Dr. Roman Shklanka may be the least-known of Vancouver's great explorers. This may be because he is soft-spoken and doesn't seem interested in self-promotion. Even when discussing his involvement in some of the world's greatest gold finds in recent history, his manner is calm and almost emotionless-he lets the facts speak for themselves. Who is Roman Shklanka? He is an international mineral explorationist with over 40 years of experience in the mining industry. He has been successful in identifying and developing major deposits around the world and has extensive experience in negotiations, particularly with foreign governments.

Currently, Dr. Shklanka is the Chairman of Canico Resource Corp. (T.CNI), International Barytex Resources Ltd. (V.IBX), Kobex Resources Ltd. (V.KBX) and Vice Chairman of Pacific Imperial Mines (V.PPM). He is also Chairman of Polaris Minerals Corporation, a private company developing aggregate resources in British Columbia for the U.S. market. Canico Resource Corp., with an inferred resource of about 100 million tones of 2.1% lateritic nickel in Brazil, is turning out to be one of the world's major nickel developments. International Barytex Resources is a junior in the process of negotiations to acquire a large tin-zinc deposit in China. Kobex Resources and Pacific Imperial Mines are two junior mineral exploration companies in the process of locating significant projects for acquisition.

Dr. Shklanka was associated with Sutton Resources Ltd. as Vice Chairman (1993-95) and as Chairman from 1995-99. He brought the Kabanga nickel deposit in Tanzania with him when he joined the company and was instrumental in acquiring the Bulyanhulu gold deposit, also in Tanzania, for the company. The company was acquired in 1999 by Barrick Gold Corp for C$525 million. The Bulyanhulu gold mine has in excess of 15 million ounces gold and the Kabanga deposit is currently under option to Falconbridge by Barrick, representing a major sulphide nickel resource.

From 1969 to 1990, Dr. Shklanka was with the Placer organization, working in a variety of capacities, including General Manager of Exploration for Placer Development Ltd. and Vice President for Exploration for Placer Dome Inc. while with Placer, he was responsible for the acquisition of the Kidston gold mine, at that time the largest gold mine in Australia, and its evolution to feasibility. He was involved in the acquisition of the Granny Smith gold mine and the Osbourne copper mine, both in Australia, and exploration of the Misima and Porgera gold mines in Papua New Guinea. He also acquired the Omai gold mine in Guyana and the Bulyanhulu gold mine for the company, which were dropped after he left.

Roman Shklanka received his Doctorate in geology from Stanford University and a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada and Member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.