D. Grenville Thomas

D. Grenville Thomas has over 50 years' experience in the mining industry, during which time he has built an impressive track record of discovery, most notably the world-class Diavik diamond mine and the Thor Lake rare metals deposit, both in the Northwest Territories.

Gren was the founder (and held positions of Chairman, President and Director) of Toronto-based Aber Resources Ltd. (now Dominion Diamond Corp.). He is also Chairman and Director of North Arrow Minerals Inc.;Director of Westhaven Ventures Inc.; and was Chairman of Winshear Gold Corp.

Shortly after graduation from University College, Cardiff, Wales (Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering in 1964), he moved to Canada and worked for a number of companies, including Falconbridge Nickel Mines in Sudbury, Ontario, Giant Mines in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Highwood Resources, a company he founded. He spent a number of years as a self-employed mineral property prospector and contractor, focusing primarily on properties located in the Northwest Territories.

Gren's discoveries have earned him many honours, including "PDAC Prospector of the Year" for 1999; "Man of the Year" by The Northern Miner newspaper (2001); and in January of 2009, he was one of four individuals inducted into The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame, located at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.