James Blake earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1991 and went on to complete the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2003. Starting his career at a major Canadian bank in 1995, James spent nearly three decades excelling as an investment advisor. He ultimately retired as a Portfolio Manager and First Vice President after 29 years of dedicated service, overseeing significant portfolios and helping clients achieve their financial goals.
Beyond his career in finance, James has been a hands-on seed investor and advisor, contributing to numerous projects across sectors such as artificial intelligence and natural resources. He was one of the early investors in Trio Petroleum, and his investments include the use of AI in the automotive and mortgage industries, hydrogen projects, placing cameras on the International Space Station, uranium deposits, rare earth processing technology, lithium deposits, and oil and gas ventures. James actively uses his experience and connections to help these projects advance and provide opportunities for the companies in which he is invested.
William Hunter represents over 20 years as an Industrial and Natural Resources Investment Banker with $20B in overall transactions, significant experience in public capital markets, M&A and restructuring, and tenure on multiple boards.
He currently serves as Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of Tonogold Resources, Inc. From 2015 to 2022 he has also served as the Managing Partner of Hunter Resources, LLC, a Strategic and Financial Consulting firm, where he has provided guidance on multiple acquisitions and financings with an aggregate value in excess of $1.0B.
William is a former Board Member and Chairman of the Audit Committee for The American Battery Technology Company; former President, CFO, and Board Member for Advent Technologies post-merger with AMCI Acquisition Corp.; and former Chairman for Ridley Terminals Inc. and multiple AMCI Boards.
From 1991-2015, he worked as an Investment Banker, most recently at Nomura Securities, where he advised Mitsui in a $3.1B merger. He previously worked at Teneo Capital, Dahlman Rose and Company, Jeffries and Company, TD Securities, BMO Nesbitt Burns, Natwest Markets, and KPMG Peat Marwick, across the Aerospace, Defense, Private Equity, Industrials, Transportation, Metals, Mining and Energy sectors.
William received his B.Sc. from DePaul University in Chicago and an MBA with distinction from the Kellstadt School of Business at DePaul University.
Robin Ross is a 45-year veteran in financial services and merchant banking. His corporate finance activities have covered a wide range of industries including resources, oil and gas, technology, finance, beauty, healthcare, cannabis, and manufacturing.
Robin is a founder, co-founder and principal investor of numerous public and private companies. He invests in companies and technologies early in their development, when the combination of capital and strategic assistance will significantly enhance opportunities for success. He was a co-founder of Canada Potash Corporation (CPC) a Toronto based private Canadian company with title to 34 licenses (KP’s) representing 1.7 million acres or just over 15% of the most prolific potash belt in the world, the defined one million acre “Williston Basin” in south central Saskatchewan Canada. CPC held the third largest land position after Acron, and BHP.
Robin has held management positions at major Canadian investment dealers for over 18 years and is currently a director of companies both public and private. He was a co-founder and president of 180 Degrees Capital Corporation, a Toronto based private merchant bank which specialized in restructuring and turn-around management transactions.
Robin has also been instrumental in syndicating the raising of funds for both private and public companies around the world with combined present day market caps approaching
$1billion.
James Blake earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1991 and went on to complete the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2003. Starting his career at a major Canadian bank in 1995, James spent nearly three decades excelling as an investment advisor. He ultimately retired as a Portfolio Manager and First Vice President after 29 years of dedicated service, overseeing significant portfolios and helping clients achieve their financial goals.
Beyond his career in finance, James has been a hands-on seed investor and advisor, contributing to numerous projects across sectors such as artificial intelligence and natural resources. He was one of the early investors in Trio Petroleum, and his investments include the use of AI in the automotive and mortgage industries, hydrogen projects, placing cameras on the International Space Station, uranium deposits, rare earth processing technology, lithium deposits, and oil and gas ventures. James actively uses his experience and connections to help these projects advance and provide opportunities for the companies in which he is invested.
William Hunter represents over 20 years as an Industrial and Natural Resources Investment Banker with $20B in overall transactions, significant experience in public capital markets, M&A and restructuring, and tenure on multiple boards.
He currently serves as Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of Tonogold Resources, Inc. From 2015 to 2022 he has also served as the Managing Partner of Hunter Resources, LLC, a Strategic and Financial Consulting firm, where he has provided guidance on multiple acquisitions and financings with an aggregate value in excess of $1.0B.
William is a former Board Member and Chairman of the Audit Committee for The American Battery Technology Company; former President, CFO, and Board Member for Advent Technologies post-merger with AMCI Acquisition Corp.; and former Chairman for Ridley Terminals Inc. and multiple AMCI Boards.
From 1991-2015, he worked as an Investment Banker, most recently at Nomura Securities, where he advised Mitsui in a $3.1B merger. He previously worked at Teneo Capital, Dahlman Rose and Company, Jeffries and Company, TD Securities, BMO Nesbitt Burns, Natwest Markets, and KPMG Peat Marwick, across the Aerospace, Defense, Private Equity, Industrials, Transportation, Metals, Mining and Energy sectors.
William received his B.Sc. from DePaul University in Chicago and an MBA with distinction from the Kellstadt School of Business at DePaul University.
John Randall is a California Licensed Professional Geologist (PG), Texas Licensed Professional Geoscientist (PG), Louisiana Licensed Geoscientist (PG) and President of John Randall Geological Services, LLC.
His career of proven success in sustaining profitability and delivering reliable high- performance in the oil and gas industry includes roles as former Geology Operations Manager with Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Exploration & Development Geologist for Union Oil, District Development Geology Manager for Chevron-acquired Gulf Oil, and Senior Geologist for Freeport-McMoRan Oil and Gas (NYSE: FCX).
During his time with Chevron’s California Business Unit, John led a team that drilled 200+ wells for 6 BBO of original oil in place and implemented steam soak and optimization of a 2 BBO resource base.
John earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees, Geology, from Southern Illinois University.
Thomas Pernice is an entrepreneur and corporate executive with more than 25 years of experience working in the White House as a Presidential appointee under three U.S. Presidents, in the C-Suites of Fortune 500 companies, and as a senior advisor to the Family Offices of billionaire businessman David H. Murdock where he was a member of the Chairman’s global leadership team and an executive officer of Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE: DOLE).
He was formerly appointed Senior Policy Advisor and Executive Director of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB), the highest-level external advisory board at the U.S Department of Energy where he advised the Secretary on issues ranging from economic and national security policy to applied research and DOE operations.
Thomas is currently the President of Modena Holding Group, which provides strategic advisory services and executive counsel to Fortune 500 companies. He is also a member of the board of directors of Panvaxal Corp., a biotechnology company privately held by the Murdock family.
As a financier and founder of multiple companies, he has served as a partner, board advisor and board director for private and publicly traded companies in the energy, biotech, and technology sectors as well as non-profits.
Mr. Pernice holds a BA from the University of Southern California.
