The Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience Team

Gloria Lopez, PhD, P.Geo.

Senior Geologist

Gloria Lopez is a geologist with nearly 20 years of experience working for government and industry in mineral exploration project generation and early-stage exploration.  She has worked in a wide range of deposit types in the Americas, including porphyry Cu-Mo, porphyry Cu-Au, iron-oxide copper gold (IOCG), skarn Cu, epithermal Au-Ag, sediment-hosted Ni-V-Zn, and orogenic gold. She has carried-out field mapping at various scales and terrains, including underground mapping and core logging, coordinated and supervised field and drilling programs, and conducted mineral potential assessments, data compilations and analysis, and geological interpretation projects.  

Gloria received a MSc from University of Chile in structural geology, a PhD from the Colorado School of Mines in economic geology and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in economic geology at the University of Alberta. Dr. Lopez is a member of the Society of Economic Geologists, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists.

Darcy McGill, P.Geo. (Limited)

Senior Geophysicist

Darcy has over 25 years experience in acquisition, processing, inversion, and interpretation of a wide range of airborne and ground geophysical techniques. He has worked on 6 continents on green- and brownfields projects exploring for diamonds, base and precious metals, and petroleum, as well as water resource monitoring and hazard mapping.

Darcy is a member of Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO), the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and is a past executive member of the Canadian Exploration Geophysical Society (KEGS) from 2017 to 2020.

Arjan Brem, PhD, P.Geo.

Senior Structural Geologist

Arjan is a versatile structural geologist with 15+ years’ experience in the petroleum industry and has recently broadened his experience to include mineral exploration. He has contributed to 60+ projects in more than 25 geologic basins around the globe, providing specialist support to regional exploration, appraisal and production projects. He has hands-on expertise in structural geology, integrated subsurface evaluations, risk and uncertainty analyses, and subsurface modeling. In mineral exploration, he provides local and regional structural analysis with implications on mineralization and property evaluations. 

Arjan received a PhD from the University of Waterloo (2007) and an MSc from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2000). He is a member of the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Using his global knowledge, he collaborates with RMG as an associate geologist. 

Richard Hughes, PhD

Data Scientist

Dr. Richard Hughes is a Professor of Physics at The Ohio State University, where he has served since 1996. With over 25 years of experience in particle and astroparticle physics, Dr. Hughes has an extensive background in experimental particle physics and astroparticle physics, using instruments such as the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope and the proton-antiproton collider at the DOE Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a past recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator Award. 

He earned his B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hughes was a Wilson Fellow at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, where he gained significant expertise in hardware and software systems for high-energy physics experiments.

As a pioneer in machine learning since the late 1990s, Dr. Hughes has spent the past decade applying these techniques to business problems, with a recent focus on text analytics. He co-founded CHN Analytics/North AI Analytics, which leverages machine learning to analyze large-scale document datasets, and 4Sight Advantage, which applies text mining techniques to evaluate research sentiment in consumer goods sectors.

Dr. Hughes has made numerous contributions to significant research projects, including the discovery and study of the Higgs boson and top quark, and the search for dark matter using the Fermi Large Area Telescope. His expertise in artificial neural networks and deep learning applications has been instrumental in advancing pattern recognition and data analysis techniques.

Frederick Kuehn, PhD, CFA

Data Scientist

Frederick’s professional journey began with a Ph.D. in Physics from The Ohio State University, where he developed a strong foundation in data analysis and scientific research through his work in astroparticle physics. A focus beyond academic excellence was learning how to lead within a large, international collaboration through working on a NASA space telescope. These acquired technical and communication skills laid the foundation for his approach to career-related work and decisions.

As a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory working on an international scientific collaboration, he further cultivated leadership skills. He was fortunate to work at the institution responsible for the project management, furthering his insights into how ideas turn into concrete, successful implementation.

Seeking to develop his expertise in a broader context, he transitioned to the finance industry, joining the Global Capital Markets trading group at the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in Toronto. He subsequently moved into Portfolio Management at CPPIB, gaining valuable experience in financial markets and investment strategies. Both roles allowed him to contribute to technical projects and to communicate these to achieve business outcomes.

In 2017, Frederick earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, demonstrating his commitment to professional excellence and a deep understanding of financial markets. That same year, he founded Astraea Consulting to successfully complete several enterprise-level projects at CPPIB over the next seven years.

Now, Frederick is thrilled to partner with his Ph.D. advisor Richard Hughes and Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience to leverage the power of machine learning and deliver innovative impactful solutions to clients.

Sean Hicks, P.Geo.

Project Geologist

Sean is a professional geologist that has been working in mineral exploration since 2018 with expertise in all facets of early greenfield to brownfield exploration. He has experience with a wide variety of commodities from base and precious metals to battery minerals, across a multitude of deposit types including VMS and porphyry copper systems to BIF-hosted and orogenic gold deposits.

Working in remote settings across Canada, from the Arctic, Northern Ontario and British Columbia, Sean has gained a fond appreciation for logistics and is proficient at both the planning and execution phases of early exploration, from designing soil and till sampling grids to managing diamond drill and mapping programs.

Sean has received his honours degree in earth sciences from Carleton University, he is a member of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) and of the Professional Geologists of Ontario (PGO).

Carl-Philippe Folkesson, MSc, P.Geo.

Project Geologist

Carl is a Project Geologist and Manager with 7 years of experience in the mineral exploration sector. He has worked across Canada and obtained significant experience working in arctic mineral exploration, most notably in Nunavut within logistically challenging environments. He has worked on all facets of mineral exploration, including grassroots orogenic gold exploration, brownfield Ni-Cu-Co-PGE, rare earth and active mine site exploration in the iron ore sector.

He has received both B.Sc and M.Sc degrees from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). In tandem with gold and iron ore exploration, his M.Sc Thesis focused on the regional scale mapping of the Eqe Bay Greenstone Belt, Nunavut, with sedimentology, structural geology and geochronology interpretation components.

He is a member in good standing of the Order of Geologists in Québec (OGQ) and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG).

Parth Pokar, G.I.T.

Geophysicist, EM Specialist

Parth Pokar is a geophysicist with a diverse skill set and a passion for exploration. His experience includes using electromagnetic, magnetic, gravity and other geophysical datasets to drive exploration successes. He has 4 years of industry experience and is augmenting the experience with academic research as a M.Sc. student at the University of British Columbia's renowned Geophysical Inversion Facility (GIF) research group. His research centres on numerical model and machine learning techniques to improve the speed and accuracy of EM inversions. He also holds a B.Sc. in Geophysics (Honours) from the University of Manitoba.

 Parth's diverse background and proficiency in geophysical data analysis and machine learning make him a valuable asset in any geoscience project. Whether consulting on exploration, conducting research, or advocating for diversity in the field, Parth brings dedication and expertise to the table.

Jeffrey Enright, MSc, P.Geo.

Associate Geologist

Jeffrey has worked in mining and mineral exploration since 2012. He is a professional geoscientist with experience in running drill programs, making detailed observations at the micro- to macro-scale, and integrating those observations with geophysical inversions to develop interpretations and geological wireframes in a 3D environment. His experience spans from early-stage exploration on Ni-Cu-PGE, gold and uranium projects, to later stage resource definition involving the development of block models and technical reports.  

His interests in mineral deposits reside equally in the geosciences and in the economic factors that determine whether a mineral asset can be developed into an ore deposit. As such, he has applied his financial background in the mining development and production sectors and is experienced in developing and maintaining cost forecasts, budgets and detailed mine schedules.

Jeffrey has completed undergraduate degrees in commerce from the University of Guelph and geology from Laurentian University, received an MSc from the Harquail School of Earth Sciences in 2017, and is a member of the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO).

Elizabeth Zbinden, PhD

Senior Geologist

Elizabeth is a geologist and geochemist enthusiastic about ore deposits, mineral exploration, deposit development, and mining operations.   After earning a PhD from Stanford University School of Earth Sciences in 1995, she has been based out of northern Nevada.  She has worked on deposits not only in Nevada and surrounding Basin and Range states, but also Ontario, Alaska, Mongolia, and Laos.  She has extensive experience in Nevada’s two signature gold deposit types – Carlin-style and young volcanic epithermal – as well as porphyry and related copper deposit types, and a variety of other commodities and deposit types.  She enjoys field work, managing and supervising drilling, and developing the geologic story that emerges from drilling results.

Elizabeth is a past president of the Geological Society of Nevada (GSN), current Vice President and chair of the Public Lands committee for the Nevada Mineral Exploration Coalition and active with the Women’s Mining Coalition.  She is a member of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG), Mining and Metallurgical Society of America (MMSA), and several other professional societies. 

Luc Harnois, PhD, P.Geo. (Quebec)

Senior Geologist

Luc has more than 20 years of experience in exploration in North America, Africa and Asia. He has executed and managed a variety of exploration programs including drilling (diamond, reverse circulation and rotary air blast), soil sampling and mapping. He has experience in geochemical exploration in deeply weathered terrains, is used to working in remote areas and has mentored many junior geologists. Luc has managed large teams and mentored many junior geologists. Luc received a PhD from Carleton University in 1987. He is fluent in French and English.

Trevor Boyd, PhD, P.Geo.

Senior Associate Geologist

Trevor Boyd is a professional geologist with over 40 years of experience in the mining industry working with both private and public companies including Noranda, Falconbridge and Westmin Resources. Trevor holds a doctorate in geology and geochemistry from the University of Toronto, and a M.Sc.(Applied) Minex degree from McGill University. He has taught economic and structural geology and mineralogy at York University. He is an accredited member of the Professional Geoscientists Ontario; Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists; and Engineers and Geoscientists BC; and a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 for a wide variety of precious and critical mineral deposits.

Christian Bohm, PhD, P.Geo.

Senior Associate Geologist

Christian O. Bohm, Ph.D., is a highly accomplished Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo., QP) with over 30 years of experience in diverse geological environments, mineral exploration, and public geoscience. As Principal Geoscientist at Goldilocks Geoscience Services, he specializes in geological mapping, data synthesis, geochemical consulting, and project generation.

Christian has a proven track record of leadership, having managed geoscience programs and fostered collaborative initiatives, including his long-term tenure as Chief Geologist and Director at the Manitoba Geological Survey. His expertise spans exploration targeting, project management, and qualified reporting. He possesses deep technical knowledge in structural geology, geochemistry, and geochronology, with a focus on various commodities including critical minerals, gold, lithium, magmatic nickel-copper-PGE, VMS copper-zinc-gold, porphyry systems, uranium, and diamonds.

Christian’s passion is to explore, analyze and document geological systems in the field, and to compile and communicate his findings in accessible ways. His career highlights include leading complex geoscience projects, mentoring junior geoscientists, and building strong relationships with Indigenous communities, governments, and industry stakeholders. 

Annick Chouinard, PhD, P.Geo. (Quebec)

Senior Associate Geologist

Annick is a geologist with 25+ years of international experience mainly with epithermal Au-Ag-Cu and Carlin-type mineralization. Her work ranges from grassroots exploration to large mine development, including the Pascua-Lama deposit (Chili-Argentina) and the Goldstrike mine (Nevada, USA), among others. Her work focuses on 2D and 3D data optimization, geochemistry, alteration, and the use of micro-analytical techniques (SEM & EPMA) geared towards exploration, geometallurgy and environmental projects. Annick also worked as VP exploration for Andina Minerals on the large Vulcan project in the Maricunga belt (Chile).

She received a Ph.D. from McGill University and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Queen’s University.

Annick is a member of Ordre des Géologues du Québec (OGQ) and the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) and speaks French, English and Spanish.

Birgit Rameseder, MSc, MBA

Associate Geologist

Birgit is a strategic professional with decades of experience in roles spanning across exploration, mineral resource management (MRM), project management and assurance and techno-economic analysis. Birgit’s advanced process mapping and optimisation skills, strategic and operational business management make her a recognised leader with a proven record of mentoring and developing staff.

Birgit has more than 20 years of experience in exploration and mining in Northern Canada and Southern Africa, with particular focus on kimberlites and diamond exploration. She is also involved in risk management and sustainability projects and has worked on a number of global projects.

Tom Kraft

Associate Geologist and Geotechnician

With over 35 years of experience in the mineral exploration industry, Tom has been a dedicated explorationist since commencing work in 1977. Graduating with a BSc in Geology from Carleton University in 1984, Tom has explored diverse terrains across Canada, the USA, South America, and various international locations. From grassroots projects to project management, Tom has navigated the arctic, desert, jungle, and mountainous regions, searching for a variety of base and precious metals, including uranium and lithium. With working knowledge of Spanish, Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to many exploration endeavors.

Tania Poehlman, MSc

Lands Manager

Tania is a lands manager dedicated to maximizing exploration dollars and mitigating risk through effective lands management. She has extensive experience managing land assets in multi-jurisdictional frameworks across the world. Tania received an M.Sc. in Fluvial Geomorphology from the University of Guelph in 1996. Since then, her consulting portfolio has included geoscience work in exploration as well as IT management. With strong organizational and communication skills, her focus organically evolved into lands and data management. In addition to supporting and optimizing clients' land assets, Tania actively contributes to a number of governing advisory committees in the mining and exploration sector.

Jason Adam

GIS Specialist

Jason Adam has more than 20 years of experience in mineral resource GIS analysis. Jason specializes in geographic data acquisition, creation, analysis and storage. His 2D analyses help the Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience geologist and geophysicists with their data analysis and interpretation. Jason also provides custom-tailored maps and figures for our clients.

Michelle Wright

Executive Assistant, Business Development

A versatile and dedicated professional, Michelle Wright currently excels as an Executive Assistant at RMG, providing crucial management and marketing support. Since January 2023, she has been instrumental in ensuring smooth operations through her expertise in marketing, health & safety protocols, general administration, and accounting.

Prior to this, Michelle held a long-term position as Office Manager at Wright's Electric (Kent) Limited for over ten years, demonstrating strong bookkeeping, financial, and organizational skills. Her commitment extends to her community as the Treasurer for CK Pride, where she leverages her organizational and financial acumen for a non-profit cause. Michelle's background also includes experience in the insurance industry as a Licensed Agent with both State Farm and Desjardins, showcasing her sales and customer service abilities.