2009 Fredericton Encaenia - Ceremony C

Quartermain, Robert A.

Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)

Orator: Mason, Gordon

Citation:

ENCAENIA, CEREMONY C, 28 May 2009
ROBERT QUARTERMAIN
to be Doctor of Science

A native of St. Stephens, N.B., Robert Quartermain is a 1977 UNB graduate in geology who has gone on to be a successful mineral geologist and one of the most respected CEOs in Canada’s mining industry.

Bob Quartermain began his undergraduate studies at the Saint John campus of UNB. After two years he transferred to Fredericton, graduating in 1977. He worked for several years for the Geological Survey of Canada and for several small mining companies, and obtained a master’s degree from Queen’s University in Kingston. In 1985, he was named president of Silver Standard Resources, a position he has held ever since. Such longevity is exceptional in this field and gives testimony to the confidence Bob inspired in both his directors and his shareholders.

When he assumed the presidency, the company had debt, two employees, and a market capitalization of approximately $2 million. In the following years he was also president of several companies involved in mining silver, gold and copper, but since 1993 Silver Standard has focused exclusively on silver and now controls the largest in-ground resource of any publically traded silver company. He has fostered development overseas, having work in 15 countries in addition to eight Canadian provinces or territories and six American states. The result is that Silver Standard Resources now has 30 employees in the head office, personnel in seven regional and overseas offices, and a current market capitalization of $1.4 billion.

As a token of appreciation for Bob’s leadership, Silver Standard has established the Silver Standard-McAllister Mineral Deposits Study Fund at UNB, co-named for his mentor, Professor Emeritus Arnie McAllister. This is used to support a program of field excursions for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Bob was a director of the Canadian Hemophilia Society for seven years and more recently has been a tireless advocate for UNB on behalf of the Forging our Futures Campaign. He devoted his time, energy and leadership – along with his weighty reputation in the business community – to seeing that the university achieved, indeed exceeded, its goal. His personal financial support has provided two scholarships and most significantly will allow the establishment of the Quartermain Centre for Earth Sciences at UNB. This major renovation to the first floor of the Forestry & Geology building will consist of a museum quality gallery to showcase the geology department’s holding of rocks, minerals and fossils, and an associated teaching laboratory.

Bob has definitely been a high flier, and not only at work. He holds a pilot’s license and certificates in hang gliding and skydiving.

Bob Quartermain has been successful practitioner not only of geology and mining, but of management and global finance, along the way making significant contributions to international relations and development, and philanthropy as well. As such he represents the best of what we hope for in all our graduates. It is our pleasure to confer this honorary degree in him today.

From: Honoris Causa, UA Case 70

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