Corporate Team
African Energy Metals is led by a highly experienced team who offer world-class operational and technical management skills combined with extensive experience with building companies and creating shareholder value. Our management team is led by our Executive Chairman, Stephen Barley, an experienced executive with over 40 years in the public corporate arena structuring mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Barley is joined by our CEO Yves Kabongo and our President and Chief Operating Officer, Grant Dempsey, a Mechanical and Electrical Engineer with over 40 years of experience in all aspects of mining and 20 years’ experience in the DRC.
J. Stephen Barley
Executive CHAIRMAN
Mr. Barley has over 40 years of experience in the public corporate arena assisting in all aspects of public corporate activity and providing corporate finance advice. After 15 years of private practice as a corporate finance and securities lawyer, Mr. Barley left the practice of law in 1997 to become president of CHM Financial Services Inc., a private company offering advice to and investing in numerous public
companies engaged in the resource and technology sector. He was involved in several TSX-listed resource companies engaged in substantial international projects and was engaged as an executive officer or director of those businesses. Mr. Barley remains a member in good standing of the law societies of British Columbia and Alberta and holds a BCom degree from Mount Allison University and an LLB from Dalhousie University.
Yves B. Kabongo
CEO
Mr. Kabongo has significant operational experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and from 2010 to 2016 was actively involved in some of the biggest mergers and acquisitions in the African mining industry such as the acquisition of some of the Fleurette Group’s Copper/Cobalt assets by Glencore, zinc asset by Ivanhoe or Gold assets (Moku Goldmines) by Randgold. During 2005 and 2006, Mr. Kabongo helped
raise $USD 74 million in the Kasai West Province of the DRC which marked the largest private investment since the 1960’s. Mr. Kabongo was also a member of the team responsible for the sale of Bombardier Recreational Products and Military Aircraft Services for $CAD 1.3 billion. Mr. Kabongo holds a degree in management from the H.E.C. Business School in Montreal, an executive development certificate from the McGill University Executive Development Course and completed the mini-MBA program at the McGill Executive Institute.
Grant Dempsey
PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Grant Dempsey has over 40 years experience in all aspects of mining exploration, development and operations with 20 years in the DRC and is one of the most respected senior mining executives in the DRC with strong relationships within the DRC mining community. Until his current appointment with African Energy Metals, Mr. Dempsey was the technical advisor to the Board of Directors of Gecamines, the DRC state owned mining company. Mr. Dempsey was the President of Boss Mining
African Energy Metals’ Kabolela project) and Frontier operations owned by Eurasian Resources Group from June 2015 to December 2016 where he was instrumental, through plant expansion, in increasing copper cathode production by 70% and reducing operating costs by 42%.
From April 2012 to August 2013, he was CEO of Shalina Resources’ Chemaf project where he was responsible for implementing all required processes and certifying resources, satisfying due diligence requirements for the sale of the organization. From September 2010 to March 2012, Grant was simultaneously, Managing Director of Metorex DRC, Ruashi Mining and Kinsenda owned by Metorex (Pty) Limited and created Ruashi Mining from exploration through to construction, financing and operations. This project also included was the construction and operation of a Flotation Plant, Acid Plant, Solvent Extraction and Leach Plant, producing both cobalt and copper. Mr. Dempsey was the Recipient of the Gold Medal of Merit from the government of the DRC for adding positive sustaining value to the country.
Murray G. Flanigan CPA, CA, CFA
Chief FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Flanigan is a management consultant providing financial advisory services to a number of public and private oil and gas, mining and technology companies in North America and abroad. Mr. Flanigan is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst with expertise in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, international taxation, risk management, banking, treasury, corporate
restructuring and accounting and has served as Chief Financial Officer for various public and private companies. Mr. Flanigan was a Managing Principal and the CFO of Kepis & Pobe Financial Group Inc., where he was responsible for all aspects of the company’s accounting, financing, treasury, tax, and legal affairs including overseeing the company’s corporate development activities. Mr. Flanigan is also a Director and the Audit Committee Chairman of other reporting issuers including Japan Gold Corp., Rise Gold Corp., and Nfluence Analytics Inc.
Prior to founding his own consulting company, Mr. Flanigan served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and CFO of Qwest Investment Management Corp., where he was responsible for regulatory reporting and corporate filings for over 15 private and publicly listed companies and limited partnerships in Qwest’s portfolio, as well as arranging and closing numerous equity and debt financings. Mr. Flanigan also served as VP Corporate Development for Adelphia Communications Corporation, overseeing the company’s financial restructuring and ultimate sale to Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corporation for approximately US$18 billion.
Sherri Rempel
CONTROLLER
Sheri Rempel has over thirty years of experience in finance and accounting, focused on financial reporting, regulatory compliance, internal control, and corporate finance activities. She specializes in the provision of accounting services to public companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, and the Canadian Securities Exchange and to companies preparing to list on US Stock Exchanges. She serves as either CFO, Controller, or Director for several publicly listed companies.
