commercial experience to Barksdale. He was an attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, based in New York, in the firm's corporate department representing some of the largest organizations and private equity firms in the world.  Mr. McRae is a member of the New York and Ontario Bars and holds a certificate in Mining Law.

Mr. O’Neill is President/Owner of JMO Enterprises Ltd. (private consulting firm), 2002 to present; Mr. O’Neill was the Regional Sales Manager, Western Canada, of Primus Business Solutions, from 2007 to 2013.