Charles G. Preble, Chairman and Director - Mr. Preble has over 35 years of experience in the mining industry. From April, 2004 to December, 2006 he was President and CEO of Peru Copper Inc. (TSX, AMEX & BVL). From September 1984 to April 1999, Mr. Preble was President and CEO of Southern Peru Copper Corp. (now Southern Copper Corp.) (NYSE, BVL). He had earlier spent over 19 years with Southern Peru Copper Corp. in various positions. Mr. Preble holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Arizona and an honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru. In March, 1999 he was awarded the National Medal of Honour from the Peruvian Congress for service to Peru.

 

Thomas J. Findley, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director – Mr. Findley has over 35 years of experience in the mining industry.  He is currently President and CEO of Global Vista S.A, a corporate communications company.  He previously served at Peru Copper Inc. (TSX, AMEX & BVL) where he was Chief Financial Officer from February, 2004 to July, 2006. In 1999 he was Chief Financial Officer of Southern Peru Copper Corp. (now Southern Copper Corp.) following a 27 year career at Asarco Incorporated where his positions included Treasurer and Managing Director of Project Development. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Roanoke College.

 

Miguel Cardozo, Director – With over 35 years of experience in exploration and geology, Mr. Cardozo has been President and Chief Executive Office of Alturas Minerals (TSXV) in Lima, Peru since January, 2004. He is also Partner and Executive Director of Explosupport and Principal and General Manager of Exploandes, two companies that provide logistics support and technical consulting to exploration and mining companies in Peru. Mr. Cardozo’s career includes a variety of management positions including Exploration Manager for the Americas at North Inc. and Exploration Manager for Peru for Newmont. He holds Doctorate and Masters of Science Degrees in Mineralogy & Economic Geology from Heidelberg University in Germany as well as a Bachelor of Geological Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru.

Hans A. Flury, Director - Mr. Flury has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry including having served as the Minister of Energy and Mines for the Peruvian Government, from July 2003 to February 2004.  He is currently the Director - Legal of Southern Copper Corp. (previously Southern Peru Copper Corp.) and serves as a director of the Confederación Nacional de Instituciones Empresariales Priviadas (CONFIEP).  Previously he worked at the law firm of Rodrigo, Elias and Medrano and held a series of positions, including Vice President - Legal, at Southern Peru Copper Corporation from 1974 to 1989.  Mr. Flury received his law degree from the Catholic University of Peru in 1976.           

Andrew Swarthout, Director – Mr. Swarthout has over 30 years of mineral exploration experience, much of it in Peru. He is currently President and Chief Executive Office of Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV), which he founded in 2000. Bear Creek has several active exploration projects in Peru. He also served as Vice President of Exploration for Southern Peru Copper Corp., country exploration manager for Peru at Asarco Incorporated and exploration manager for Mexico at Kennecott Corporation. He is a Professional Geologist and received a Bachelor of Sciences Degree from the University of Arizona.

 

Charles W. Ushela, Director – Mr. Ushela is a businessman with over 17 years of experience in Peru and is a principal founder of Rio Cristal Zinc Corp. From 1991 to the present he has been a Principal in Cia. Minera Pilar de Amazonas which owns the concessions underlying the Rio Cristal’s Charlotte Bongará Project, which are subject to the concession transfer agreement. Mr. Ushela is founder and Director of Minas Andinas S.A. which holds rights to the Los Chapitos copper prospect near Nasca, Peru. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Arizona.

 

Corey Dean, Vice President and Corporate Secretary – Mr. Dean has practiced corporate, securities and natural resource law with a focus on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions since 1981. He was educated at the University of British Columbia where he received his B.Comm. in 1979 and his LL.B. in 1980. Since 1987, he has been a partner of DuMoulin Black LLP and is currently managing partner of the firm.

 

Steven Krause, Chief Financial Officer – Mr. Krause is Vice President of Avisar Chartered Accountants in Langley, British Columbia. In addition to his duties with Rio Cristal, he currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for Bear Creek Mining Corporation and Mirasol Resources Ltd., both public companies listed on the TSXV. Mr. Krause is a Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Trinity Western University.

 

Juan La Cruz, Exploration Consultant - Mr. La Cruz has over 30 years of mineral exploration and mine administration experience, mostly in Peru and Latin America. He was formerly the General Manager of South American Management SAC, an exploration service company. Mr. La Cruz´s career as a geologist includes working for Newmont, Normandy, and Placer Dome and Noranda, where he was the Senior Exploration Geologist and Office Manager for Noranda´s Peruvian operations. Mr. La Cruz has a B.Sc. and Engineering degree in geology from the San Marcos University in Lima, Peru.

Luis A. Egocheaga, Community Relations Consultant - Mr. Egocheaga has over 20 years experience in community relations and environmental programs.  He was previously employed at Los Quenuales, a mining enterprise owned by Glencore, and served as the National Director for the Sustainable Environmental and Natural Resources Management (SENREM) project of USAID.  Mr. Egocheaga has a degree in engineering from the National Agrarian University in Lima and an MBA from ESAN.