MineConnect
Board of Directors
President
Bruno Lalonde
President & CEO - NSS Canada
Greater Sudbury District
For the past few years, as General Manager of NSS Canada, Bruno Lalonde has led the planning and execution of corporate development and business transformation efforts in establishing NSS Canada as a market leader, furthering the company’s forward thinking innovative products and services focusing on efficiency and accuracy in the industry.
Bruno has a background working with various companies in the mining industry and has a degree in business, the combination of which gives him the experience and communication skills that help him to work with clients of any department. His ability to communicate comfortably in the language of sales, marketing, operations, finance, technology and product knowledge has contributed to his current success. His experience in the mining industry and as an industry professional has built the trust of clients by being able to deliver on all platforms.
Bruno credits his success to having had the opportunity to have been mentored by great industry executives. He has always had a strong passion for technology in the mining industry and believes that utilizing technology as a backbone will achieve smart change in the mining industry.
Vice President
Randi Ray
Founder, Aazhoganike Group of Companies: Miikana Consulting, Noojimo Health, and Indigenous Workplace Wellness
Greater Sudbury District
Randi Ray, PhD is a proud Anishinaabe Kwe from Flying Post First Nation and founder of the Aazhoganike Group of Companies, including Miikana Consulting, Noojimo Health (Canada’s first Indigenous-owned Virtual Mental Health Clinic) and Indigenous Workplace Wellness. Randi is passionate and committed to working with leaders to bridge the social and economic gaps across all sectors for Indigenous people. The companies she has the benefit of leading use their 100+ years of experience working at the intersection of First Nations communities, governments and industry to effectively support their partners in achieving their goals in a mutually beneficial way. Randi has experience educationally and professionally in the private and public sectors as a professor, senior advisor, provincial lead, strategist, researcher and learner.
Randi is grateful to be surrounded by an inspiring, motivated and thoughtful group of family, friends, colleagues and clients. Randi spends her fall & winter coaching elite girls hockey, spring & summer keeping active through golf and baseball, and serves as a board member for the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Randi humbly works towards ensuring that the people around her reach their version of mino-biimaadiziwin (the good life), and does her best to stay grounded in her culture and teachings through her connection to shkagamik-kwe (mother earth).
Treasurer
Robin Roy
Business Manager - Workforce
Timmins-Cochrane District
Robin Roy grew up and continues to live in his hometown of Timmins Ontario. Watching his father Gerald develop his longtime Mining Career Robin has always felt close to members of the mining community.
As an operating Engineer working for twenty years with Glencore, Robin worked in a variety of roles in the mining and processing Industry – including being the Lead startup operator for the Liquid S02 plant at the Kidd Met site.
In 2012 Robin joined the team at Workforce, and as Business Manager, worked to initiate and grow the Timmins division of Workforce. He is proud of his work developing not only the business, but relationships in Northern Ontario and beyond.
Robin is married to the love of his life Hannah.
Director
Steve Black
Manager, Business Development- Dumas Contracting Ltd.
Timmins-Cochrane District
Steve was born and raised in Oshawa, Ontario. He moved to Kingston to study Mining Engineering at Queen’s University, which led him to Timmins in 2004. He worked in various engineering roles at Kidd Operations and as an estimator for Dumas Contracting Ltd in the early years of his career.
Steve has a passion for politics and served as a City Councillor from 2010 to 2014 and then went on to serve as Mayor of Timmins from 2014 to 2018, becoming the youngest mayor in the history of Timmins at the age of 32. He rejoined city council in 2022 where he continues to serve as a City Councillor for Ward 5 in Timmins.
Steve returned to Kidd Operations in 2019 as the Manager for the Kidd Mine 5 Exploration project leading that project through a successful concept study and into the feasibility stage. In late 2021 Steve assumed the role of Closure Lead at Kidd Operations taking over stakeholder relations, community investment programs and preparation for the potential mine closure with a focus on the socio-economic aspects of closure.
In the spring of 2022 Steve returned to Dumas Contracting Ltd in the role of Business Development Manager.
Director
Alain Forget
Director, Business Development - TIME Limited
Nipissing-Temiskaming District
Alain Forget earned bachelor’s degrees in International Business, Marketing & Management from Northwood University.
He has been in sales for 20+ years, working in various industries along the way, and jumping over to mining & drilling in 2012. Since then, Al has spent his time visiting customers and attending industry events across the country. Over the course of his travels, he has fostered strong relationships with a multitude of industry professionals, using a customer-service-first approach.
Al was born and raised in Northern Ontario, and that’s where his interests still lie. Aside from enjoying the outdoors when possible, he also assists the local committee responsible for the South Centennial Manor Redevelopment in his home town.
Director
Raffi Jabrayan
VP, Commercial Sales and Business Development - Exyn Technologies
Greater Sudbury District
Raffi Jabrayan is the VP, Commercial Sales and Business Development for Exyn Technologies. He oversees the expansion of the business internationally in the mining and construction sectors, as well as penetration into other industries.
A large part of his role at Exyn is to help miners leverage the data produced by Exyn's autonomous aerial robots to streamline underground inspections, enhance operational efficiency and reduce risk.
Prior to joining Exyn, Raffi managed digital and technology innovation projects for Dundee Precious Metals and was intimately involved with operationalizing new technologies into Dundee’s workflow. Raffi oversaw the scouting, due diligence, implementation and post integration assessment of Dundee’s digital and technology projects.
Raffi is a seasoned mining professional with practical experience at both the plant and corporate level in various capacities, and has completed the Digital Business Strategy Program at MIT Sloan as well as Driving Strategic Impact from Columbia Business School.
Director
Renier Koekemoer
Senior Product Manager, Underground Drilling - Komatsu
Greater Sudbury District
Renier began his mining career in 2001 working in the platinum mines of South Africa. In 2006 Renier moved to Australia where he continued working in mining across multiple sectors predominantly in maintenance and emergency response. Renier Joined the OE business in 2016 and has had various roles across 2 continents in supply of Mining equipment and tailoring these to suits individual customers requirements. Renier’s passion for building long term relationships with mining customers as well as striving to develop solutions for the challenges found globally in the mining sector is fundamental in his role as the Product Manager for Komatsu’s new underground division with specific focus in drilling across all disciplines.
In his off time he has a passion for the outdoors and family with a high potential of finding him and his family on a lake, a golf course or a hiking trail through out summer. Outside of work he is dedicated to build a more positive social image around the mining sector in general and is continuing to work with various organizations and governments to support this specifically in attracting youth to the mining sectors.
Director
Chris Perusse
President - CSL Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd.
Thunder Bay-Northwest District
Chris holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Geology from Lakehead University and is a long-time member of the Professional Geoscientist of Ontario (PGO) holding the P.Geo designation. Co-Founder and President of CSL Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd.
Chris has worked for over +20 years in the environmental and geological universe, solving problems with innovative solutions, serving many industries and became a specialist in all aspects of mine development; from early stage/greenfield exploration, operating and tailing management, to mine closure. Chris has developed lasting relationships with Industry professionals, Government regulators and Indigenous leaders. Chris brings a wealth of mining and environmental knowledge to the team and is a proven leader in the industry.
Outside of the business, Mr. Perusse has an absolute passion for philanthropy ensuring CSL gives back to the communities we call home. Charitable contributions are at the core of CSL values including numerous minor hockey players, Children’s Aid Society, Lakehead Breakfast Club and Chapter One as well numerous collaborations with major industry partners.
Director
Jeff Portelance
Director of Business Development - Walden Group
Greater Sudbury District
Jeff is the Director of Business Development for Walden Group, an established, industrial leader in turn-key solutions, specializing in the electrical, industrial, and mining sectors. In his role, this accomplished sales executive with 30+ years of experience, is instrumental in leading the company’s growth, strategic plan, and development opportunities.
Jeff serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC) and has also served on the boards of the Young Mining Professionals (YMP Sudbury chapter), the MMTS (Modern Mining Technology Sudbury), and various sporting groups. He holds an HBComm in Sports Administration from Laurentian University and lives in Garson with his wife Vanessa and their 3 wonderful kids.
Director
Steve Tarchuk
CEO - NORPRO Security Ltd.
Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma District
Steve is the CEO of NORPRO Security. He brings 17 years of operations management in the steel industry in hot metal movement, blast furnace iron making, and sales along with expertise in above-ground mining operations technology application.
He is proud to join MineConnect’s Board of Directors so that he may utilize his business experience to help advance Northern Ontario businesses.
In his off time, Steve enjoys serving as a downhill ski coach for the Searchmont Ski Runners.
