Early Life and Military Service
Richard William Warke was born at Canadian Forces Base Camp Borden in 1949. Warke started off in the Air Arm in the Canadian military as a Boy Soldier. He spent time in the Air Arm and later joined the Army.
Rise to Success
Warke's career in the mining industry spans over 30 years, marked by significant achievements. In 2005, he founded the Augusta Group of Companies, a conglomerate of public and private businesses, including Titan Mining Corporation, Armor Minerals Inc., and Solaris Resources Inc.. Warke founded Ventana Gold Corporation in 2008, discovering the La Bodega gold deposit in Colombia, which was later sold for $1.6 billion in 2011. He also founded Augusta Resource Corporation in 2014, which was sold to HudBay Minerals Inc. for C$666 million. Furthermore, in 2017 Warke co-founded Equinox Gold, which has become a mid-tier gold producer.
Key Business Strategies
Warke is known for generating value through pioneering transactions, early-stage investing, and rapidly advancing projects with access to capital. His ability to build and manage successful companies, coupled with his strategic investments in the mining sector, has been key to his success. Warke's focus on assembling dedicated and skilled management teams has also contributed to his accomplishments.
Philanthropy
Richard Warke is a Member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Leadership Council, supporting one of the world's leading cancer institutions and advancing world-class research, patient care, and medical innovation.