Direction

Graeme Johnson, CFA
Executive Chairman and Founder

Mr. Johnson is an investor and company builder and has previously been CEO of a Canadian company developing oil and gas properties in Kazakhstan. He has 25 years experience in the investment and natural resource industries including as a member of senior management in a leading agribusiness and as a key consultant to several successful mining development companies. Mr. Johnson was also previously Head of Private Equity for the Deutsche Bank Group in Europe, Middle East and Africa; as well as having served as a member of the Management Committee for the private investment office of the Princely Family of Liechtenstein. He is also a Director of the annual invitation-only Quebec City Conference, bringing together family offices and sovereign wealth and pension funds. Mr. Johnson has a BA from Western University in Canada and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Hratch Jabrayan
Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Jabrayan is a seasoned business executive with over 20 years in various leadership and senior management roles in multinational, privately held and public companies. Most recently Mr. Jabrayan served as the Chief Executive of a privately-owned conglomerate of companies with a focus on natural resources. Prior to this role he was the Vice President and General Manager of an underground polymetalic mine in southern Armenia and was instrumental in the advancement of sustainable development and transparent mining practices in Armenia. As a strategic industry leader, Mr. Jabrayan also serves as a member of the board of directors for two international organizations which are focused on natural resources. Mr. Jabrayan is a graduate of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business International Executive Leadership Program, he also holds a Law and Security degree from the Justice Institute of British Columbia and is a graduate of the International Executive Program in Mining Leadership from the Smith School of Business at Queens University. Mr. Jabrayan has lived in Armenia previously and is the recipient of a Civilian Medal of Appreciation from the government of Armenia for his contributions to the development of Armenia, he is also the recipient of a Presidential Commendation for his role in introducing transparent business practices into Armenia. Mr. Jabrayan is fluent English and Armenian. He is married and has three children.

Kevork Kataroyan, BA
Chief Financial Officer

Kevork Kataroyan has over 20 years’ experience as a senior trader and financier at some of the world’s leading financial organisations, including Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Canada and at globally active investment firms based in Montreal including La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec ("CDPQ") and Public Services Pension Fund ("PSP"). He has a BA, Economics, from Concordia University. Mr. Kataroyan travels frequently on business to Armenia and speaks fluent French, English and Armenian for business.

Nerses Karamanukyan
Member of Board of Directors, AGAPE Armenia

Mr. Nerses Karamanukyan is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of various leadership and executive positions in international financial institutions, privately held commercial banks, consulting and public mineral resources exploration companies. Graduate from Yerevan Institute of National Economy with degrees in Economy and Jurisprudence in early years of his carrier he was Head of Department of planning of industrial enterprises in Soviet era “Gosplan” system. He then has joined the Catholicossate of All Armenians, headquarter of Armenian Apostolic Church, as Head of Administrative and Finance Department. After independence of Armenia he has served as Chief of staff for two Prime Ministers of Armenia and has been Diplomatic Counselor at the Armenian Embassy in UK. Since 1999 he has joined International Finance Corporation of the World Bank group and has been the Head of IFC office in Armenia till 2009. He then has served as Chief Executive Officer for largest privately owned Armenian banks-Ardshinbank and Anelik bank. He has also been the General Manager for Caucasus for Lydian International, a TSX listed mineral exploration company. Currently Mr. Karamanukyan is an Associate Consultant and Lecturer with a regional consulting company, Management Mix, having businesses in Middle East and Caucasus. Mr. Karamanukyan serves as Board Member in a number of Public and Charity Institutions; Armenia National Committees of International Chamber of Commerce and European League for Economic Cooperation, National Advisory Board of World Vision International, Union of Businessmen and Manufacturers of Armenia.

Kristina Vardanyan  Dip Engineer-Economist Yerevan Architectural and Construction University, DipIFR.
Financial Director

Kristina Vardanyan has over 20 years’ experience in finance and administration, and is particularly expert in Armenian taxation and legal matters. She has worked closely with Country Manager Tim Papworth since 2007 on the Blackstairs Energy Blocks 4, 5 and 6 project as Financial Director. She has held various senior positions with other resources and technology companies, including Sovyuginstroy JV, Hydroenergetica LLC and Technoatomenergo CJSC, and from 1997 to 2004 she was a senior accountant at the Armenian American Exploration Company. Ms. Vardanyan provides AGAPE with fiscal and logistical management expertise on local operations in Armenia.

Vardan Andriasyan Dip Geophysics Yerevan
Senior Geophysicist and Mapping Specialist

Vardan Andriasyan has over 30 years working experience as a geophysical engineer. He worked since 2007 for Blackstairs Energy Armenia on Blocks 4, 5 and 6 as a computer draftsman and geophysicist. He has a broad knowledge of Armenia’s licensed areas, having worked with Transeuro Energy in 2005 where he was involved in both seismic and drilling operations in the Armavir region, the first such program in over ten years. Prior to this he carried out mapping and seismic data processing with Armenian American Exploration Company, also worked as a geophysicist at the “ArmEnergoSeismoProject” Institute, Yerevan, and for the Astrakhan Geophysics Expedition in Russia.

George Aslanyan Dip Geophysics Yerevan
Senior Field Geophysicist

George Aslanyan has 30 years experience working as a geophysical engineer. Since 2007 he worked as a field geophysicist for Blackstairs Energy Armenia managing all field surveying activities and coordinating logistics. Previously he worked as head of office services for Armenian American Exploration Company; an expert geophysicist with Burns & Roe; a geophysical engineer for the Geological-Geophysical Expedition of the RA Department of Geology, and in similar roles for Belarus Oil Geophysics. He also worked as a transportation officer for the USDA Marketing Assistance Project, and more recently for the Peace Corps in Armenia.

Rick Groome BA Economics McGill University
Managing Director Corporate Finance and Capital Markets

Rick Groome has been active in start-ups, finance, and the marketing of new and emerging companies to investors world-wide for over 30 years. Having started three securities firms from ground zero, Rick has led substantial investments in the resource and technology sectors and has discovered and financed some of Canada's most successful companies. Recently, he was instrumental in funding and helping to grow a Canadian junior stage company that developed oil fields in the Middle East from start up into successful low-cost production.

Davit Khondkaryan Dip Geology Yerevan
Chief Geologist

Davit Khondkaryan has 40 years working experience as a field geologist and has been involved in particularly in geological field mapping in Block 5 since 2011 as a senior geologist with Blackstairs Energy Armenia. Mr. Khondkaryan worked for 23 years as the head of the geological and geophysical expedition of the RA Geological Unit, where he was in charge of exploration, map design and the calculation of reserves. Subsequently he was a senior geologist with the Kachachkut copper mine, Mego Gold LLC, Rake LLC and the Margan gold-silver field.

Eric Michaud
Manager of Information Technology

Mr. Michaud has 10 years working experience as a Web Strategist for exploration and energy companies. He uses the Web as a medium to connect resource and energy projects to the capital markets. In 2008, he cofounded CEKO Web to provide fire opportunity for increased visibility for a variety of projects to attract the eyes of the Canadian and foreign markets. Mr. Michaud is also a Web programmer and IT specialist. He works as Manager of Information Technology for AGAPE.

Tanya Panasenko Dip English Tyumen SU; Dip Geophysics Stary Oskol Geology Technicum
Senior Technical Translator

Tanya Panasenko has 30 years’ experience working as a technical interpreter, and also as a geophysical technical assistant. She has a vast background providing Russian/English translation services for international oil and gas exploration and production companies. Ms. Panasenko worked from 2007 as senior technical translator with Blackstairs Energy Armenia, and from 2004 to 2007 for Shell Salym Petroleum in Russia. From 1997-2004 she worked as Senior Technical Translator for Armenian American Exploration Company, and on several Tacis (EU funded) projects in Russia in various translation and administrative positions, including at the Uvat oil field project, Tyumen region (1996-7).

Tim Papworth, M.Sc. and D.I.C. Geophysics: B.Sc. Geology, London
Chief Geoscientist

As Country Manager, Tim Papworth provides invaluable knowledge and background with the Armenian project having been General Manager for Blackstairs Energy since 2007. With over 40 years of industry experience, including geophysical exploration and seismic interpretation, Mr. Papworth spearheads local activities and exploration. His experience spans the UK, North Sea, Poland, Oklahoma, Egypt, Gabon, Bangladesh, Russia, and Armenia. His work in Armenia dates back to 1994 when he was Resident Senior Geophysicist on the EU funded ‘Hydrocarbon Potential of Armenia’ project. From 1996 to 2004 he was General Manager for Armenian American Exploration Company, carrying out seismic surveys and drilling one well. From 2005 to 2006 his company Hereward Resources carried out an 18 month review of Blocks 4, 5, and 6, which led to Blackstairs Energy PLC being awarded an exploration licence for the same blocks.

Mariam Sargsyan Dip Geophysics Yerevan
Exploration Coordinator

Mariam Sargsyan has 20 years’ experience working as a Geophysical Engineer. Since 2007, she has worked as Exploration Coordinator and Chief Geophysicist with Blackstairs Energy Armenia on Blocks 4, 5, and 6. Prior to this Ms. Sargsyan worked as a geophysical engineer with Hereward Resources, and for Armenian American Exploration Company (1997-2004), as well as a geophysicist for Busher in Iran. From 1994-97 she was a seismic data processing engineer at the ‘ArmEnergoSeismicProject’ in Yerevan.

Anna Serin
Manager of Corporate Communications

Anna Serin has more than 15 years of experience in securities and corporate finance. She has completed all of her securities designations with honours and worked as an associate investment advisor for 9 years managing investment portfolios for large net worth and institutional clients. Since 2012, she has consulted private and public resource and exploration firms with regard to their Communications, Investor Relations, Governance and Financial Reporting needs. Mrs. Serin manages Agape's Canadian and International Corporate Communications.