Ian Telfer is a British-born Canadian mining executive, entrepreneur and former chairman of Goldcorp Inc Besides leading Goldcorp, he is known for founding and leading other Canadian mining companies, including TVX Gold, Silver Wheaton Corp.
28 Facts About Ian Telfer
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When Ian Telfer was two years old, his family moved from England to Canada.
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Ian Telfer attended the University of Toronto, graduating from the university with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics in 1968.
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Ian Telfer graduated with an uncertainty as to what to do with his life and what his next step would be.
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At age twenty-five, following five years of working at "nondescript" sales jobs, Ian Telfer realized he needed to "reboot" his life and applied to a number of MBA programs in Canada.
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The day before classes began, Ian Telfer was accepted to the University of Ottawa's MBA program.
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In Ian Telfer's words, being accepted to this university's MBA program changed his life and "kick-started everything".
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Ian Telfer first worked at Hudson Bay Mining as a financial analyst.
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At Hudson Bay, Ian Telfer learned the essentials of the mining business, such as strategic planning and how to evaluate businesses.
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Ian Telfer moved to Rio de Janeiro and spent the next six years leading TVX Gold in Brazil and working with mining executive and entrepreneur Eike Batista.
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In 2001, Ian Telfer was approached by mining financier, Frank Giustra.
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In 2006, Ian Telfer led in Goldcorp's friendly acquisition of Glamis Gold, a merger that at the time created the world's third largest gold mining company.
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Rather than accepting the hostile bid, Ian Telfer led in separating off Wheaton River Minerals' silver assets into a new company to be called Silver Wheaton Corp.
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Ian Telfer was instrumental in brainstorming the concept behind Silver Wheaton, which is a mining company that does not do any mining itself, but instead acquires silver byproduct from other mining companies that are focused on other precious metals.
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Ian Telfer contributed in launching Terrane Minerals, Tahoe Resources, Peak Gold and Primero Mining.
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Ian Telfer launched Renaissance Oil after Mexico began privatizing its oil and gas industry.
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Ian Telfer served as Chairman of the World Gold Council from 2009 to 2013.
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Ian Telfer has been a supporter of the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation and the Vancouver Playhouse.
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Ian Telfer has been a supporter of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, donating $500,000 to the foundation in 2014.
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In 2008, Ian Telfer pledged $3 million to the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative.
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In 2007, Ian Telfer donated $25 million to the University of Ottawa's School of Management, which at the time was the largest donation ever given to the University of Ottawa.
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In 2015, Ian Telfer donated another $2 million to the Ian Telfer School of Management.
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Ian Telfer has been the recipient of various awards and accolades during his professional career.
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In 2013, Telfer was listed in Canadian Business Magazine's "The Power 50".
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In 2015, Telfer was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.
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That same year, Ian Telfer was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Ottawa.
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In 2016, Ian Telfer was inducted into the Business Laureates of British Columbia Ian Telfer has been the recipient of the Murray Pezim Award presented by The Association for Mineral Exploration.
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Ian Telfer often speaks on lessons he has learned during his career and has emphasized the importance of taking advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself.