The Team: FMC
Introduction
The Faro Mine Closure Office (FMC) was created in 2003 and has been charged with the responsibility for developing a closure and remediation plan for the Faro Mine complex. This plan will be submitted to the appropriate assessment and regulatory authorities as well as final decision makers and, if approved, will form the basis for securing funding for carrying out remediation work.
The Faro Project Management Team (FPMT), which includes core management, technical, communication and administrative staff, are based in Whitehorse. There are also community-based First Nations offices in Ross River (Kaska) and Pelly Crossing (Selkirk), as well as a liaison officer in the Town of Faro.
A number of expert contractors are also providing significant levels of engineering, technical and administrative support necessary for the timely preparation of a closure and remediation plan.
The Team
Project Director | Stephen Mead
Born and raised in London, England, Stephen (B.Eng, MAT) graduated from Aston University with a degree in Chemical Process Engineering. He started his career with London Underground Limited, measuring and modeling airborne particulates generated as a result of operations of the London subway. Following a two-year research project in conjunction with Texaco Oil Co., developing a fire retardant grease, Stephen moved to North America. After receiving a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Fairbanks, Stephen spent six years developing curriculum and teaching applied Industrial Science in alternative high schools in Alaska.
Following a move to the Yukon, he spent time as Executive Director of the Yukon Literacy Coalition, as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Whitehorse. He also worked for a private environmental consulting firm, focusing on remediation of contaminated hydrologic sites before joining the Yukon government as technical advisor to the Faro Mine closure planning process in 2005. He has recently been appointed Senior Project Manager for the overall closure planning process.
Senior Project Manager | Deborah Pitt
Deborah is a landscape architect and land use planner who has had the privilege of living at both ends of Canada's North - in Labrador and the Yukon. During her career, she has worked for academic institutions, NGOs and the private sector in the fields of environmental education, community land stewardship and ecological restoration.
Project Manager | Kaori Torigai
Kaori has a background in environmental science, geology, geographic information systems and remote sensing. She has studied and worked in most of the provinces and territories across Canada over the last ten years. Her work has included mapping and GIS with the exploration and mining industry, managing mining claims and mineral resource information, and mine licensing with the Yukon government.
Project Manager | Dustin Rainey
Dustin is an earth scientist with broad academic and industry experience. His research career began in environmental microbiology, where he isolated naturally-occurring hydrocarbon-degrading microbes. From there, he moved on to geology and recently completed a PhD at the University of Alberta where he characterized the physico-chemical, biological and climatic interactions that controlled the development of hot and cold spring mineral deposits in the Rocky Mountains. He has also worked as a mineral exploration geologist searching for base, precious and industrial metals in Mexico, British Columbia and Yukon.
Project Manager | Patricia Randell
Patricia was born and raised in the Yukon. She has a Bachelors degree in Environmental Sciences and a Masters in Environmental Assessment. During her career, Patricia has worked with Yukon government both in a community officer capacity and as an environmental assessor; the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board as an Executive Committee assessor; and for the private sector as an assessment and regulatory specialist.
Project Manager | Karen Furlong
The beginning of the New Year brought Karen Furlong to the team’s ranks. Having lived most of her life in the North, Karen is assisting with the technical aspects of the Care and Maintenance contract as a project manager. With a degree in civil and environmental engineering which she earned as a mature student at Queen’s University, Karen is currently an Engineer-in-Training working towards her professional designation. Her past experience includes working on a DEW Line site in Nunavut, project management in the Northwest Territories and consultation for Golder Associates while living in Ireland. Prior to moving back to the Yukon, she worked for Prince George’s Ministry of Environment in the mine permitting branch. She initially joined Yukon Government’s Department of Environment – Site Assessment and Remediation Unit prior to joining the Faro Project Management Team.
Project Manager | Kirsten Hulstein
Although born in Vancouver, Kirsten Hulstein was raised in Whitehorse and her career to date has mainly focused on work in the territory. Kirsten holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo along with a Master’s Degree in Regional and Urban Planning from the London School of Economics. Her work experience includes working for a private sector consultant as a planning assistant developing Integrated Community Sustainability Plans for local First Nations such as Little Salmon/ Carmacks, Selkirk and Vuntut Gwitchin. She has also worked for the City of Whitehorse and as a GIS assistant for Yukon government. She joined the Faro Team in March 2010 as a project manager with a focus on Affected Yukon First Nations and their participation in activities at the Faro Mine Complex.
Senior Communications Officer | Brigitte Parker
Brigitte brings over a decade of experience in government communications, marketing, media and public relations to her new job. A former journalist and freelance writer, Brigitte also has strong experience in issues management, event coordination and strategic communications planning. She is available to provide communications support and advice on all things related to the Faro Project.
Office Coordinator | Monique Raitchey
As the Office Coordinator, Monique is responsible for administrative, financial and records management for the Faro Mine Project Management Team and also coordinates information and consultation activities. Monique has many years of administrative experience working in business and in Yukon government with the departments of Energy, Mines & Resources and Environment.
Financial and Administrative Assistant | Luke Sugden
Financial and Administrative Assistant Luke Sugden started work in August 2009 and has quickly become an invaluable part of the team. After overhearing that a position was open on the Faro Project Management Team, Luke took his destiny into his hands and introduced himself to the team. Impressed, we encouraged him to submit his resume and we are sure glad he did! Luke is a born and raised Yukoner who is now busy raising his new baby boy.
Technical Manager | Bill Slater
Through his consulting company (Bill Slater Environmental Consulting), Bill supports the Faro Project Management Team by providing technical, process and policy advice in environmental assessment, water management, monitoring and mine closure/rehabilitation as well as participating in community engagement, assisting in explaining the technical components of the mine closure planning and implementation.
In addition to the Faro Mine Closure project, Bill works primarily with First Nation governments and organizations, providing technical expertise related to mine closure, mining, hydroelectric and infrastructure projects and also helping to articulate the views and interests of First Nations in various assessment/regulatory processes.
Bill has more than 15 years of experience working in Yukon on environmental assessment and water management issues related to all phases of mining projects. He graduated with distinction from the University of Guelph in 1988, receiving an honours degree in Agricultural Engineering.
Technical Manager | M. John Brodie
As Technical Manager, John is the mine reclamation specialist for Faro Mine Closure planning. With nearly 25 years experience in mining, he has focused on mine closure for the last 15 years. John’s expertise includes environmental liability assessment, site assessment and closure planning, control of acid rock drainage, design and construction of waste management facilities, and guidelines pertaining to mine waste management and mine closure.
John has been involved in over 50 mine closure liability assessments. He has published many papers on mine closure planning and reclamation, including the guideline “Mine Reclamation in NWT and Yukon” and the accompanying RECLAIM cost estimating model. John has a B.A.Sc. Geological Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Community Offices
Project Coordinator, Ross River | Kathlene Suza
Kathlene Suza is the Project Coordinator for the community office of the Faro Mine Closure Planning Office in Ross River. Kathlene was born and raised in the Ross River area and worked for many years in the health and social service sector, in Ross River, in Prince Rupert, Prince George and Edmonton. Since the mid 1990s, Kathlene has worked in a variety of positions related to land and resource management, within First Nations' governments and the mining industry. This included work with: Anvil Range Mining Corporation as Human Resources Supervisor and Aboriginal Employment Manager; Westmin Resources and Redfern Resources as First Nation liaison officer, for Ross River Dena Council and Taku River Tlingit, respectively; Kaska Nation and Ross River Dena Council in relation to treaty and land claim negotiations in British Columbia and Yukon; Deloitte and Touche, in their capacity of the Interim Receiver for the Faro Mine, as a liaison officer with Ross River Dena Council. Kathlene is the mother of two children and has five grandchildren.
Project Coordinator, Pelly Crossing | Ellie Marcotte
Ellie took over the position of Project Coordinator for the Faro Project on behalf of the Selkirk First Nation in 2005. Previously she had worked in social services for Selkirk First Nation following similar work in Alberta. Based in Pelly Crossing, Ellie has a wide range of responsibilities related to managing and coordinating the Faro project activities including communications, field studies, technical and information workshops.
Project Coordinator, Watson Lake | Terry Szabo
Terry has been hired by the Liard First Nation as the Community Coordinator for the Faro Mine Closure Project in Watson Lake. Terry was born and raised in Watson Lake and has been attending school in Northern BC for several years, majoring in Arts and Social Sciences. Before being hired on as the community coordinator for the Faro Project, Terry worked for the Territorial and Federal Government in Tourism and Finance. She has also been employed by Liard First Nation as the Director of Restorative Justice and an Occupational First Aid Attendant. Terry has been a foster parent and president of the Watson Lake Daycare and is the mother of two beautiful girls.
Administrative Assistant, Watson Lake | Roma Walker
The Liard First Nation Development Corporation welcomed Roma Walker to their team a few months ago. Roma was hired as the Administrative Assistant in the Kaska Career, Employment & Training Centre and to assist the Watson Lake Faro Mine Closure Planning Office. Roma is of Kaska/Tahltan ancestry, born in the Yukon and raised in Watson Lake area. She is married to Chuck and has two children, Blayde and Charlayne. Roma brings over 20 years of administration experience to her new position. Her professional expertise includes human resources within the mining industry, band management, Yukon government and cook/baker. Her education includes various courses in Aboriginal head start and board member training/strategic planning. She also graduated from the Northern Lights College with an Early Childhood Education Certificate and in 2007 from the Culinary Arts Cook Levels I, II, and III within the Industrial Trade Apprentice Program. Roma loves the North and has enjoyed working for the Kaska Nation over the years.