Key Players of this Year's Roundup Conference: Rob Mcleod, Dale Mah & Tracey Sexton
Trevor Hall [00:00:05] Welcome, everybody, to Mining Stock Daily and another in-depth interview which we like to publish on our Fridays as we wrap up the trading week. Thank you so much for joining us. Well, if you've been listening for the last about two months, we have been featuring the Association for Mineral Exploration and the Roundup conference happening in January. That's January 20th through the 22nd, I believe. Registration is open. If you go to the Roundup Web site, we'll provide a link to that in the show notes. But we have a group of people from the Roundup conference who are joining us anyway, from the committee members to also communications individual Tracey SEXTON is going to be talking a little bit more about some logistics with the show. But first, we are welcome to the show as Dale Mah. Dale Mah actually is the vice president of corporate development over at Endeavor Silver. But when he's not doing corporate development, he is acting as the chair of the round up committee for AME. Dale, thank you so much for joining us. And how are you today?
Dale Mah [00:01:09] I'm doing good. Thank you for having us.
Trevor Hall [00:01:11] Yeah. I'm looking forward to the conversation. Let's dove right in, Dale. How was this year's planning different from previous year's roundup and what's going to make this year... What's going to make this conference different from most years?
Dale Mah [00:01:25] It's really it's a good question. I think one of the actually one of the obvious question is should we? Sadly, we did lose one of our committee members as Julia Lane. She was our technical session chair for the B.C., Alaska sessions. So that was something I kind of hit us from hope, from left field. So that kind of was a big change. But we never had actually had to deal with anything like this before. But fortunately, the B.C. and Vancouver mining industry is quite strong. And so we've had other committee members, other other volunteers step in their place. So that was a big difference. But going off of that, it's one of the biggest things that we always kind of like try to focus on in the mining and exploration is that it's it's a lot of innovation. So, you know, geology and mineral exploration have always been kind of what it is. Industries that are slow to adapt because there's a lot of things that have worked for the past several decades and finding innovative solutions to proven methods have always been a bit of a challenge. So what we've done this year is really kind of focus on finding some innovative session's innovative techniques. And we were highlighting those in the innovation hub and also one of our theme sessions as well. So the theme for this year round up is, look, we're playing off of the 2020 vision. Even so, the theme session is called "Seeing the Unseen". And so we've gathered probably six, seven talks that are it's really kind of new technical techniques. Anything from research initiatives that really aim to help the mineral exploration industry look deeper and look at other deposits that are perhaps under cover, just really give a kind of a fresh look on things.
Trevor Hall [00:03:28] And, you know, even though there is a big push towards technology and innovation and really progressing the industry forward, Roundup really does have a foundation and a sense of tradition. Can you maybe give us a few things that are new to this year which attendees might be interested in learning about, but also how that builds on the historical tradition of what Roundup has been about in previous years?
Dale Mah [00:03:54] Certainly. So our short courses actually we try to keep those fresh every year. And one of the things that are again new is we really highlight a course that we have on the innovation side of things as well that's actually presented on artificial intelligence. And how that's being utilized to analyze data is no secret that mineral exploration generates a whole lot of data. So how do we get more value out of the data? We already have. So there's artificial intelligence applications that are used in other industries. So there's a short course. So there that's available to see how perhaps how AI could benefit mineral exploration. And some of the traditional up functions that we had. Of course, we have a lot of the social events. People come from all over the world. We like to show them around Vancouver. So we have social events that happen. Most of the evenings we have sporting events as well. We have hockey and we have curling. And even one of the my favorites is actually that happens the day before they're out of it. And that's the discovery day. So that's a good tradition. That's great for families. And you are not explorers.
Trevor Hall [00:05:07] To do for people who aren't familiar with discovery. Can you share with us what exactly that is?
Dale Mah [00:05:13] Certainly. It's a great educational opportunity. Like I said, it's great for families just to come out. And, you know, B.C., it's a resource industries, a resource province. So a basically on lumber and mining. And so we really want to kind of focus and encourage the younger generation, all the kids out there, all and elementary school kids and older to come down, come downtown, go to the convention center, look at some of the booths, look at some of the displays, you know, maybe do some gold panning and just really kind of learn. But one of the industries that really founded the province.
Trevor Hall [00:05:52] That's actually a good Segway into my next question, because AME seems to have a great delegation of young professionals, from what I've noticed in my involvement for the last few years. How does the planning committee take these younger faces and their ideas into account throughout the year during planning?
Dale Mah [00:06:09] Well, we always try to highlight some of the bright young students we'd have in B.C.. We have the student poster sessions that are judged in top posters get special awards. We also have student industry networking sessions where, you know, young students and various members of industry and government, we all get together kind of informal venue we just try to network and get to know each other and it's all about building relationships.
Trevor Hall [00:06:41] Now you've been obviously you are management or management type of level in a big silver producer. And I'm just kind of curious as far as timing where we are in the market cycle, why is now a great time for investors to really look at a conference like Roundup to kind of spur ideas as far as like where they're thinking about placing their money in their capital?
Dale Mah [00:07:06] Well, yes, certainly a lot of the focus lately has been on efficiencies and M&A. We have it's been a challenge out there for explorers. It hasn't really been any new world class discoveries. And so really the focus is on this discovery that we have now. How do you make the best of it? So it's a lot of a lot of ebony. And my role as a diver, silver is is strictly just M&A that's identifying projects, identifying companies that has had some value that just really need to be put that differently and perhaps fits their portfolio. So it's really looking at other projects out there and perhaps marketing it in a different way. Like we saw some masses of giant money activity in the last couple of years, especially one that's announced just this morning with Detour gold and Kirkland Lake. So there's there's a big shift on on M&A.
Trevor Hall [00:08:05] So I just have to ask, I mean, obviously, you're going to have a full plate as the chair of the round of committee. But will you also be having your endeavor hat on and following up on some business endeavors there while you're at it?
Dale Mah [00:08:18] You know, I always, always it's it's hard to turn your brain off when you're looking at rocks all the time. So at at the roundup, actually, one of my favorite places to go is on the ebony side of things or anywhere else looking for ideas. We have the prospect generators. And that's kind of that's a little port, a little room in that prospect generator. Companies show a show off their projects that are available for other options or joint ventures. So companies looking for partners and is also the prospectors tend to as well. So these are these are for individuals or small corporations or small cap private companies to display some of the rocks and some of their best projects and again, attract capital and attract investments, partners.
Trevor Hall [00:09:04] All right, Dale, thank you so much. Look forward to seeing you in person up at Roundup in January specifically. Thank you so much for all of your work in getting this organized and through the highs and the lows. We definitely respect everything you've been you've done and accomplished and and had to kind of plan through as well with the loss of Julia. So great work. And we'll look forward to seeing you in January.
Dale Mah [00:09:30] Great. Thank you, driver. Thank you.
Trevor Hall [00:09:39] Right now, I have a great pleasure of being joined by somebody I have known for a number of years and has never been on the show. In a previous life he was the president and CEO and director of IDM Mining. He's now an advisor and consultant to Ascot Resources after that merger happened, I believe is about this time last year, maybe short. Maybe not that long ago. But Mr. Rob McLeod, great to have you on mining stock daily. Thank you so much for joining us. How are you?
Rob McLeod [00:10:08] Good. Thanks for having us on with AME Trevor.
Rob McLeod [00:10:11] Can you give us a little bit of some background into your involvement into AME? How long have you been with the association or where does your direct position now?
Rob McLeod [00:10:21] So I'm currently a chair of the board, but I've been a member of AME since 1990. I believe I was an undergraduate student at University of British Columbia studying geology. And Roundup at the time was actually quite a small regional show. There was a conference in Spokane that was the big competition. But as a starving student, we we learned that there's this week long event where you could go and get free beer and you could hustle for work and you could find out what the mining industry was all about. So I've been attending pretty well every year since since 1990.
Trevor Hall [00:11:05] Roundup is certainly worthwhile for any company or geologists or service provider working within the exploration and mining industry. But can you share some reasons as to why resource investors should be should also find value in attending round up all of her for sure?
Rob McLeod [00:11:21] Now it recent roundup really provide prides itself in being primarily a technical show. And you know, if you're a resource investor, you certainly have no shortage of options for four conferences, two to attend. But one thing you notice, a roundup is particularly the real experienced, sophisticated mining investors prefer a roundup often to some of the call it competition. And that's because you can really get into the weeds on the on the technical side. What one of roundups best features is this core shack where every day it rotates through. So it's not the same companies. If you're an investor and you'll see them come in, whether they're corporates or their individual investors, is to come and see the rocks, to speak with the technical people. Often you go to other shows and and you'll speak with the investor relations professionals or the stock promoter, and that's OK. But if you really want to get into the weeds and look for great opportunities to chat with technical people that are working on your for for your current investments, it's really a good one to see. Also as well. Roundup really prides itself in being a kind of global leader in terms of indigenous engagement and hearing that really important component to any exploration or development project. The Gathering Places is considered an industry leader worldwide for great dialog on the effects of mining with community, particularly with with indigenous people.
Trevor Hall [00:13:07] Rob, you've you've spent time in your years as CEO doing these big roadshows and talking to a lot of investors throughout the world. Are you able to have maybe a healthier conversation or how did those conversations with investors defer from a management level, executive level at Roundup than they do say at other the other mining and investor shows there?
Rob McLeod [00:13:32] They're really focused on the technical fundamentals. And rather than, say, some of the maybe more promotional or market aspects that often you'll get at at other shows and again, it's it say the value of of, of core shack, you know, with the companies that I've been part of, you know, and the up committee is is is selective in terms of what companies get in there. You want to be in there so you can have the opportunity to really show off your your data and the quality of your project. So, you know, it's definitely a different, different vibe on that end. And as well, you know, as a I'm a resource investor as well, too. You know, I've picked stocks based on what I'd seen my myself at at some booths that are right next to you. And and finally, there's there's a lot more. There's a there's a heavy presence from corporates for major mining companies. Professionals like Dale, where, you know, they're out looking for opportunities themselves. And if you're an investor, you might have the opportunity to dialog with somebody with Endeavor or with Newmont or Barrick or or Teck or any of the big companies that Newcrest is a big new and emerging Columbia too, to see. What did they like about the jurisdictions or about this particular project or, you know, even if you're if you're not technical and fundamentally, you're like, hey, what does this rock. Good or bad is, hey, if you're a geologist, you certainly have no problem with sharing some share of wisdom and experience with with with people that might ask.
Trevor Hall [00:15:18] I'd have to go back to look at the press releases. But was it about early 2019 when the Ascot IDM merger took place?
Rob McLeod [00:15:28] Was it about. That's correct. It was out. It was announced in in January of 2019. And then a deal closed at the end of March.
Trevor Hall [00:15:36] OK. So some of those conversations were happening at Roundup last year if I'm willing to guess.
Rob McLeod [00:15:42] Oh, yeah. Well, it was after The View was announced and it was meeting with a bunch of the IBM shareholders and taking them through the agreement and the financial synergies between the projects and, you know, the the the technical merit. So that it's certainly that type of dialog does happen with. Going back further almost a decade ago with Underworld Resources. Our technical team was definitely meeting with other corporates at Roundup as well. So, you know, it's. It ends up being a really busy week, particularly if you're Vancouver based, because there's so many different companies and investors that come in from out of town. It truly is a global show.
Trevor Hall [00:16:24] Yeah. So you have been CEO for a few companies and director for many. How does management leverage something like the Roundup of conference to continue project advancement development? Asking more on the technical side.
Rob McLeod [00:16:37] Oh sure. It's in the trade show and the technical sessions and it is, as Dale alluded, the innovation different types of new technologies or even the standard ones. You're meeting with a dozen different drilling companies or analytical lab providers or helicopter providers or cap providers. So there is a lot of the service groups that will be contractors to help advance your projects and most cost effective basis will be present at the show. And whether they're within the trade show or or if they're presenting or if they're just working the rooms, you know, you you recruit people, their managers to geological students, to two native workers. You know, a lot of the First Nations and big delegations, which is awesome to see. So as as a manager or as an executive of the company, it's an absolute must attend.
Trevor Hall [00:17:46] How is round up and the AME community different than other associations in this industry that you've been involved in?
Rob McLeod [00:17:56] So it's it's interesting. There's two components. You know AME primarily as primary purposes for two to represent B.C. explorers. And it used to be a partnership actually with the Yukon until they split out. Now, this is when I started my career. But since that time, you know, it's Vancouver is a worldwide mining hub. It's grown to represent the whole industry. And whether it's on exploration or mine development aspects or a lot of the CSR initiatives say we we really look to be leaders on a on a global basis to to represent our members on all facts and facets of exploration and development and mining. And so, you know, you look at say, to be blunt, PDAC, it's a it's a nationwide conferences. Thirty five thousand people or whatever that go there and an international conference that is it's massive. You know, you you need to go there. But it's a way, way different vibe than the real strong and still good community feeling that you'll that you'll get it up. So it's really an you know, we're we're we're proud that we do so many things that Amy to health and safety to you name it to it to really provide leadership to to all of our members and all facets of exploration.
Trevor Hall [00:19:37] Rob, I really appreciate your time. Thank you so much. Be there forever.
Trevor Hall [00:19:48] And now joining us on mining stock daily in our discussion about AME's Roundup conferences, Tracey Sexton. She is a director of the Association for Mineral Exploration. She's going to walk us through sort of the recent updates with the logistics with Roundup. Tracey, thank you for joining us. Good to chat with you once again.
Tracey Sexton [00:20:08] Yeah, hi, Trevor. Thanks so much. And thank you for to Rob and Dale and to our awesome roundup committee volunteers and our chair for all their hard work putting this program together. The first thing I'd like to just mention off the top and now if I can remember, I mentioned at the end again, our early bird registration deadline is on December the 13th. So, you know, for any listeners that are interested in registering, it's a good deal at this time. And yeah, keep in touch with us because we'll send out some reminders to everybody. But it's Friday the 13th. So lucky for some. Do register as soon as you can. If you're thinking about coming right,.
Trevor Hall [00:20:56] There's some other updates with the logistics that have been finalized on the schedule that you wanted to share with our listeners.
Tracey Sexton [00:21:05] Yeah there is one, what I'll do is I'll just quickly run through the dates again. So it's Monday, January the 20th. Finishing on Thursday, the twenty third, the first two days. So that's the Saturday and the Sunday. We've got the short courses. So super short, some super short courses. Great. From professional development and really like, you know, updating your knowledge or letting some of that knowledge sink in and revive. Then Sunday is the discovery day. Then generally from Monday to Thursday, we run with the exhibit hall that teaches a core shack, the gathering place, innovation hub, project generator hub and prospect tent, all the technical sessions. There's a good showcase session, government industry forum. It's where industry and government get together and talk about some policy issues and things of interest. And we have a good a really good participant there who's very interesting to listen to. That's Vaughn Palmer. He's a great critic and curator of all things policy and business related. So that's interesting. We have some lunches and networking events. I think the newest thing to mention is that our innovation stage is now completely full. We have a full lineup for every day. That's Monday to Thursday and we have the geophysics session. And I think Dale alluded to that one earlier. That's the one that's curated by the B.C. Geophysical Society. And it showcases the latest advances in exploration, geophysics, and there's some great presentations in there. They range from using geophysical data and a guy at the drill rig. So it's good they've got a bunch of case studies and it's that application of A.I. and machine learning for targeting. So super interesting that's just come together. The innovation stage is looking really interesting. As I said something every day, there's a Vanguard session as well on Monday and all the participants in that you can find on our Web site. So, yeah, that's that's it.
Trevor Hall [00:23:12] There was one session happening Tuesday afternoon. I wanted to ask you about Tracy, because I think our listeners certainly would be interested in this. And that's the commodities and financial markets session. Who will be joining the panel? It looks like there are some recognizable names.
Tracey Sexton [00:23:32] Yeah, sure. That is a great one. And the committee has done a great job of putting the content together for all the sessions. And that one's a real highlight of interest to everybody. So we have John Fall, I think, who is the corporate advisory consultant to SRK. Joe Mazumdar, who is the coeditor, an analyst at Exploration Insights. We have Michael Gray, a partner at Agenda's Capital. Craig Hemke is the creator and editor of TF Metals Report, which is an online newsletter, blog and podcasts. We've got Colin Hamilton is a managing director at Commodities and Commodities and analysts will be in our capital. We've got Greg Hoenig, who's director of Origination Canada Resource Capital Funds, and Dr. Martin Murenbeeld. Who is the president of Murenbeeld and CO. And he writes a weekly gold monitor. So really great. Nice full panel. Lots of interesting discussions. It's also moderated by Danielle Mountjoy, who's an analyst at Sun Valley Gold and a longtime round up organizing committee member. So, yes, shaping up to be a great panel session.
Trevor Hall [00:24:43] Yeah. There was really good. I was kind of laughing at myself and joking of power. Because you you you come for Joe Mazumdar, but you stay for Craig Hemke Because this is one that got a lot of opinions and he's great to listen to for for his kind of micro micro analyst. This is where gold and silver are heading. So really looking forward to that one. And one last question. I just wanted to maybe pinpoint the difference between the core shark and the prospectors tent just so listeners maybe know what the difference is that can you highlight what the differences with that?
Tracey Sexton [00:25:18] Yeah, sure. So the prospectus tent is a place for independent prospectors to present their hard earned mineral properties and discoveries. So there's things this obviously the people and the stories in there. But there's also displays of maps, rock samples, drill core sketches, photographs and analysis. And then the call shack actually has the core samples from projects from different countries. There's many B.C. projects in there, too, but it really is international and they represent a broad array of deposit types and project stages. And just for your information, we also have the project generators hub, and that's companies that specialize in generating these exploration ideas and turning them into active projects. So they've typically got a portfolio of projects that can be dogs. And I think earlier in the chat today, both Dale and Rob covered that off quite well. So, yeah, that's the difference between and those are all the prospectus to project generators, hub and core shackle all in the exhibit hall as well.
Trevor Hall [00:26:32] All right, Tracy, thank you so much for your time. And again, thank you for all of your effort and work putting Roundup together. That's happening in January again. Registration early bird registration is open until December 13th, Friday the 13th. You should be able to remember that. And we will put a link to the registration page in the show, notes Tracy. Thanks again. Have yourself a wonderful rest of the week and we will chat again soon.
Tracey Sexton [00:26:59] Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Trevor. Bye now.