The Board
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CHAIRMAN & CEO
Mr. Bill Xue joined the board of Western Potash Corp. In September 2015, and following the completion of a Plan of Arrangement in April 2017, Mr. Xue's directorship was transferred to Western Resources Corp. Mr. Xue was elected as Chairman of the Board in March 2020.
Mr. Xue brings 20 years experience in project & investment management from both the private and public sectors, specializing in finance, mining, gas, and power generation fields. He has played a leading role in several significant M&A transactions involving publicly listed companies, including Deputy Chief Engineer at Shanxi Economic Development Investment Company, Executive Deputy General Manager at Shanxi Top Energy Company Ltd., Managing Partner at Shanxi Baijie Law Firm, President and General Manager at Shanxi Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., Vice President of Strategy & Investment at Shanxi International Electricity Group Limited Company, and Managing Director and Investment Review Board Director at Chinastone Capital Management Limited. Mr. Xue currently maintains his role as President and Director of the Investment Review Board of Beijing Tairui Innovation Capital Management Co. Ltd. Mr. Xue is now President and CEO of Western Resources Corp., the parent company of Western Potash Corp.
Mr. Xue earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Beijing Jiaotong University and was certified as a lawyer in 1999.
George Gao
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CFO
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CFO
George Gao was appointed as Director of Western Resources Corp. in March 2021. He was also appointed as Chair of the Corporate Disclosure Policy Committee and Member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Gao is currently Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance of Western Resources Corp. Prior to this, Mr. Gao served as Chief Administrative Officer and CFO of Western Resources Corp., and CEO of Western Potash Corp.
Before Joining the Company, Mr. Gao was President of the Beijing Mining Exchange (“BMX”) and was responsible for its overall strategy and operations. Mr. Gao has also worked as the Head of Business Development, Asia for the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) before moving onto becoming the Chief Representative out of the TSX Beijing office. His time with the TSX and BMX brought him years of experience in leadership, business development, and strategic decision making. His depth of experience and skill set will greatly help the Company moving forward.
Mr. Gao obtained his MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.
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DIRECTOR
Mr. Mark Fracchia joined Western Resources (“Western”) board in March 2022. He is appointed as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. He is currently also an independent director at both March Consulting Associates Inc., and STC Industrial Contracting.
Mr. Fracchia brings over 30 years of management, executive and director experience to Western. He is well connected in the potash world and has a track record of accomplishments in leadership, strategy, vision and, in particular, innovative potash mining technology. His extensive career encompasses roles such as Technical Superintendent, General Manager at multiple Potash sites, Vice President of Safety, Health, Environmental & Security, culminating in his appointment as President, all within the organization now known as Nutrien, formerly PotashCorp.
Mr. Fracchia graduated from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan.
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DIRECTOR
MR. Justin Xing joined Western Resources (“Western”) board in September 2022 following the closing of an equity investment by Vantage Chance Limited (“Vantage”) into Western Potash Corp. He was also appointed as Chair of Western’s Executive Committee.
Mr. Xing is currently Chairman of the Hong Kong based Vantage which is a private investment company focusing in natural resources and energy, etc. Justin has been closely involved in the decision-making process that Vantage has invested over the past decade and will bring extensive experience to Western in investment management and project financing.
Andrew Hancharyk
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
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INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Mr. Andrew Hancharyk joined the board of Western Resources Corp. in March 2021, serving also on the Company’s Audit Committee in his capacity as an independent director. He is currently an independent director of Discovery Harbour Resources Corp. and a consultant with focus in legal, finance and investment services.
Andrew was Director of Corporate Services for The County of the Corporation of Prince Edward, Picton, ON (Oct 2018 to Sep 2019); Chief Legal Officer of Largo Resources Ltd., (May 2013 to Jul 2015); Senior Legal Counsel and Consultant for CHC Helicopter Group, (Oct 2010 to Nov 2012); National Policy Manager of TMX Group - TSX Venture Exchange, Vancouver, BC (Nov 2007 to Feb 2010); General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of First Quantum Minerals Ltd., Vancouver, BC (Sep 2005 to Sep 2007) and Associate Counsel of Sherritt International Corporation/Sherritt Power Corporation, Toronto, ON (Jul 1998 to Aug 2005).
Andrew is a corporate and securities lawyer with a business degree, a JD/LL.B and a Master of Laws from the University of Ottawa.
Scott Nagel
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
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INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
MR. Scott Nagel joined Western Resources (“Western”) board in March 2023. He is also appointed as Western’s Chair of the Compensation Committee.
Mr. Nagel brings over 30 years of management and executive experience, especially in grain and fertilizer businesses, to Western. He is well connected in the trading of grains, fertilizer and freight in the US and other major markets. He started in the grain business in 1988 when he joined Benson Quinn Co (“BQC”). With BQC purchased by ADM in 1997, Mr. Nagel transferred his role to ADM where he assumed the role of President, ADM Benson Quinn in 2008 until he retired in January 2023.
Mr. Nagel graduated from the University of Minnesota majoring in Agricultural Economics. He also attended the Harvard Business School ADM CEO led executive development program.
Raymond Lu
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
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INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
Mr. Raymond Lu joined Western Resources (“Western”) board in March 2024. He is also appointed as Western’s Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Lu is currently a partner in the Vancouver-based accounting firm- Manning Elliott LLP since 2010.
Mr. Lu brings over 20 years of public practice experience in assurance services to public companies mainly in the manufacturing and resource industries. His experiences extend to tax planning, structure and compliance, assurance, consulting and advisory services to private and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to 1996, Mr. Lu was CFO of a private company in Hong Kong.
Mr. Lu has a Bachelor’s degree (with honors) in Accountancy. He obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 2000.
Executive Committee
Mark Fracchia
Chair of Executive Committee
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Chair of Executive Committee
Mark Fracchia joined the Western Potash Corp. Executive Committee board in May 2022. He also serves on the Western Resources Corp. board.
Mr. Fracchia brings over 30 years of management, executive and director experience to Western. He is well connected in the potash world and has a track record of accomplishments in leadership, strategy, vision and, in particular, innovative potash mining technology. His extensive career encompasses roles such as Technical Superintendent, General Manager at multiple Potash sites, Vice President of Safety, Health, Environmental & Security, culminating in his appointment as President, all within the organization now known as Nutrien, formerly PotashCorp.
Mr. Fracchia graduated from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan.
Jerry Zhang
Member of Executive Committee
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Member of Executive Committee
Jerry Zhang joined the Western Potash Corp. Executive Committee board in May 2022. He is also the Senior Vice President of Western Potash Corp.
Mr. Zhang has worked with Western Potash Corp. since 2011. He has extensive experience in management administration, both in government organizations and private enterprises, and extensive working knowledge of the projects at Western Potash. Mr. Zhang is also bilingual in Chinese and English.
Mr. Zhang holds a Master of International Communications from Macquarie University, Australia, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Melbourne.
Technical Committee
Mark Fracchia
Chair of Technical Committee
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Chair of Technical Committee
Mark Fracchia joined the Western Potash Corp. Technical Committee board in October 2022.
Mr. Fracchia brings over 30 years of management, executive and director experience to Western. He is well connected in the potash world and has a track record of accomplishments in leadership, strategy, vision and, in particular, innovative potash mining technology. His extensive career encompasses roles such as Technical Superintendent, General Manager at multiple Potash sites, Vice President of Safety, Health, Environmental & Security, culminating in his appointment as President, all within the organization now known as Nutrien, formerly PotashCorp.
Mr. Fracchia graduated from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan.
Elmar Goldsmith
Member of Technical Committee
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Member of Technical Committee
Elmar Goldsmith joined Western Potash’s Technical Committee in May 2022.
Mr. Goldsmith is one of the world’s leading experts in potash solution mining. He is currently Vice President of Canatech Management Services. Mr. Goldsmith was Vice President of Technical Services for IMC Global Potash (the predecessor of Mosaic Company) where he was responsible for the company’s 6-Sigma initiatives for three major potash mines in Saskatchewan, and potash mines in each of Michigan, Utah and New Mexico. Mr. Goldsmith is the inventor and co-inventor on a variety of patents related to potash mining and refining and has published many technical papers. Mr. Goldsmith is widely respected and regarded as a pioneer of potash solution mining.
Mr. Goldsmith holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Regina and Certificate of Quality Assurance Management from the University of Manitoba.
Robert Plosz
Member of Technical Committee
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Member of Technical Committee
Robert Plosz joined Western Potash’s Technical Committee in May 2022.
Mr. Plosz is one of a few solution mining technical experts in the world with 40 years of hands-on experience. He is currently providing consulting services to mining companies to improve production processes and investigate growth opportunities. Mr. Plosz held senior positions at different mine sites of the world’s largest solution mining company, the Mosaic Company, respectively as Senior Director of Strategy and Technical Services, Senior Director of Supply Chain, Director of Project Evaluation, and general manager of the Belle Plaine potash mine.
Mr. Plosz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan.
Brandon Bartosh
Member of Technical Committee
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Member of Technical Committee
Brandon Bartosh was appointed to the Technical Committee of Western Potash in May 2022. He is currently providing solution mining and operation related services to the Milestone Project in his capacity as Technical Adviser.
Mr. Bartosh brings over 15 years of selective solution mining and horizontal cavern development experience from the Moab, Utah Mine of Intrepid Potash where Mr. Bartosh served in progressive roles from Electrical Engineer to Process Engineer to Production Manager and then Plant Manager. In his role as Plant Manager, he led the Sylvite 9 Solution Mine development program which successfully completed multiple horizontal caverns. Mr. Bartosh’s publications include: “An Update to the History of Solution Mining at the Cane Creek Mine, MOAB, UTAH – 2006 to 2021” (SMRI Technical Conference Paper F2021 Galveston Conference, 19-22 September 2021.)
Mr. Bartosh holds a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah and an Master's of Business Administration from Colorado Mesa University.
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