Sam Ash delivered more than $100 million in sustainable free cash flow improvements and achieved a 50% safety performance improvement during his tenure as general manager of Barrick Gold’s Lumwana Copper Mine in Zambia.

As CEO and director of Bunker Hill Mining Corporation since 2020, he has secured full funding and forged a critical partnership with the U.S. EPA to restart the historic Idaho mine, expected to create 250 direct mining jobs and more than 1,000 indirect positions.

Ash holds a BS in Mining Engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology and an MS in Leadership and Strategy from London Business School.

His nine years at Barrick Gold included roles as technical support manager for the Copper Business Unit and chief engineer leading underground mining standards across the U.S. and Tanzania.

With personal ties to Bunker Hill, where his father worked as a mechanical engineer in the 1970s, Ash relocated to Kellogg to lead the mine’s modernization and sustainable restart.

Jon Cherry, PE, serves as president and CEO of Perpetua Resources, developing the Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho. He joined the company in March 2024 after leading PolyMet Mining in Minnesota for 12 years, where he served as chairman, president and CEO.

Cherry has spent more than 36 years in the mining industry, beginning his career as an engineering technician at Thompson Creek in Idaho. Under his leadership at Perpetua, the company achieved significant milestones including receiving its Final Record of Decision from the U.S. Forest Service in January and completing more than $400 million in funding in June.

The Stibnite Gold Project is designed to produce America’s only domestically mined antimony, a critical mineral for defense and technology applications. The project will meet 35% of U.S. antimony demand in its first six years while conducting environmental restoration at the abandoned mining district.

Cherry holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Montana Tech University and is a licensed professional engineer.

Stephen Cox earned the Leadership of Excellence award from Idaho Museums for his top stewardship of the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology. As board president, he leads museum tours that bring Idaho’s mining heritage to life, personally guiding visitors through authentic mining camps, blacklight exhibits and extensive collections of Idaho rocks, fossils and minerals.

Cox brings a unique perspective to museum leadership with his background as a wildlife biologist holding an MS in Environmental Biology from Antioch University New England. After retiring from environmental consulting work that included Geographic Information System mapping and wildlife habitat analysis, he dedicated himself to volunteer service at the museum.

Under volunteer leadership, the museum maintains free admission while offering robust programming including monthly field trips to historic mining sites, geology workshops and educational tours. Cox’s hands-on approach and scientific expertise help make complex geological concepts accessible to thousands of annual visitors, preserving Idaho’s mining legacy for future generations.

Benjamin J. Davenport has led the Idaho Mining Association for nine years from his Boise base, representing the state’s mining industry through regulatory and policy initiatives. He’s been able to grow the organization’s annual conference and trade show into one of Idaho’s largest industry-specific events, attracting close to 1,000 attendees and 120 vendors.

“We have become a national draw for the mining industry,” he said.

He holds bachelor’s degrees in history and political science plus an associate degree in avionics.

He said his biggest challenge was learning the importance of visibility in the industry, understanding that showing up and being present remains crucial even in an era of virtual attendance.

Davenport entered public policy and mining through college internships, guided by mentors and industry veterans. His work has focused on modernizing regulatory frameworks while balancing responsible mineral development with land protection.

His goals include becoming a more polished leader through improved delegation skills while continuing to support Idaho’s mining heritage dating back to the 1860s.

Branden Hendriks manages mining operations producing eight to 12 million units annually at Bayer P4 Production’s phosphate mine and oversees the 250,000 to 275,000 ton per year Quartzite quarry, with direct responsibility for safety, environmental compliance, engineering and production since 2012.

As project director, he leads the development of the Caldwell Canyon Mine, positioned to sustain 800 jobs and generate $80 to $120 million in federal and state royalties.

Hendriks holds a BS in Mining Engineering from the University of Utah and brings diverse experience from underground coal operations at Arch Coal and Canyon Fuel’s Skyline Mine, where he served as longwall engineer, maintenance foreman and project manager. He completed his first internship at Monsanto’s Soda Springs phosphate mine in 2005, returning seven years later to lead operations.

His career progression from HVAC technician and foreman to mining operations manager showcases his technical versatility and leadership development in resource extraction industries.

Curtis L. Johnson founded Scout Discoveries Corp. two and a half years ago, building the critical mineral exploration company from five employees to more than 60 staff. His most significant recent accomplishment was raising $20.5 million to create what he calls the first fully integrated mineral discovery company based in Idaho.

His biggest challenge was transitioning from technically focused geologist to CEO responsible for raising capital and understanding capital markets. The initial seed financing proved particularly difficult without an established track record.

Johnson discovered his passion for exploration geology through an introductory class at University of Idaho, leading to graduate work at Oregon State University and University of Nevada-Reno, where he earned his Ph.D. in economic geology.

His goals include scaling drilling operations from two to four active core drills while attracting multinational mining partners to advance more than 50,000 acres of mineral rights across the western United States.