News

June 23, 2008

ATW Venture Picks Up Two Great Projects In Australia, But Needs To Build A Bigger Fan Club

By Charles Wyatt

Some time ago, 40 years to be exact, Petula Clarke had a song on Top of the Pops in which the chorus was: “The other man's grass is always greener, the sun shines brighter on the other side.” It’s the sort of thing that means nothing, but sticks in the brain. Maybe that is why Brent Butler, now president and chief executive of Canadian listed ATW Venture, decided after a career mostly spent with Kinross Gold around the world, that Australia was where he would make his fortune, but through a company funded from Canada. Robert Schafer, who had also spent most of his career with Kinross was of like mind, so they conscripted Luke Norman and Graham Harris, who knew each other and the Canadian markets from days together at Canaccord, to set up a suitable vehicle.

Brent Butler is a geologist who was managing director of Kinross Gold Australia. Prior to that he was involved in some gold discoveries while with Hunter Resources and Sons of Gwalia.  He now lives in Perth, and therefore knows Western Australia well.  In the last few years he has been involved in project generation for Kinross in Africa and South America. In particular, Mr Butler was instrumental in the re-start of exploration and production at the Refugio mine in Chile which had...