Western Potash - The Milestone Project |
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The Project Management Team
Francis Mukanya
Engineering Manager
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Francis MukanyaEngineering ManagerFrancis Mukanya was appointed Engineering Manager in October 2020. He joined Western Potash Corporation in October 2018 as a Mechanical Engineer. Mr. Mukanya has extensive experience in industrial maintenance, process oversight, and project management specifically in the potash industry. Before joining Western, he worked as a mechanical engineer for the Nutrien Rocanville Division where he helped establish the inspection and repair program for crystallizers. He also worked for over seven years in the Capital and Sustaining Capital department for Mosaic Potash’s Belle Plaine solution mine as a senior project engineer. Mr. Mukanya is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Saskatchewan. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Systems Engineering from the University of Regina. He is also bilingual in English and French. 
Jamie Janotta
Operations Director
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Jamie JanottaOperations DirectorJamie Janotta joined Western Potash Corp. (“Western”) in May 2023 as Operations Director for the Milestone Potash Phase 1 Project (the “Project”). Mr. Janotta brings over 40 years of potash processing and operational experience to the Project. Mr. Janotta started his professional career at the world’s largest solution potash mine - Mosaic Potash Belle Plaine Mine - having served there for 30 years as, progressively, Wet Process Supervisor, Maintenance Manager, Minefield Manager, Refinery Manager and Commissioning Manager. Over the past decade, Mr. Janotta has been actively involved in consulting for many other potash projects in the areas of processing and commissioning, including Michigan Potash, K+S Potash, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan and Vale Potash, etc. He has demonstrated a strong track record, in his various roles, of increasing refinery capacity, reducing operational costs and improving product quality and safety performance, among others. Mr. Janotta graduated from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree. 
Simon Guo
Assistant to President/Procurement Manager
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Simon GuoAssistant to President/Procurement ManagerMr. Guo was appointed Procurement Manager of Western Potash Corporation in 2021. In additional to procurement role, he was later appointed as Assistant to President in March 2023. Taking charge of equity and mortgages investments, Mr. Guo joined Western Resources Corporation in May 2017 where he served as Managing Director of its real estate division. Through his work as the real estate managing director, Mr. Guo lead and managed numerous critical real estate equity and mortgage investments. With Western Resources’ change of strategic focus to potash mining, Mr. Guo transferred to Western Potash to lead the company’s procurement and contracts. Mr. Guo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Event Management from University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Huddersfield, and a Master of Global Management from Royal Roads University of Canada. 
Fritz Ventor
Chief Operating Officer
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Fritz VentorChief Operating OfficerMr. Fritz Venter joined Western Potash Corp. as Chief Operating Officer in October 2022. Mr. Venter brings with him 30+ years of experience with a number of the biggest international engineering and construction companies in the world, including Wood, SNC Lavalin, Fluor, WorleyParsons, Jacob Engineering, Husky Energy, and AMEC, etc., spanning industries including mining and metals, heavy oil, petrochemicals, refineries, power, fertilizer, and chemical industries. Fritz has managed offices and projects of various sizes around the world. He has worked in most areas of engineering, project execution and department and corporate management and connect an understanding of the actual operations, with the technical engineering and practical construction. Fritz has a Mechanical Engineering background, and holds a M.Sc. Industrial Engineering (operations management) and Master’s Degree in Project Management. 
Bill Xue
Managing Director
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Bill XueManaging DirectorMr. 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, the oil and gas, and power generation fields. He has played a leading role in several significant M&A transactions involving publically listed companies. Previous roles include that of Deputy Chief Engineer, Shanxi Economic Development Investment Company, Executive Deputy General Manager, Shanxi Top Energy Company Ltd., Managing Partner, Shanxi Baijie Law Firm, President and General Manager, Shanxi Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., Vice President of Strategy & Investment, Shanxi International Electricity Group Limited Company and Managing Director and Investment Review Board director of 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., Western’s largest shareholder. 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. 
Jerry Zhang
Senior Vice President
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Jerry ZhangSenior Vice PresidentMr. Zhang was appointed Senior Vice President of Western Potash Corporation in April 2019. Mr. Zhang has worked with Western Potash Corporation 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. |
