Our
Leadership Team

Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nations Royalty, Derrick Pattenden served as the company’s Chief Investment Officer beginning in May 2024.

He is an accomplished investment banker with over 15 years of experience in the mining industry, specializing in finance and mergers and acquisitions. Over the course of his career, he has completed M&A transactions with a combined equity value exceeding C$20 billion, and 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.

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

He holds 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.

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.

Alex Morrison is a professional director and experienced mining executive with over 35 years experience in the mining industry. He has vast multidisciplinary experience in senior strategic roles in finance, accounting, information technology, supply chain, risk management and operations support at major mining companies including Newmont Mining, Homestake Mining, Phelps Dodge and Stillwater Mining. His most relevant experience to his role as a Director at Nations Royalty is his former role as Chief Financial Officer at Franco Nevada, a leading international gold royalty company. He has held diverse corporate director, chairman and lead director roles for a broad list of mining companies including Detour Gold, Taseko Mines, Energy Fuels, Gold Standard Ventures and Gold Resource Corporation. He is a chartered professional accountant (CPA, CA).

Edward Clayton proudly identifies as Nisga’a, with Nisga’a and Tsimshian ancestry in his immediate family. He has a diverse background working in administration, corporate finance and economic development both in the Nass Valley and in external First Nations organizations. Mr. Clayton has experience working as a Corporate Controller and Chief Financial Officer with various companies across multiple industries. He is an Independent Director of Nisga’a Growth Corporation where he has been pivotal in the establishment of financial controls and governance.

Saga Williams, LL.B. is the principal and owner of AS Williams Consulting. She is a band member and resident of Curve Lake First Nation. Through her maternal relations, she is also a member of the Namekosipiing Anishinabeg located in Treaty #3 area. After graduating with an Indigenous Studies (Hons.) degree from Trent University and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, she was called to the Ontario Bar in 2000.

With over 20 years of experience, Ms. Williams has been involved in the successful implementation of a number of high-profile initiatives, including energy, mining, economic and policy development projects and land claims settlements.

Ms. Williams was an elected Councillor for her community and served a three-year term, holding three portfolios and chaired a number of community-based committees. Over her years working with First Nations governments, and holding a leadership position, Ms. Williams has gained an expertise in governance structures, policies and processes. She also teaches as an Osgoode Hall Law School Adjunct Professor, introducing first year law students to issues of Indigenous rights and reconciliation, coaches students who are participating in the national Indigenous law moot and was the Chair of a National, non-profit youth services board.

Recently, Ms. Williams has joined the First Nations Major Project Coalition Team and is supporting membership outreach in central and eastern Canada, as well as advising on First Nations involvement in the critical mineral and energy sectors. She is also a Director of Fury Gold Mines, Volta Metals Ltd. and NiCAN Ltd.