The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) last month announced the appointment of Andrew Cheatle as its new executive director, effective February 2.

As PDAC executive director, Cheatle, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining and mineral exploration industry, will be responsible for maintaining the organisation’s strategic focus on access to capital, access to land and aboriginal affairs, as well as continuing to build the PDAC brand domestically and internationally.

“The PDAC board of directors is very enthusiastic about having someone with Andrew’s management experience, passion and drive to lead the association. He will continue the great work the PDAC has achieved by bringing the important and complex issues of our members to the national stage,” says PDAC president Rod Thomas.

“He will be a great voice for our industry, given his experience, including his leadership in domestic and international exploration on five continents, his experience in mining operations, and as president and CEO of a junior exploration company,” says Thomas.

Cheatle most recently served as president, CEO and director at junior natural resource company Unigold. Prior to his time there, Cheatle served in senior roles as VP for exploration at gold exploration and development company Treasury Metals, GM and director at precious and base metals exploration company Landore Resources Canada, principal geologist at consultancy, engineering and project management company Amec (now Amec Foster Wheeler), chief geologist at gold producer Goldcorp and mineral resource manager at multinational mining company Anglo American Corporation.

“The PDAC is a tremendous organisation, known the world over for its convention and increasingly for its advocacy and its role in shaping public policy. The role for me is very exciting and brings together many aspects of my work, leadership and management experience to the national and international stage,” says Cheatle.

Over his 25-year career, Cheatle has gained substantial experience internationally and in Canada working with First Nation communities, as well as implementing and promoting the importance of corporate social responsibility programmes.

Cheatle has also been a strong advocate for the minerals industry throughout his career, notably through his volunteer work as president and councillor with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO).

“Although the industry is currently facing some challenges, there still are opportunities. This is a great time to seize ‘value for money’ opportunities and attend to mergers and acquisitions that make business sense,” adds Cheatle.

“Some of the most successful mining entrepreneurs that I know started in tough markets and delivered success for themselves and investors as the market cycle turned positive.”

Cheatle earned a BSc (Hons) degree in geology from the Royal School of Mines at Imperial College London and an MBA from Capella University.

He currently serves as past president of the APGO, is a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee–Economic Development at Lakehead University, and has been a fellow at the Geological Society of London since 1999.