Michael Hess
Strategic Advisor
Leadership
Team
Brian Paes-Braga
Mr. Brian Paes-Braga is a Canadian-born entrepreneur and merchant banking executive. He was the Founder and CEO of Lithium X Energy, which in a period of 2.5 years, raised over C$50 million and was acquired in an all-cash deal for C$265 million. Since founding Lithium X in 2015, Mr. Paes-Braga has led company-building transactions across a range of sectors, with over C$5 billion in debt and equity financings into growth-oriented businesses. He was a board member of DeepGreen Metals, now TMC the metals company Inc., prior to its go-public transaction on the NASDAQ in September 2021.
Mr. Brian Paes-Braga is a Canadian-born entrepreneur and merchant banking executive. He was the Founder and CEO of Lithium X Energy, which in a period of 2.5 years, raised over C$50 million and was acquired in an all-cash deal for C$265 million. Since founding Lithium X in 2015, Mr. Paes-Braga has led company-building transactions across a range of sectors, with over C$5 billion in debt and equity financings into growth-oriented businesses. He was a board member of DeepGreen Metals, now TMC the metals company Inc., prior to its go-public transaction on the NASDAQ in September 2021.
Michael Hess
Michael Hess is an experienced investor and operator with a focus on the U.S. energy supply chain, and brings over 15 years of experience evaluating, financing and developing energy infrastructure, logistics and services businesses. Having started his career in the energy groups at Goldman Sachs and KKR, Hess then co-founded the Bison Companies, where he has helped lead the companies’ efforts in strategy, finance and business development across Bison’s portfolio—spanning oil and gas development, water infrastructure, and payments for the U.S. energy supply chain. He currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Hess Capital, a private and public investment arm of the Hess family.
Michael Hess is an experienced investor and operator with a focus on the U.S. energy supply chain, and brings over 15 years of experience evaluating, financing and developing energy infrastructure, logistics and services businesses. Having started his career in the energy groups at Goldman Sachs and KKR, Hess then co-founded the Bison Companies, where he has helped lead the companies’ efforts in strategy, finance and business development across Bison’s portfolio—spanning oil and gas development, water infrastructure, and payments for the U.S. energy supply chain. He currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Hess Capital, a private and public investment arm of the Hess family.
Don Sewell
Mr. Don Sewell is a private and public company finance executive and former energy investment banker. Mr. Sewell previously served as the President and Executive Director of NG Energy International Corp., a Canadian-listed energy company with assets in Colombia and previously was a senior leader in the growth equity and energy transition investments team of SAF Group. Prior to, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of a TSX-listed consumer-packaged goods company and spent several years in the energy investment banking groups of a big six Canadian bank and an independent energy investment dealer.
Mr. Don Sewell is a private and public company finance executive and former energy investment banker. Mr. Sewell previously served as the President and Executive Director of NG Energy International Corp., a Canadian-listed energy company with assets in Colombia and previously was a senior leader in the growth equity and energy transition investments team of SAF Group. Prior to, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of a TSX-listed consumer-packaged goods company and spent several years in the energy investment banking groups of a big six Canadian bank and an independent energy investment dealer.
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Lucas Cahill
Lucas Cahill has been involved in the origin of numerous successful public companies focused in the natural resources space over the past 10 years including Lithium X Energy Corp. which, within 2.5 years, raised CDN$53 million and was acquired in an all-cash deal for CDN$265 million and Gold X Mining which was sold to Gran Colombia Gold (now Aris Gold) for CDN$315 million in Q2. Mr. Cahill received a BCom specializing in Finance from the UBC Sauder School of Business.
Lucas Cahill has been involved in the origin of numerous successful public companies focused in the natural resources space over the past 10 years including Lithium X Energy Corp. which, within 2.5 years, raised CDN$53 million and was acquired in an all-cash deal for CDN$265 million and Gold X Mining which was sold to Gran Colombia Gold (now Aris Gold) for CDN$315 million in Q2. Mr. Cahill received a BCom specializing in Finance from the UBC Sauder School of Business.
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Jackson Wood
Jackson Wood is an experienced mining investment professional with a background spanning private equity, M&A, and corporate finance. He served as Chief Investment Officer at Terranova Resources, a gold-focused private equity fund, and previously as Vice President at Denham Capital, where he was instrumental in deploying over US$1 billion of equity and debt across mining investments in Africa and Australia. Earlier in his career, he held positions at IGO Limited, where he contributed to the US$1.4 billion Greenbushes lithium acquisition, and at KPMG Corporate Finance.
Jackson Wood is an experienced mining investment professional with a background spanning private equity, M&A, and corporate finance. He served as Chief Investment Officer at Terranova Resources, a gold-focused private equity fund, and previously as Vice President at Denham Capital, where he was instrumental in deploying over US$1 billion of equity and debt across mining investments in Africa and Australia. Earlier in his career, he held positions at IGO Limited, where he contributed to the US$1.4 billion Greenbushes lithium acquisition, and at KPMG Corporate Finance.
Board of Directors
Brian Paes-Braga
Mr. Brian Paes-Braga is a Canadian-born entrepreneur and merchant banking executive. He was the Founder and CEO of Lithium X Energy, which in a period of 2.5 years, raised over C$50 million and was acquired in an all-cash deal for C$265 million. Since founding Lithium X in 2015, Mr. Paes-Braga has led company-building transactions across a range of sectors, with over C$5 billion in debt and equity financings into growth-oriented businesses. He was a board member of DeepGreen Metals, now TMC the metals company Inc., prior to its go-public transaction on the NASDAQ in September 2021.
Mr. Brian Paes-Braga is a Canadian-born entrepreneur and merchant banking executive. He was the Founder and CEO of Lithium X Energy, which in a period of 2.5 years, raised over C$50 million and was acquired in an all-cash deal for C$265 million. Since founding Lithium X in 2015, Mr. Paes-Braga has led company-building transactions across a range of sectors, with over C$5 billion in debt and equity financings into growth-oriented businesses. He was a board member of DeepGreen Metals, now TMC the metals company Inc., prior to its go-public transaction on the NASDAQ in September 2021.
Gerard Barron
Gerard Barron is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Metals Company, a role he has held since 2017. A seasoned entrepreneur, he launched his first venture while still in university in Australia and has since built multiple global companies across battery manufacturing, media, technology, and future-focused resource development.
Gerard Barron is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Metals Company, a role he has held since 2017. A seasoned entrepreneur, he launched his first venture while still in university in Australia and has since built multiple global companies across battery manufacturing, media, technology, and future-focused resource development.
Brian O’Neill
Brian T. O’Neill is COO of SAF Growth & Merchant Banking at SAF Group, a leading structured credit and merchant banking firm that builds, finances, and advises high growth companies, providing flexible, long-term capital solutions to businesses and stable returns for investors. Prior to that, Mr. O’Neill spent nearly a decade in the practice of law with leading Canadian law firm, McCarthy Tétrault LLP. His practice began in the areas of corporate and commercial law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, corporate finance, intellectual property, and commercial transactions, principally in the high tech and biotechnology sectors. He then shifted his practice to focus on corporate tax matters, with a particular emphasis on the tax-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganizations.
Brian T. O’Neill is COO of SAF Growth & Merchant Banking at SAF Group, a leading structured credit and merchant banking firm that builds, finances, and advises high growth companies, providing flexible, long-term capital solutions to businesses and stable returns for investors. Prior to that, Mr. O’Neill spent nearly a decade in the practice of law with leading Canadian law firm, McCarthy Tétrault LLP. His practice began in the areas of corporate and commercial law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, corporate finance, intellectual property, and commercial transactions, principally in the high tech and biotechnology sectors. He then shifted his practice to focus on corporate tax matters, with a particular emphasis on the tax-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganizations.
Hamed Shahbazi
Hamed Shahbazi brings over 25 years of experience and currently serves as the Founder, Chairman and CEO of WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL.TO), a provider of digital health solutions to doctors and care providers in both the US and Canada. Under his leadership, WELL has become the largest owner and operator of outpatient medical clinics in Canada, with 210 healthcare clinics and a comprehensive practitioner enablement platform used by more than 40,000 doctors or more than 40% of all doctors in the country. The company includes close to 6,000 team members and facilitates more than 8 million patient interactions annually. Prior to WELL Health, Mr. Shahbazi founded TIO Networks (TSXV:TNC), a multi-channel payment solution provider specializing in bill payment and financial services, which was acquired by PayPal (Nasdaq: PYPL) for CAD$304 million in 2017.
Hamed Shahbazi brings over 25 years of experience and currently serves as the Founder, Chairman and CEO of WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL.TO), a provider of digital health solutions to doctors and care providers in both the US and Canada. Under his leadership, WELL has become the largest owner and operator of outpatient medical clinics in Canada, with 210 healthcare clinics and a comprehensive practitioner enablement platform used by more than 40,000 doctors or more than 40% of all doctors in the country. The company includes close to 6,000 team members and facilitates more than 8 million patient interactions annually. Prior to WELL Health, Mr. Shahbazi founded TIO Networks (TSXV:TNC), a multi-channel payment solution provider specializing in bill payment and financial services, which was acquired by PayPal (Nasdaq: PYPL) for CAD$304 million in 2017.
Jorge Fonseca Chaumer
Mr. Fonseca has over 24 years of experience in the oil & gas and investment banking sectors. He has worked at BP p.l.c., Frontera Energy Corp., Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., Citigroup Inc., BBVA S.A. and Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF). His experience encompasses corporate finance, structured finance, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, debt capital markets, bond issuance, corporate restructuring, derivatives, treasury management and more. He has been a part of leading and closing cross border transactions amounting to over US$22 billion, in aggregate.
Mr. Fonseca has over 24 years of experience in the oil & gas and investment banking sectors. He has worked at BP p.l.c., Frontera Energy Corp., Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., Citigroup Inc., BBVA S.A. and Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF). His experience encompasses corporate finance, structured finance, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, debt capital markets, bond issuance, corporate restructuring, derivatives, treasury management and more. He has been a part of leading and closing cross border transactions amounting to over US$22 billion, in aggregate.
Strategic Advisors
Reid Obradovich
Reid Obradovich is Managing Director of SAF Merchant Banking, responsible for deal origination, structuring, and execution, as well as ongoing portfolio and risk management, for SAF Merchant Banking’s portfolio companies across diverse industries. Reid started his career in Institutional Sales, advising a wide variety of family offices, diversified asset managers, and private equity sponsors. Reid then transitioned to Investment Banking as a Principal and Managing Director. He then joined Stifel Nicolaus Canada as a Managing Director on the Metals & Mining Team. He has led some of the largest financings in the junior mining sector and acted as an advisor to investors and management teams globally across the commodity spectrum.
Reid Obradovich is Managing Director of SAF Merchant Banking, responsible for deal origination, structuring, and execution, as well as ongoing portfolio and risk management, for SAF Merchant Banking’s portfolio companies across diverse industries. Reid started his career in Institutional Sales, advising a wide variety of family offices, diversified asset managers, and private equity sponsors. Reid then transitioned to Investment Banking as a Principal and Managing Director. He then joined Stifel Nicolaus Canada as a Managing Director on the Metals & Mining Team. He has led some of the largest financings in the junior mining sector and acted as an advisor to investors and management teams globally across the commodity spectrum.
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Dan Shribman
Dan Shribman currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Great American Holdings, LLC (GA Group). Prior to GA Group, Dan was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Clamantis Holdings LLC, an investment firm focused on small public companies and pre-IPO private companies. From 2019 to 2024, Dan served as Chief Investment Officer of B. Riley Financial, Inc., a public holding company. From 2010 to 2018, Dan was a Portfolio Manager at Anchorage Capital Group, a special situation asset manager. During Dan tenure at Anchorage, he led investments in dozens of public and private opportunities across the general industrials, transportation, automotive, aerospace, gaming, hospitality, and real estate industries.
Dan Shribman currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Great American Holdings, LLC (GA Group). Prior to GA Group, Dan was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Clamantis Holdings LLC, an investment firm focused on small public companies and pre-IPO private companies. From 2019 to 2024, Dan served as Chief Investment Officer of B. Riley Financial, Inc., a public holding company. From 2010 to 2018, Dan was a Portfolio Manager at Anchorage Capital Group, a special situation asset manager. During Dan tenure at Anchorage, he led investments in dozens of public and private opportunities across the general industrials, transportation, automotive, aerospace, gaming, hospitality, and real estate industries.
Bassam Moubarrak
Bassam Moubarak is a seasoned senior executive with over 20 years’ experience in the mining industry. Mr Moubarak currently serves as Chief Executive officer and Director of Freeman Gold Corp. Mr. Moubarak was Executive Vice President, CFO and Director of Gold X Mining Corp where he played a pivotal role in the sale of the company to Gran Colombia Gold Corp for $ 315 Million.
Prior to that, Mr. Moubarak was CFO of Lithium X Energy Corp. where he played a key role in its sale to NextView New Energy Lion Hong Kong Limited for $265 million. Prior to this Mr. Moubarak was CFO of Goldrock Mines Corp. where he was instrumental in its sale to Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. for $180 million. He was Chief Financial Officer of Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. where he was responsible for raising in excess of $120 million to develop and bring into production the Molejon Gold Mine and played a major role in the sale of Petaquilla Copper Ltd. to Inmet Mining Corporation for $400 million.
Bassam Moubarak is a seasoned senior executive with over 20 years’ experience in the mining industry. Mr Moubarak currently serves as Chief Executive officer and Director of Freeman Gold Corp. Mr. Moubarak was Executive Vice President, CFO and Director of Gold X Mining Corp where he played a pivotal role in the sale of the company to Gran Colombia Gold Corp for $ 315 Million.
Prior to that, Mr. Moubarak was CFO of Lithium X Energy Corp. where he played a key role in its sale to NextView New Energy Lion Hong Kong Limited for $265 million. Prior to this Mr. Moubarak was CFO of Goldrock Mines Corp. where he was instrumental in its sale to Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. for $180 million. He was Chief Financial Officer of Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. where he was responsible for raising in excess of $120 million to develop and bring into production the Molejon Gold Mine and played a major role in the sale of Petaquilla Copper Ltd. to Inmet Mining Corporation for $400 million.
