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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Avalon Rare Earths Metals Inc. announced its new chief operating officer and senior vice-president: professional engineer Brian Chandler.

Brian Chandler, seen here earlier this month, is Avalon Rare Metals Inc.'s new chief operating officer. - Thandie Vela/NNSL photo

The search has been a yearlong journey. As the Nechalacho rare earths project at Thor Lake reached the development stage a year ago, proponent Avalon Rare Earths Metals Inc. entered search mode for a chief operating officer.

At the time, CEO Don Bubar was the de facto COO – which is typical for a small exploration company – but as Avalon grew, the COO duties became a full-time job.

"I have never managed a mining operation on the scale we contemplate," Bubar told Yellowknifer. "So we needed someone who had this type of experience to ensure success and Brian fit the bill."

Chandler said for him, the most exciting opportunity is to build an exciting team with safety as the core value and to continue to produce “a team that takes pride in developing a sustainable project that provides training and jobs for the community."

Chandler, who most recently led the establishment of IAMGOLD Corp.'s corporate presence in West Africa as senior vice-president and managing director for the Toronto-based gold producer's African operations, will now lead the management of all Toronto-based Avalon's operations and development projects, with initial focus on the Thor Lake Project, located about 100 km southeast of Yellowknife.

The deposit is one of the few potential sources of valuable "heavy" rare earth elements outside of China, including europium, terbium and dysprosium -- elements whose use in innovative green technology such as electric motors, drew Chandler to the project.

"Throughout my career I've been involved and committed to environmental improvements within our industry," he said. "So I find it very satisfying to know that Avalon's supply of rare earths – in particular the heavy rare earths – will make a real and positive difference in the production of many everyday, new technologies."

The West Ham, England, native was educated in the United Kingdom and now has three decades of experience, including project development and operations in Canada, Ireland, Indonesia, Angola, and Southern Africa.

"We've had the opportunity to live in many remote locations with the mining industry and it's been an excellent challenge wherever we've been," Chandler said of travelling around the world with his wife, Carolyn.

"The Nechalacho project at Thor Lake is another exciting challenge and it will be wonderful to see it coming into production."

Chandler will be based in Vancouver.

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