The Team
Management Team
Louie Simens
Executive Chairman
Louie Simens has been an Executive Director of Nova since 2017. Mr. Simens is responsible for managing the company’s core business operations which requires oversight of company-wide operational efficiencies and working with management and the board to review and implement strategic plans to facilitate growth.
He has extensive experience in capital markets and running businesses, as well as in corporate restructuring, due diligence and mergers & acquisitions, where he utilizes his knowledge of corporate governance and project management. Mr. Simens has a successful track record spanning more than a decade, owning and operating contracting businesses in the fields of both civil and building construction.
Mr. Simens is currently director of his family construction group. Mr Simens has been a Director of Snow Lake Resources Ltd since November 2018 and was appointed the company’s Non-Executive Chairman in December 2020. He has also served as Non-Executive Chairman of Torian Resources Ltd, and during his time at Torian, Mr. Simens was instrumental in the company’s recapitalization and turnaround.
Christopher Gerteisen
Executive Director & CEO
Mr. Christopher Gerteisen as General Manager controls all aspects of the Estelle Gold project while implementing efficiencies and savings to keep cost per discovery ounce well below industry average. Mr. Gerteisen has over 20 years of experience as a professional geologist with an extensive record of managing and advancing complex and challenging resource projects across North America, Australia, and Asia.
His work experience spans Greenfields from discovery through to production stage and other projects with a focus on commodities including gold and copper. He worked as a geologist on the Carlin Trend in Nevada and on exploration in Alaska with Newmont. He has held senior positions within several projects throughout the goldfields of Western Australia.
As a research geologist with Newmont he worked on the Batu Hijau Porhryry Cu-Au deposit in Indonesia. Most recently, through his technical contributions and management skills, Mr. Gerteisen played a significant role in the successful start-up, operations, and exploration which resulted in further mine-life extending discoveries at several prominent projects in the Australasian region, including Oxiana’s Sepon and PanAust’s Phu Bia in Laos. Mr. Gerteisen holds a Bachelor of Geology from the University of Idaho and a Master’s Degree in Economic Geology from the Western Australia School of Mines. He is a dual USA and Australia Citizen based in Alaska and a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists.
Craig Bentley
Director of Finance & Compliance
Mr Craig Bentley holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree, majoring in accountancy and commercial law.
Mr Bentley held positions at Ernst and Young and worked internationally, including on the audit of the Bank of America and a special audit for an insurance company prior to IPO listing in the USA amongst others. In addition, he has held senior roles in multinational private enterprises.
As part of his role with Nova, Mr Bentley will also be tasked with compliance and risk management, as well as assisting with the company’s strategy during Nova’s forecasted rapid growth period.
Rodrigo Pasqua
Non-Executive Director
Mr Rodrigo Pasqua is a Member of the AusIMM, holds a BEng in Mining Engineering from the University of São Paulo, a Western Australia First Class Mine Managers Certificate and specialisations in Corporate Leadership (University of Oxford), Corporate Strategy (London University) and Finance (University of Illinois and Harvard University).
Technically, Rodrigo’s skills encompass most aspects of underground and open pit engineering, going from mining studies, financial valuations and project execution to systems and new technology implementation, operations management, and technical teams’ supervision.
He has vast experience in unlocking the value of mining projects across the world, including specific expertise in large tonnage bulk mining operations and at his tenure at Evolution Mining Limited, as Group Head of Mining and Transformation, amongst many other projects and sites, Rodrigo was involved with the Cowal Open Pit project and was also instrumental in the Red Lake mine turnaround
At Nova Rodrigo will provide technical and corporate advice as the Company progresses the development of its flagship Estelle Gold Project in Alaska.
Avi Geller
Non-Executive Director
Avi Geller has extensive investment experience and a deep knowledge of corporate finance, including capital markets, venture capital, hybrid, debt and private equity. He served as Chief Investment Officer of Leonite Capital, a family office he co-founded focusing on real estate and capital markets.
Mr. Geller also serves as a director of the real estate company Parkit Enterprise Inc (TSX-V: PKT | OTCQX: PKTEF) and the events and technology company Dealflow Financial Products. He previously served as chairman of Axios Mobile Assets.
Michael Melamed
Chief Financial Officer
Mr Michael Melamed has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting & Finance) from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and is a Member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA).
He brings over 25 years of extensive experience in the areas of financial and executive management, mergers & acquisitions, financial reporting and auditing, business and corporate advisory, corporate restructuring and investor relations.
Presently, Mr Melamed is also director of Viridus Mining and Minerals (ASX: VMM) and is Chief Financial Officer of Torian Resources (ASX: TNR), Monger Gold (ASX: MMG). He is the former Director of Ragusa Minerals (ASX: RAS) (25 June 2017 to 06 July 2021).
Ian Pamensky
Company Secretary
Mr Ian Pamensky is a Chartered Accountant and member of FinSIA. Ian has over 22 years of experience working across a wide range of industries, from audit and funds management to mining. His large and diverse set of financial, commercial and company secretarial skills has armed him with the knowledge and desire to help businesses boost their success. No matter what the challenge, how small the question, or how complex the numbers, Ian dedicates himself to guidance and support, always with the view to grow and keep growing.
Ian has worked with a range of clients, from small family businesses to SME and ASX listed entities. His insight into the inner workings of a business has led to his pro-active approach to tackling even the toughest of financial hurdles.
