The Ontario Mining Association (OMA) has announced Natasha Vaz as incoming chair of its board of directors – the first woman to hold the position in the organization's century-plus history.
Vaz, who will take on the role starting in September, is currently the chief operating officer (COO) at Kirkland Lake Gold.
She'll replace outgoing chair Mike McCann, who is leaving to accept the position of president and CEO of Iron Ore Company of Canada.
“Natasha and I have served together on the OMA board and I have no doubt that the skills and leadership capabilities she will bring to this new role will further our collective strategic ambitions and our purpose-driven vision for Ontario mining,” McCann said in an Aug. 26 news release.
“Her appointment as the first woman to lead the board marks an important milestone in OMA’s history – one whose time has certainly come, as we celebrate the association’s centenary and grasp emerging opportunities to reshape the industry.
“I am excited to see Natasha apply her undeniable drive and ingenuity to accomplish great things at the OMA.”
A professional engineer with more than 20 years of operational and technical experience in the mining industry, Vaz previously served as senior vice-president of technical services, technology and innovation at Kirkland Lake Gold.
Prior to that, Vaz served as vice-president of technical services for Tahoe Resources Inc., and previously spent more than 10 years at Lake Shore Gold Corp., serving in a number of operational and technical services roles, including director of technical services and project evaluations; and vice-president of technical services.
Vaz holds a Bachelor of Applied Sciences, Mineral Engineering from the University of Toronto and an Executive MBA from the Kellogg-Schulich School of Management.
Established in 1920, the OMA represents the Ontario mining industry and is one of the longest serving trade organizations in Canada.
