Management

We are NorthWest. The majority of our Canadian team are boots-on-the-ground British Columbians. The NorthWest frames our perspective, whether in the field or outdoors at play.  Our expertise covers the entire continuum of resource discovery and development, mine-building, capital markets and business development.

  • James Lang, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D, P.Geo

    Chief Geoscientist

    Dr. Lang has 37 years of global experience in grassroots and brownfields exploration, advanced project development, and applied research on base and precious metal deposits. He received a PhD from the University of Arizona in 1991 for studies on the formation of large porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits. From 1991 to 1998 he led multi-year, industry-funded, applied research projects at the Mineral Deposit Research Unit which developed widely utilized exploration models for alkalic copper-gold porphyry deposits in British Columbia and for reduced intrusion-related gold deposits in the Tintina Gold Belt. From 1995 to 2005 Jim consulted to numerous junior and major exploration and mining companies around the world on diverse types of gold, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, zinc, lead, silver, and uranium deposits. During 16 years with Hunter Dickinson, Dr. Lang was the technical team leader on several large, advanced exploration and economic-stage development programs where he specialized in merging geological data with the engineering, environmental, and metallurgical disciplines to improve technical and economic outcomes and to reduce project risk. He participated in major porphyry discoveries at Pebble (Alaska) and Xietongmen (Tibet), and also completed desktop and field evaluations for business development. Dr. Lang is the author of many papers on economic geology and is a frequent speaker at international geology and exploration conferences.

  • Vesta Filipchuk, ESc., BSc., MA

    VP Sustainability

    Ms. Filipchuk is a recognized leader in social, environmental, and regulatory affairs and ESG performance. She has over thirty years of experience in Indigenous relations and negotiations, community engagement and consultation, environmental management, and sustainability. Vesta has a strong track record in developing relationships and implementing landmark initiatives and programs using collaborative planning and decision methods to achieve sustainable benefits for First Nations, communities, industry, and government. Ms. Filipchuk worked with Teck's Exploration team for several years and was the director of social, environmental, and regulatory affairs for the Galore Creek Copper Project. She has significant experience in leading teams and managing community and Indigenous relations in North America. She has also worked with government on energy and environmental matters and provided policy advice to the Senate of Canada and the Business Council of BC.
    She has an MA in Resource Management from the University of Victoria, a B.Sc. in Natural Resources Management and Political Science also from UVic, and a Diploma in Environmental Science from Lethbridge Community College.

  • Tyler Caswell, P. Geo

    VP Exploration

    Mr. Caswell is a registered professional geologist with over 18 years of experience in mineral exploration working in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Laos, Nunavut, the Yukon and northern British Columbia exploring for base and precious metals. Mr. Caswell has been with NorthWest since inception. Prior to NorthWest, he served as the Stardust Project Manager with Sun Metals from 2018. His experience spans brownfields and greenfields exploration programs for major and junior mining companies. Tyler has a B.Sc. (with distinction) from the University of Victoria.

  • Lauren McDougall, CPA, CMA

    CFO and Corporate Secretary

    Ms. McDougall is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 10 years of experience in corporate accounting and finance. Ms. McDougall served as the CFO and Corporate Secretary of Sun Metals Corp. since its inception in 2018 through the successful merger with Serengeti Resources and launch of NorthWest Copper in 2021. She also served as the Controller of PureGold Mining Inc. from 2015 to 2019.  Ms. McDougall obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University in 2009.