Board of Directors


AQM Copper's seasoned Directors have a distinct track record of success within the Chilean Copper industry. They earned their experience working for the largest copper producers in the world, as well as mid-tier producers and several junior exploration companies.

Alan Edwards
Chairman

Mr. Alan Edwards (Chairman) is a mining professional with over 27 years of diverse mining industry experience.
  • He has held the positions of General Manager of Operations for Phelps Dodge Corporation at the Chino Mine, President and General Manager for Cyprus Amax Minerals Company at the Cerro Verde Mine in Peru, and Executive Vice President and COO for Apex Silver Mine in the development of the San Cristobal project in Bolivia.
  • Mr. Edwards held the position of President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Frontera Copper Corporation and is currently participating as a Director in Copper One Inc., Entrée Gold Inc., U. S. Silver Corporation and Gammon Gold, Inc.
  • Mr. Edwards graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mining Engineering and an MBA (Finance), both from the University of Arizona.
Bruce L. Turner
President & CEO

Mr. Bruce Turner, former President of BHP Billiton's Escondida, the world's largest copper mine in the world, was incorporated as new President & CEO of Apoquindo Minerals Inc. on August 1st 2009. Mr. Turner has more than 35 years of experience in Mining.
  • Mr. Turner holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mining Engineering (1974) from the University of British Columbia.
  • He also is Doctor of Technology (Honorary Degree) from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Additionally, he has also completed an Advanced Management Course at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
James Gilbert
Independent Director

Mr. James Gilbert is President and CEO of Minera S.A., (August 2009 to present) a private mining and metals investment company, and has over 20 years of experience in mining and metals finance and investment, including:
  • Chief Investment Officer of Gerald Metals Inc., (2007-2009) the global commodities trading firm based in Stamford, Connecticut.
  • Director of the mining and metals investment banking group at Rothschild Inc., in Washington D.C. (1994-2007), and a Director of Corporate Finance at Coopers & Lybrand in New York (1988-1994).
  • Mr. Gilbert has been a Director of Orvana Minerals Corp. since August 2009, and currently serves as Chairman of the Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Orvana Board of Directors.
  • Mr. Gilbert has an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in English from Bucknell University.
Dr. Tom Vehrs
Independent Director

Dr. Tom Vehrs is a Senior Minerals Geologist with 35 years experience in exploration, development and production activities. The majority of this time was spent in South and Central America, where Dr. Vehrs lead a variety of mineral exploration companies, including Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., Gold Fields International, and Aquest Minerals Corporation.
  • Tom Vehrs holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Syracuse University and is a founding member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.
  • Mr. Vehrs is a Senior Minerals Geologist with over 35 years of experience in exploration, development and production, and over 25 years in South and Central America. He especially brings experience in the exploration, evaluation and development of porphyry copper - gold systems as is Zafranal.
  • Mr. Vehrs is VP of Exploration for Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc.; he was the founder and former President and COO of Aquest Minerals, a junior exploration company, and former Exploration Manager for South America for Cyprus Amax Minerals
Stephen J. Altmann
Independent Director

Mr. Steve Altmann brings 18 years of investment banking and capital markets expertise, specializing in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions with Desjardins Securities, Scotia Capital, Credit Suisse First Boston and RBC. He is currently President of a TSX listed mining company. Mr. Altmann has completed numerous equity and equity linked financings and several advisory assignments over his career.
  • Stephen Altmann has over 18 years of investment banking and capital markets expertise focused on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.
  • Mr. Altmann holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics and a Master's in Business Administration.
  • Mr. Altmann has completed over $1.6B in equity financings and $20B in advisory assignments. His recent experience includes former Managing Director of Investment Banking at DesjardinsSecurities and former Director of Mergers & Acquisitions at Scotia Capital.
Steve Botts
Independent Director

Mr. Steve Botts is an international sustainability consultant with over 30 years of mining experience specializing in the area of mining project development, environmental management, stakeholder engagement and sustainable development.
  • Prior to forming Santa Barbara Consultants, he served as Vice President of Sustainability for AngloGold Ashanti Americas, General Manager of Rio Tinto's La Granja Copper Project in Peru, Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety for Minera Antamina in Peru and Director, Environmental Affairs for Echo Bay Mines out of Denver, Colorado.
  • Mr. Botts graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Nevada and a Masters of Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver.
Jasper Bertisen
Independent Director

Mr. Jasper Bertisen is a Principal with Resource Capital Funds ("RCF"), a group of private equity funds that exclusively invests in the mining industry.
  • Mr. Bertisen joined RCF in 2004 and, since that time, has completed technical and commercial due diligence on a large number of mining companies with projects ranging from late stage exploration through production.
  • Mr. Bertisen graduated with a M.Sc. degree in Mineral Economics from the Colorado School of Mines and a M.Sc. degree in Mining Engineering from Delft University of Technology.