About Us

From hitchhiking across Canada at 17 to racing motorcycles to pursuing his pilot’s license, Jason Simpson is a natural-born adventurer. So when he realized that a career in mining would allow him to combine this adventuresome spirit with his affinity for building things, he pursued it with his trademark determination and dedication.

After completing dual degrees in Mining Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and Physics from Dalhousie University, Jason began building the kind of career that would not only allow him to put his engineering skills to work, but also to travel the world, meet different people, and experience a rich array of cultures.

Jason’s next adventure would be with Orla, going from building a mine to building a mining company. He embraced this challenge knowing that the two are very different yet related tasks: creating a company is just as much about physical infrastructure as it is about the right team.

This field of work really is for adventurers

Jason’s philosophy is that people create the value—their success is the company’s success. He believes in developing something people want to be a part of, and in leading by example. One might say he honed these talents through his other proudest achievement: being a devoted dad to his three kids.

Moving forward, Jason is committed to being an ambassador for the industry, helping people understand that mining is how the world is built, and that it can be done responsibly. His ultimate goal is to bring the evolution of the mining industry to light, and demonstrate that Orla is “one of the good stories.”

Etienne Morin learned this important truth firsthand, in the most Canadian of ways – while in his 20s, after completing his BA in geology at Colgate University, he played hockey professionally in the minor leagues. And the respect for teamwork and dedication he built during that time has served him well ever since.

It also gave him a sharp competitive edge. While finishing his MBA at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa in 2006, Etienne was selected to participate in a reality-tv-style competition for a one-year internship with Goldcorp. He emerged victorious, even beating his future wife for the position.

One year turned into 12, in which Etienne held progressively more senior positions in Corporate Development, Finance and Operations with Goldcorp. He played a pivotal role in executing the company’s growth strategy, and, thanks to the strong connections he forged with institutional investors and other market participants, he also led Goldcorp’s Investor Relations function.
In 2018, Etienne joined Orla Mining, where he would prove instrumental in the building of the Camino Rojo mine. This remains one of his proudest achievements, especially given the fact that much of the initial work was done during the pandemic, under far-from-normal mine-building conditions.

Stay disciplined, stay focused; you can achieve great things.

Not surprisingly, one of his favourite things about working with Orla is being surrounded by a team of good, smart people. It’s what gets him excited about coming into the office every day. And when he’s not in the office, he enjoys being outdoors, mountain biking and skiing the mountains of Whistler with his home team: his wife and two kids.

Etienne believes the future of the mining industry lies with young people. It’s an ideal opportunity to travel the world, learn new languages, experience different cultures, and support communities. And of course, to be part of a great team.

After finishing his degree at Laurentian University (and four summer jobs at four mines across Canada), Andrew worked with Cambior, Noranda, Barrick Gold, AuRico Gold and Alamos Gold, all of which allowed him the incredible experience of travelling all over the world. He also served as a Project Manager at AuRico Gold, where he was instrumental in the construction of the Young-Davidson mine – still one of his proudest achievements to date.

I have that curiosity and that drive to want to contribute at the highest levels.

When his son was three and a half, Andrew took an engineering position with SNC-Lavalin so he could be more present for the formative years. This served him well on both the personal and professional fronts: he was able to see mining from another perspective, and gain a deeper understanding of the craft, and he got to enjoy watching his boy grow up. And it was well worth it – after becoming Vice-President Development and Construction at Alamos Gold, Andrew rose to the role of Orla’s COO. And he’s just had the pleasure of seeing his son graduate with a degree in aerospace engineering.

Andrew’s approach to each new project is to never go in with the attitude of “this is the way we did it last time.” Again, perspective is key: Andrew believes you have to understand what’s important to the communities and people you’re working with and adapt accordingly. These are the kinds of values and genuine connections he’s committed to upholding at Orla.

“I’m an extrovert…I get energy from engaging with people.”

However, after participating in the Sustainability Working Group, a research group that focused on mining and its relationship with communities, Indigenous Peoples and the environment, Silvana went on to complete her PhD at the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia. And this is where her career in mining began.
Silvana has held senior management positions at the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources, as well as ESG leadership roles at companies such as Teck Resources, Equinox Gold, First Majestic Silver, and New Gold. At each step, she’s seized the opportunity to be a changemaker from the inside—by garnering a deep understanding of the complexities of the business, as well as the communities it affects.

Upon joining Orla, Silvana found yet another vibrant community, where she feels empowered to continue facilitating responsible mineral development and transforming the public’s perception of the industry. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations like the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) British Columbia and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), and in recognition of her contributions to the industry, she received the 2022 AME Robert R. Hedley Award for Excellence in Environmental and Social Responsibility. She was also recently named one of the 2024 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining by Women in Mining UK.

Silvana devotes her off hours to her own personal community—her family—and teaching her kids about their Brazilian culture and heritage. She also pursues her passion for scuba diving, which in itself is like exploring a whole new community. As she says, “It’s like entering a different universe that’s always there, but most only see the surface of the water.” It’s Silvana’s zest for looking beyond the surface that brings an exciting energy to Orla and its commitment to making positive change.