Gold winner: Christopher Van Treeck, Exploration Manager, Kinross Alaska

Christopher Van Treeck, Exploration Manager, Kinross Alaska Christopher (Chris) began his career at Kinross Fort Knox in 2022 as a Senior Exploration Geologist and was quickly recognized for his strong leadership and innovative approach to geology. These traits led to his promotion to Exploration Manager, Kinross Alaska where he oversees exploration activities for both Fort Knox and Manh Choh. While Chris excels in his day-to-day role by identifying creative and practical solutions to improve processes across our Alaska operations, he has been recognized for his efforts to strengthen our connection to the community, in particular through outreach and education. As an early member of the Manh Choh team, Chris became a trusted partner both internally across various departments, and externally through the relationships he built with our Indigenous partners. Chris acted as a main point of contact for our community stakeholders, where his approach to education and knowledge-sharing was rooted in our core values of care, diligence and cultural awareness. His dedication supported a successful outcome during early consultation which has transitioned into a strong, mutually-beneficial relationship during mining operations. In addition to community consultations at Manh Choh, Chris is a strong advocate of promoting the next generation of miners in Alaska and has spearheaded several programs to create tangible pathways for young people to explore careers in the industry. One of his most notable achievements relates to the ‘GeoFORCE’ program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a program that provides Indigenous students in rural communities with the opportunity to explore geology and geoscience careers. Chris’ involvement in the program demonstrates his dedication to building the future of mining and ensuring opportunities are accessible to all students in Alaska. Furthering his commitment to education, Chris is passionate about promoting the mining industry to students and is a key member of Fort Knox and Manh Choh’s student tours. Chris makes the experience memorable for students, creating hands-on, experiences such as the ‘rock box’ to explain the complexities of mining and geology in a clear and engaging manner that can be understood at all ages. “Chris’ approach to corporate citizenship is evident in how he builds relationships across teams and with our stakeholders. His contributions extend well beyond his role, creating lasting value for our operation, our industry and the communities we are a part of,” said a colleague. Chris discusses rock samples during a student visit at Fort Knox Chris volunteers in the community Chris discusses the Fort Knox pit during a student tour Chris holds a gold bar from Manh Choh with 2021 LOVA winner Shawn Colburn, Exploration Director, Reno Chris discusses rock samples with students during a site tour