Leadership & Governance

Leadership & Governance

Minesite

LEADERSHIP

Proven Operators with Deep Silver Valley Experience

Sunshine’s leadership team combines global mine-building expertise with decades of experience in Idaho’s Silver Valley. Led by CEO Heather White, a mining engineer with three decades of operational and executive experience at major companies, the team brings the technical, financial, and operational depth to advance the Sunshine Complex back to production. From finance and strategy to underground mining, metallurgy, safety and environmental stewardship, the management team blends international track records with deep local knowledge – uniquely positioning Sunshine to deliver U.S. supply chain security in silver and critical minerals.  

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Heather White

CEO

Seasoned mining engineer, developer, operator and executive, with 30 years of experience, including senior management roles at mining companies such as INCO Ltd, P.T INCO, Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company, Vale, NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. and Nickel Creek Platinum. Over her extensive career, she has worked in underground and open pit operations in Ontario, Indonesia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon and Idaho.

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Andre van Niekerk

CFO

Accomplished CFO with 20+ years mining industry experience in financial strategy, capital markets, corporate governance and operational excellence. Built and led finance teams for US (GAAP) and Canadian-listed (IFRS) companies. Proven track record of securing funding for mining projects, restructuring debt, and implementing robust internal control frameworks. Prior CFO roles at Gatos Silver Inc., Nevada Copper Inc., and Golden Star Resources

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Ryan Kee

Vice President, Finance

Finance and accounting leader with 15 years in public accounting, financial reporting, and team development. Built and developed accounting teams for Canadian-listed (IFRS) companies, primarily South American junior miners. Provides strength in design and implementation of information and reporting systems, technical accounting, team development, and GAAP compliance. Prior CFO role at Grown Rogue International Inc., prior VP Finance role at SolGold plc, and prior In-Country CFO for AGM Inc., a subsidiary of Guyana Goldfields Inc.

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Tom Henderson

General Manager

Mining engineer with over 40 years of experience in underground and open pit mining, including roles ranging from miner to COO, developing and operating mines in the US (Idaho, Nevada, and Alaska) and globally. Prior positions at Freeport’s Grasberg Mine, Barrick’s Goldstrike Mine, and Coeur Kensington Mine, and several mines in the Silver Valley, among others.

Nick

Nick Furlin

Manager, Technical Services

Experienced geologist and technical services manager. 20-years working in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District, 16- years working for Hecla Mining Co. at the Lucky Friday Mine in Mullan, Idaho. Nick helped to develop the revolutionary Underhand Closed Bench mining method. Nick has also worked at the Galena, Coeur and Greens Creek Mines.

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Sarah Frohlich

Controller

Experienced finance, accounting, supply chain, IT, risk management, and human resources professional. Sarah has worked for over 13 years at the Sunshine Mine and more than 12 years in banking and finance. Sarah  oversees all administrative and accounting departments. Prior to Sunshine, Sarah worked at the Crescent Silver Mine.

Mike

Mike Irish

Manager, Process & Environment

Mike is an accomplished metallurgist and expert in refining and marketing, with a notable work history at the original Sunshine Mine & Refinery and with Essential Metals. He oversees Sunshine’s metallurgy, mineral processing, refining, and environmental permitting and management. Mike is highly regarded for his expertise in building and refurbishing mills and refineries while minimizing environmental impacts. He specializes in zero-liquid-discharge refining operations.

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Brian Higdem

Manager, Maintenance

Experienced mechanical and electrical professional with 22-years of experience at Sunshine, upgrading the infrastructure, power grid, mechanical systems, and providing vast institutional knowledge. Brian handles all technical upgrades to the operating hoists, dewatering systems, refinery, water treatment plants, etc.

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Justin Wilbur

Superintendent, Mine Operations

Justin is a highly experienced mining professional specializing in underground, narrow-vein mining operations and shaft mines. He has worked at major mining sites across the western United States and Alaska, and has completed a multi-year assignment improving underground mining operations in Mexico. With over 25 years of experience in building underground mines, Justin brings a wealth of knowledge, a diverse skill set, and a strong focus on safety and training to Sunshine.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Strategic Vision, Global Perspective

Sunshine’s Board of Directors brings together industry leaders in mining, capital markets, and governance. Chaired by Dr. Thomas Kaplan, a renowned investor and operator with three decades of success building world-class resource companies, the board combines entrepreneurial vision with institutional discipline. With members spanning international law, finance, capital markets, and senior mining leadership, Sunshine’s board provides the strategic oversight to advance the Sunshine Complex as a cornerstone of U.S. silver and critical minerals supply.  

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Thomas Kaplan

Chairman

30-year track record as an investor, entrepreneur and operator in the resources sector. Dr. Kaplan is Founder and CIO of The Electrum Group, with a track record of success in making selective investments in the highest quality precious metal opportunities able to generate high impact outcomes and sector-leading returns.

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Daniel Muniz Quintanilla

Vice Chairman

28+ years of experience in international law, M&A, capital markets, and finance in the mining, logistics and infrastructure industries. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Novagold Resources, Inc. and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.

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Ali Erfan

Director

30+ years leadership experience in entrepreneurship, private and public capital markets, and mining. He is Vice Chairman of The Electrum Group. Prior experience includes Board positions at Gatos Silver and Leor Energy. He currently serves on the Board of Novagold Resources Inc. (NG:NYSE) and Sinda Ltd, among other development stage mining companies.

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Jeb Burns

Director

Chief Investment Officer (CIO), MERS of Michigan. Jeb Burns is an experienced investment professional, business strategist, and organizational leader. As CIO, Jeb directs the multi-billion investment program at MERS, leading a 10-member team of investment professionals, setting investment strategy and implementing all investment programs.

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Peter Cheesbrough

Director

Senior executive with a 30+ year career across a broad range of industries, including serving as CFO of Echo Bay Mines Ltd. a major gold and silver producer and CIBER, a global information technology consultancy. Peter serves as a board member of Sinda Ltd and Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

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Doug Groh

Director

40+ years of capital market experience in mining finance, portfolio management, investment banking, and buy-side and sell-side credit and equity analysis. He has managed global mining investment funds through multiple market cycles and implemented value creation strategies and opportunities across various sectors including the Metals, Chemicals, Energy and Packaging industries.

ADVISORS & GOVERNANCE

Expertise, Oversight, and Strong Partnerships

SSMRC is supported by advisors across technical, environmental, community, and policy disciplines. Their guidance ensures the Sunshine Complex is advanced to the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and governance, while strengthening partnerships with stakeholders at both the local and national level.

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Ralph Noyes,

Finance & Technical

An economic geologist with over 15 years with Hecla as General Manager of Lucky Friday and Knob Hill Gold Mines. He also held the position of VP of Metal Mining for Hecla. He has authored prior technical reports for Sunshine Mining Company while with Behre-Dolbear. He was a Director of Consolidated Silver. He advises the Sunshine team on economic geology and execution of mine plans

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Harry Cougher

Management & Mining

Former VP/GM of the Sunshine Mine for 20 years. Prior, he served in mine engineering, mill management and senior management with Bunker Hill. Harry was also COO for Coeur d’Alene Mines and managed the Coeur, Galena, Kensington, and Rochester mines. Harry assists Sunshine on mining method expertise and mine management

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John Allen

Metallurgy & Mill

Accomplished mill, assay lab, and refinery expert. John worked at the Bunker Hill Mine, and the last 36 years of his career running and operating the sunshine mill and refinery. Active through the entire PEA process, providing operating guidance and historical performance data. John has been engaged with Sunshine for the past 2 years

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Tim Olsen

Community & Government

Tim was the former industrial relations manager for Sunshine and is currently a lobbyist in Boise, Idaho. Tim provides organizational guidance and interfaces with government officials and Tribal matters. Tim has been assisting Sunshine for the past 2 years

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Brian White

District Geology & Exploration

Brian is an accomplished and recognized structural geologist in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District and assisted Sunshine in fully mapping structures that informed the current and updated geologic model. Brian has been assisting the Sunshine Mine for the past 2 years

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Ken Rye

Head of Global Mining Evaluations, Electrum Group

Renowned geologist with 30+ years experience in exploration, geological evaluations and mine development. Has made significant contributions toward the discovery and development of major deposits in the Americas, Australia, and Eastern Europe

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Ryan Miles

Portfolio Director, Electrum Group

20+ years of experience in the mining industry, a licensed professional mining engineer with expertise in business analytics, financial modelling, and technical due diligence. Formerly with AngloGold Ashanti as the Principal Advisor of Integrated Planning, he led predictive analytics over the operational plans across all international sites

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