Our
Leadership Team

Born and raised in the mining town of Stewart, British Columbia, Mr. McLeod is a geologist, third-generation miner, and entrepreneur. With 30 years of diverse experience for major and junior mining Companies in a variety of metallogenic environments and mineral deposit types, primarily in BC, Alaska, Yukon, Nunavut, Ontario, and Nevada. As CEO and VP, Exploration, he has led many successful explorers and development companies such as IDM Mining and Underworld Resources.

Mr. McLeod is the lead technical advisor to the Fiore Group of Companies, CEO of Nations Royalty Inc, Director of Dolly Varden Silver and Nexgold as well as Advisor to West Red Lake Gold Mines. An active mining industry volunteer, he is a past Chair of AMEBC and serves on the Board of the Britannia Mine Museum.

He is inspired by his father and former mayor of Stewart, Ian McLeod, who was a close ally of Nisga’a leadership on matters affecting the Pacific Northwest for many decades. As a mining union leader, Ian McLeod helped run election campaigns starting in 1949 for Dr. Frank Calder, the first indigenous person to serve Public Elected office for any provincial legislature in Canada, representing the Atlin riding which encompassed the Nass Valley and Stewart, serving until 1979. This spirit of working together helped inspire Mr. McLeod to work with citizens of the Nisga’a Nation to launch Nations Royalty.

Derrick Pattenden is an accomplished investment banker with 15 years of extensive experience in the mining industry specializing in finance, mergers and acquisitions. Throughout his career he has completed M&A transactions with a combined equity value of over C$20 billion. He has direct experience with transactions involving the creation of new mining royalties, and royalty companies, as well as the restructuring of existing metal streaming agreements.

He began his investment banking career in Vancouver in 2009 with Genuity Capital Markets. Prior to joining Nations Royalty, Mr. Pattenden was Director, Investment Banking, at Canaccord Genuity where he worked with TSX and TSX Venture listed companies and focused exclusively on the mineral exploration and mining industry. 

He has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mining Engineering from the University of British Columbia and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Mr. Pattenden is a proud band member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. He has fond memories of visiting his grandparents where he spent his summers fishing on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory reserve. As a youth, he was an accomplished athlete involved in both boxing and ice hockey.  He resides in Vancouver, BC, and continues to enjoy an active lifestyle playing tennis, golf, and powerlifting.

Josh is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over seven years of experience in accounting and investment banking and holds a Bachelor of Technology in Accounting from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Before joining Nations Royalty, he served as an Associate in Investment Banking at Stifel Nicolaus Canada, focusing exclusively on the mineral exploration and mining sectors.

His prior roles include Investment Banking Analyst at PI Financial; Chief Financial Officer of Lax Kw’alaams Fishing Enterprise and the Coast Tsimshian Fish Plant; Business Consultant at Fehr and Associates; and Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Josh is a proud Métis, originally from Prince Rupert, BC.

Kody Penner is a mining professional with diverse experience in the mining industry and Indigenous space. He has helped create strategy and drive value for Indigenous Governments and business while building lasting, sustainable relationships. With experience working in junior and major mining companies, he brings a collaborative approach to decision making, aligning values of rights and stakeholders toward common goals. He advanced from an underground miner to a strategy role at Canada’s largest diversified miner. He is also Vice-Chair of the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation, where he has helped lead the company through major strategic and operational changes by enhancing governance and management structures.

Prior to Nations, Kody worked as Lead, Business Planning at Teck Resources Limited’s (“Teck”) Copper Growth group where he advanced Teck’s development assets through effective business planning, efficient capital allocation, and strong governance frameworks. Before Teck, he worked as a Mining Analyst for Agentis Capital, in Investor Relations with Skeena Resources Ltd. and as Employment Director for the Tahltan Central Government. Kody holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of British Columbia.

Growing up in the mining industry, Kody worked at Imperial Metal’s Ruddock Creek exploration camp and as an underground miner at Newmont’s Brucejack mine. He is passionate about responsible resource development that benefits communities and shareholders, helping Indigenous groups work toward self-sufficiency while providing the world with much-needed minerals. 

Sam Brezden, of Métis and Cree descent, is a communications and external relations professional with over a decade of experience in the construction industry. Passionate about guiding organizations through Indigenous Reconciliation, Sam works to create meaningful strategies that align corporate goals with community values.

With a strong background in Indigenous engagement, Sam has facilitated discussions between communities, industry, and government to address barriers to economic participation and shape inclusive policies. As a founder of a network supporting Indigenous women entrepreneurs across Canada, Sam has also championed collaboration and growth, empowering underrepresented voices across industries.

Prior to her work in communications and community engagement, Sam was a financial advisor, specializing in mutual funds, life insurance, and long-term financial planning. This experience provided a deep understanding of economic frameworks, wealth-building strategies, and investment structures, which she now applies to her work in Indigenous economic development and reconciliation initiatives.

As a leader in community engagement, Sam has directed workshops to help organizations develop frameworks for trust and accountability while expanding business development in Indigenous sectors. Known for her innovative approach and dedication to authentic storytelling, Sam builds sustainable partnerships that drive lasting impact.

Stephanie Azak is a proud Nisga’a Nation member from Gitwinksihlkw, B.C., and brings a lifelong commitment to Indigenous governance, economic development, and community empowerment to her role as Corporate Secretary at Nations Royalty.   With a Bachelor of Arts in First Nations Studies from the University of British Columbia and multiple certificates in Nisga’a language, leadership, and economic development, Stephanie has spent over a decade championing community-based initiatives. Her career spans several roles across the Nisga’a Nation—from employment advising with Nisga’a Employment Skills and Training (NEST) to resource management with the Nisga’a Village of Gitwinksihlkw—demonstrating her dedication to workforce development and capacity-building.   Stephanie’s approach is grounded in cultural integrity, intergenerational knowledge, and the belief that Indigenous wealth must remain in Indigenous hands. She is also deeply engaged in cultural revitalization and regularly volunteers with community events, including the Nisga’a Four Crest Dance Group and local food banks.   Her work at Nations Royalty supports the company’s mission to strengthen Indigenous participation in capital markets while upholding the traditions, values, and vision of her community.