Transforming North American critical mineral supply
We aim to provide a secure domestic supply of high purity, zero waste, Magnesium and Nickel products to be used in industrial, aerospace, battery and specialty applications. We are assessing the optimal location in North America for our first plant and have long term supply agreements for saprolite ore in place with established, reputable, non-FEOC producers.
The Atlas Process:
1 – Produces high purity Magnesium.
Atlas can produce very high purity Magnesium Chloride used to make Magnesium Metal, Magnesium Oxide, and Magnesium Hydroxide that support high technology applications.
2 – Increases the amount of ore available to source critical minerals.
Before the Atlas Process, saprolite ore, which accounts for approximately one third of the world’s current Nickel and Magnesium ore resources, was not economically viable for high purity critical mineral applications.
3 – Produces critical minerals with no waste.
All existing processes to refine saprolite ore are costly and harmful to the environment due to their process emissions and waste dumps.
4- Produces Nickel and Cobalt MHP.
The Process produces Nickel and Cobalt MHP (mixed hydroxide precipitate) which can be used to produce Nickel and Cobalt for battery supply chains.
5 – Produces a Supplementary Cementitious Material.
This can be used to enhance performance and support the decarbonization of the concrete industry.
Our Team
Our world class team has developed the Atlas Process and is working with government, academia, investors, conservationists and industry to transform standard mineral processing methods.
David Dreisinger
CEO and Co-Founder
David Dreisinger has over 35 years’ experience as a Professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada and has held the Industrial Research Chair in Hydrometallurgy since 1993. He holds B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada.
During his tenure, David and his team have published over 300 technical articles and offered a wide range of short courses to the global metallurgical community.
In addition to his academic career, David has worked closely with a number of the world’s leading mining companies to develop and commercialize technologies including (with colleagues) the Mt. Gordon Copper Process, the Sepon Copper Process, the Search Minerals Direct Extraction Technology for Rare Earths, the Anglo American Corporation-University of British Columbia Copper Process, the Boleo Process for Copper, Cobalt and Zinc. David holds 25 issued US Patents.
David has been recognized for his work by election to the Canadian Academy of Engineering and in 2023 he was elected as an International Member to the United States Academy of Engineering.
Sarah Sclarsic
Director
Sarah Sclarsic is a Founding Partner of Voyager, a venture capital firm that invests in companies building the foundations of a decarbonized global economy. She has been building and investing in transformative technology companies since 2009 and brings expertise in mobility, biotechnology, food and materials production, and carbon removal.
Kevin Tidwell
Director
Kevin Tidwell is the Managing Director of the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, one of the world’s largest climate change grant-making organizations. The Foundation uses its $1.5 billion endowment to invest in entrepreneurs and firms building green industries and systems ranging from critical minerals to carbon removal to energy storage. Kevin is responsible for sourcing and managing climate investment and philanthropic opportunities and leads the Foundation’s direct investment program.
Kevin holds a MSc in Environmental Science from the Yale School of Forestry, a MBA from the Yale School of Management, and Bachelors in History and Environmental Engineering from Rice University.
Michael McPhie
SVP of Public Affairs
Michael McPhie has over 25 years’ experience in the development of mineral resource projects and companies throughout North America and internationally.
He is a specialist in major project development and operations, environmental and regulatory issues and financial/capital markets. Michael is currently Executive Chairman and Founding Partner of Falkirk Environmental established to assist leading companies to navigate project design, permitting, environmental engineering and development.
Michael also led the development of three public traded companies, including a successful IPO, that have been acquired over a ten-year period from 2009 – 2019, generating over USD $500 million in value for investors. Previously, he was founding CEO of Curis Resources Ltd., where he oversaw the financing, permitting and development of the Florence Copper Project in Arizona, Executive Chairman of IDM Mining Ltd and President and CEO of the Mining Association of British Columbia.
Michael was the former Chair of the Board of Ridley Terminals Inc., the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME).
Michael holds an MSc from Royal Roads University in Management and Environment and is a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP).
Doug Dreisinger
SVP of Strategic Partnerships
Doug Dreisinger has over 35 years’ experience in the Energy & Chemical Industry with a successful track record in strategic planning, leadership, risk management and business development.
Doug has also been providing strategy and business development support to Companies in the Power, Mining, Oil & gas sectors including a 20-year career with Nexen (now CNOOC) in numerous Executive roles including President of the Global Energy Marketing & Trading Business, VP Business Development and also VP Business Operations for the Chemical Business .
Doug has been serving on Public, Private and Government Boards and has a global perspective having dealt with customers and partners in 30 + countries.
He is a Registered Professional Engineer (Alberta) and holds a BASc in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University.
Brent Rochon
Special Adviser, Nickel Marketing
Brent Rochon has over 30 years’ experience at some of the world’s largest mining companies with particular experience in the Nickel sector.
Brent previously held a number of senior positions at Vale over 22 years and was most recently Vice President of Nickel across Europe and the Americas overseeing 60% of Vale’s Nickel sales and all Cobalt sales. Prior to that, he was responsible for the worldwide commercial activities of Vale’s copper sales and intermediate products.
Prior to Vale, Brent was Director Marketing at Teck Corporation, one of Canada’s leading mining companies with operations and projects spanning across Canada, the US, Chile and Peru.
Brent holds an MBA in International Business from York University and a BSc in Engineering Mining from Laurentian University.
Miguel Perry
Special Adviser, Corporate Finance
Miguel is an experienced public company CFO and former Partner at PwC who supports the team, in an advisory capacity, on its corporate finance and funding strategy.
Miguel was formerly CFO of FTSE 100 mining company Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, where he led the US$3bn IPO process and managed the financial, treasury and risk management functions.
Miguel was also CFO of AIM-listed iron ore mining company African Minerals Ltd, which raised US$2.5bn to develop the greenfield Tonkolili iron ore project, Africa’s second largest iron ore producer.
More recently, Miguel has led the development of Clean Concrete, which has developed mineral processing solutions to support the decarbonization of the concrete industry.
Miguel is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages from Essex University.
Ken Baxter
SVP of Engineering
Ken Baxter has over 35 years in the design and commissioning of metallurgical plants including innovative and technically challenging process plants. He has spent many years managing process design teams in gold and base metals, predominantly copper. Alongside David Dreisinger, Ken was responsible for the process development and design of the Mt Gordon and Sepon hydrometallurgical plants and the Kansanshi Autoclave copper plant.
Ken was formerly VP Technology; Director of Hydrometallurgy at SNC Lavalin Group, the largest construction company in Canada with operations in over 160 countries. His previous experience also includes Technical Manager Copper at Bateman Engineering and Process Engineer at Signet Engineering.
Ken received a Master of Scientific Studies (University of Queensland 1981) and has a BSc in Geology (University of Queensland 1974).
Eric Trusiewicz
Special Adviser, Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Eric Trusiewicz is a specialist on heavy industrial decarbonization, particularly cement & concrete. He is active as a board member, advisor and operating executive working with venture-backed cleantech startups. Eric has worked as an Entrepreneur in Residence at the $2bn clean-tech venture capital fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures, as a fellow at Stanford University, and prior to that has a decade of experience in the cement industry in a variety of executive roles across Europe and the United States at CEMEX.
Eric holds a Master’s degree in Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, as well as a Bachelor’s degree from Yale University.
Pierre Charlent
Independent Consulting Geologist & Mining Engineer
In Memoriam – Jeremy Ley
We also acknowledge the role of our visionary Co-Founder, Jeremy Ley, who passed away in January 2024. Jeremy successfully led the development of Atlas to support the decarbonization of heavily polluting industries.
Investors
Grantham Environmental Trust
Grantham takes early-stage positions in important yet underfunded climate opportunities in sectors that are overlooked and underestimated by other investors.
Voyager Ventures
Voyager invests in early-stage climate technology companies creating the
foundation of a decarbonized global economy and a livable future for all.
Counteract Carbon Removal
Counteract helps carbon removal companies to accelerate their growth by
providing patient capital, hands on support, and access to expert networks.
Kibo Invest – Kibo Climate
Kibo invests in a range of early stage climate tech companies as well
as funds that have the ability to make a significant impact in the battle
against climate change.
Technical Partners
Atlas’ technology, processing methods and impact analysis have been reviewed by leading third party experts:
Engineering and design studies
Project design and metallurgical studies
Testing of our hydrometallurgical process
Economic analysis and nickel market studies
Advising on the optimal location for our plant
Supplementary cementitious materials (“SCM”) testing
MoU to establish a strategic partnership for development of a fully integrated, sustainable North American EV battery supply chain
Magnesium metal engineering consultants