Leadership and Advisors
Who We Are
Matt StJohn
President & CEO
Matt StJohn brings more than two decades of engineering and operational leadership in placer gold recovery and mineral processing. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA, combining technical expertise with business leadership.
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Matt previously served as General Manager of the iCON Division at Sepro Mineral Systems, where he worked on plant and process design for fine alluvial gold recovery projects around the world. His work focused on developing efficient gravity-based systems capable of capturing extremely fine gold particles.
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He has also been an owner and operator of the Kenyon Creek Alluvial Mine in Alaska, where he led plant design, process optimization, and on-site operations. This hands-on mining experience informs Northern Aurora Gold’s engineering-driven approach to coastal placer recovery.
At Northern Aurora Gold Corp, Matt oversees technology development, operational strategy, and system deployment, leading the company’s effort to establish a scalable, chemical-free gold recovery platform based on advanced gravity concentration.
Yannis Tsitos
Investor
Yannis Tsitos is a mining industry executive with over 30 years of global exploration and mining experience, including nearly two decades with BHP Billiton, one of the world’s largest mining companies.
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During his tenure at BHP, Yannis served as New Business Global Manager within the Minerals Exploration Department, where he played a key role in evaluating and securing strategic exploration opportunities worldwide. He was also a member of two major discovery teams, contributing to the discovery of significant porphyry copper deposits in Ecuador and nickel sulphide deposits in Western Australia.
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Yannis has conducted mining and exploration projects in more than 30 countries across every continent, bringing extensive international experience in geology, project development, and strategic partnerships. Over the course of his career, he has been instrumental in negotiating and executing more than 50 exploration and mining agreements with junior mining companies, major producers, and government agencies.
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He holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Athens, an M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics and Geology from the University of Birmingham, and completed finance studies as part of an MBA at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
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Yannis currently serves on several Boards of Directors as an independent director and is President and CEO of Goldsource Mines Inc. He is also a published author in mining and exploration publications and a long-time advocate for transparency and anti-corruption practices in the global mining industry.
Nicholas Olp
CFAO
Nicholas Olp brings 17 years of operational leadership and financial management experience across engineering and large-scale construction projects. He holds an MBA with a focus in Finance and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Tennessee, Illinois, Alaska, and Alabama.
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Nicholas has built his career leading high-performing teams responsible for delivering complex infrastructure and construction projects across commercial, industrial, hospitality, municipal, and multi-family sectors. His expertise includes operational planning, financial analysis, capital allocation, and execution oversight.
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His leadership approach emphasizes data-driven decision making, disciplined cost control, and operational efficiency, ensuring projects are executed with strong financial performance and risk management.
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At Northern Aurora Gold, Nicholas oversees financial strategy, capital planning, and investor relations, supporting the company’s growth as it advances a scalable coastal gold recovery platform built on proprietary gravity-based technology.
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His combined background in engineering, finance, and operational execution provides a strong foundation for managing the financial structure and strategic expansion of Northern Aurora Gold Corp.