Colin Mills joins International Frontier Resources’ board of directors
International Frontier Resources Corporation (“IFR” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: IFR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Colin Mills to its board of directors.
Mills brings over 30 years of experience in strategic and tactical operations with an extensive and diverse background in power generation. He has established and led teams to achieve significant business goals in Mexico, Canada and Australia.
Mills’ background includes a number of executive roles with TransAlta Corporation, one of Canada’s largest publicly traded power generators and marketers of electricity and renewable energy. During his tenure, he held key positions including Director General and Chairperson of the Board of TransAlta Mexico.
With TransAlta Mexico, Mills’ responsibilities included business development, equipment commissioning and operations of the corporation’s Chihuahua 260 MW and TransAlta Campeche 250 MW combined cycle power stations. Both facilities achieved ISO9001 certification and were awarded “Clean Industry Status” by the Mexican Federal Environmental Authority.
He also led negotiations with the Mexican National Power Company (CFE) for the strategic divestiture of TransAlta’s Mexican assets to InterGen.
Mills also held positions on the Mexico Energy Association Board and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico.
Most recently, Mills worked for Synergy Corporation as Manager, Thermal Generation in Western Australia, overseeing a workforce of more than 350 employees.
Second IFR board member to be added in the past week
On July 7, IFR also announced the appointment of Ignacio Quesada Morales to its board of directors. Quesada is a managing director with Alvarez & Marsal, Mexico and brings 20 years of experience in financial and strategic consulting including key positions within Mexico’s public sector. He has worked extensively in the energy and oil and gas sectors, helping companies in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Spain and South Africa.
Before joining A&M, Quesada served as CFO and board member with Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Mexico’s national oil company. At Pemex, Quesada was responsible for treasury, budgeting, accounting and risk management at one of the largest Latin American corporates.
Previously, he was Chief of Staff of the Minister at the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público, Mexico’s treasury office, and at the Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (Ministry of Social Development). Mr. Quesada was also a partner at McKinsey & Company, a leading firm that provides consulting services in strategy, organization and operations.
IFR continues to establish itself in Mexico
International Frontier Resources has put a strong emphasis on building connections with its partners in Mexico to help set it apart from other companies entering Mexico as the country liberalizes its oil and gas sector. IFR is working with an in-country partner, Grupo Idesa, to strengthen its balance sheet as it bids on oil and gas properties, and to the company a better understanding of the domestic market.
“Grupo Idesa has facilities, ports, trucks, infrastructure, and they have people that understand the unions, the community and local issues,” IFR President Steve Hanson told Oil & Gas 360. “If you go down there and you’re perceived as a foreign company trying to take advantage of the situation, you’re going to run into trouble.
“Tonalli Energia (IFR’s 50/50 JV with Grupo Idesa) is a Mexican company. We want to ensure that the interests of the local community and the country as a whole are a factor in our operations.”
