To Andrew, a bicycle represents much more than just two wheels and a frame. As a seasoned cyclist, he draws strong parallels between building a successful mining company and the discipline required of a competitive athlete. Both demand consistent dedication, patience, and resilience, as well as willingness to accept that success can be fleeting or temporary—you won’t win every race or land every deal. This mindset has fuelled Andrew’s decades-long cycling journey, culminating in a career-best 5th place finish at the 2024 Canadian National Road Time Trial Championships, and his decades-long mining career.
Andrew’s interest in mining began young, attending Barrick Gold’s Annual General Meetings as a child and absorbing the company’s global ambitions. This early interest sparked an 18-year career in mining, beginning at Gabriel Resources and then at Teranga Gold, where he played a key role in the company’s growth through strategic deals, expanding its production and asset base in West Africa. He also worked in a business improvement capacity at the company’s Senegalese operations. After earning his EMBA from a joint program at London and Columbia Business Schools, Andrew joined Orla in 2020, helping transform it from a junior explorer to a successful producer. However, he considers his greatest accomplishment to be building a life with his wife and their daughter.