MANAGEMENT TEAM
Mr. O’Kane has nearly 40 years of extensive business and operating leadership expertise in the natural resource industry. He spent 37 years at BHP Billiton developing, expanding, and operating some of the most formative copper mines in the world which included Spence, Cerro Colorado and Minera Escondida. Mr. O’Kane started his career at the Island Copper Mine situated adjacent to Northisle’s project, and spent the following 12 years progressing to the role of Chief Mining Engineer. During his tenure at BHP Billiton he also served as Vice President Health, Safety, Environment and Community for the Copper Business. Most recently, Mr. O’Kane held the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at SSR Mining Inc, where he led all aspects of its operations, permitting, and sustainability programs globally while achieving record production at all three of its producing mines. Mr. O’Kane also serves on the board of Autlan and IntelliSense.io.
Pablo is a geoscientist with 20 years of global mineral exploration experience, specializing in copper, gold, and nickel deposits. His leadership roles have taken him across diverse mining districts, including magmatic sulfide, IOCG, porphyry copper, and shear-zone gold deposits. As VP of Exploration at Ero Copper Corp., he led discovery efforts in Brazil, expanding mineral resources by integrating advanced geomodelling with geophysical and geochemical techniques. Holding a Ph.D. in Geosciences, he advocates for AI-driven solutions in mineral exploration, combining proven methodologies with computational techniques to enhance discovery success. Pablo joined Northisle in March 2025.
Andrea Zaradic is a seasoned executive with over 35 years of experience in mining and renewable energy, spanning global operations and large-scale project development. She has led complex projects across multiple continents, overseeing their progression from development through to construction and operations. Most recently, she served as General Manager at Newmont, advancing the technically complex Red Chris Block Cave Project. Previously, she held senior leadership roles including VP Operations at Euro Manganese and CEO positions at Northair Silver and Troon Ventures. She also brings engineering expertise and continues to contribute as a technical advisor and board member within the energy sector.
Kate Mueller is a Professional Engineer with over 25 years of experience in mining, specializing in regulatory approvals and compliance. Most recently, she served as Director of Regulatory Approvals and Compliance at Falkirk Consulting, advising on risk mitigation, regulatory strategy, and environmental management. She has a strong track record of guiding complex projects through permitting while building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities and stakeholders. Her experience spans senior roles in both industry and government, where she led regulatory frameworks for major mining developments. She holds a degree in Geological Engineering and is registered in British Columbia.
Brian joined Northisle in 2026 and brings a unique combination of experience across executive, investment banking, and private equity roles within the mining sector. Previously, Brian was Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy of Nova Royalty, a copper-focused royalty company, which was sold to Metalla Royalty and Streaming in December 2023. Following Nova’s sale, Brian focused on advising leading capital allocators, as well as public and private companies, on strategic initiatives in the mining sector and has been involved in billions of dollars of M&A, investment, and capital raising transactions as an advisor and principal. Previously, Brian held roles in investment banking at CIBC and UBS and in private equity at Denham Capital, all specializing in the mining sector. Brian holds an H.B.A. in business administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated as an Ivey Scholar.
Dr. John Thompson is a Vancouver-based consultant focused on exploration, mining, innovation, and sustainability. He brings over 35 years of industry experience, including senior leadership roles at Teck Resources, alongside academic positions at the University of Bristol, Cornell, and UBC. He has held leadership roles across major global organizations, including the World Economic Forum and Geoscience BC. He also serves as a director of KoBold Metals and MineSense, and is active in venture, technology, and research initiatives.
Mr. Brown has 45 years’ experience in mineral processing and has been responsible for plant maintenance, project engineering and project management of major base and precious metal projects. He was formerly Project Manager for Western Silver Corporation and worked for 22 years for Bechtel Mining & Metals in various capacities including: Project Manager, Project Engineering Manager, and Manager of Engineering for Bechtel Mining & Metals (Global). He was Western Copper and Gold’s Project Manager from 2006 – 2010 and has served as Vice President, Engineering at Western Copper and Gold since July 2010.
Ian is an experienced mining executive with more than 35 years experience working on high profile mining projects around the world. As a Professional Engineer, he has led extensive project studies with an approach that emphasizes the integration of project engineering and environmental assessments with feedback from First Nations, local communities and key project stakeholders. Most recently, Ian was Vice President, Projects for Orezone Gold Corporation, where he jointly led the company’s development and construction efforts at its Bomboré Gold Project. Previously, Ian has held leadership roles with Lion One Metals, Pretium Resources, Fluor Canada, Emgold and AMEC. His career highlights include responsibility for executive and technical leadership of numerous open pit and underground base and precious metal mining projects, including Bomboré, Brucejack, Tuvatu, Musselwhite, Long Harbour, Sulfolix and multiple other major mining projects
Over 40 years exploration and development experience in major copper porphyry regions including British Columbia, Arizona, Mexico, Argentina, Mongolia, and Alaska.
