As a recent transplant to Canada from the U.K., Matthew Quinlan spent his first two years in B.C. “ski bumming at Whistler.”
But when he knuckled down to a chartered accountancy program in Vancouver, he quickly found himself drawn to the high-octane business of mining.
“I just found the business to be fascinating,” he said. “I liked the people, because the mining industry tends to be full of people who take risks.”
Quinlan was recruited by CIBC in 2007 to build its first mining investment banking team in Vancouver. The team now includes seven members with expertise in mining engineering, metallurgy and corporate finance.
“My clients are the (mining) companies themselves. They’ll come to me and say, should they buy this mine in Chile and how much should they pay for it,” he said.
The job requires a passion for the business of finance and mining.
“You have to really treat it like a hobby,” he said.
Quinlan’s team advises companies like Goldcorp, Teck Resources and Pan American Silver. They have also attracted new clients to CIBC, including Anglo American, Redback Mining and Uranium One.
Quinlan sits on the fundraising cabinet for the United Way, where he focuses on raising money from B.C. oil and gas, forestry and mining companies. •
photo | Carlos Taylhardat/Artofheadshots.com
