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$1.2 million gift from Barron leads Initiative while paying tribute to professors

A leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. Dr. Keith Barron (PhD ’97) has embodied these traits in his support of the Initiative to Enhance Economic and Energy Resource Geology.

Awarded his PhD from Western in ’97, Barron holds Western in very high regard to this day. Referring to his graduate school experience as “a great incubator and really great life experience,” Barron credits the mentorship and camaraderie among students and faculty as key elements which set Western apart from other schools.

Additionally, he is proud to note many of his fellow alumni have risen to hold leading positions within the industry “I don’t think that there is a school in Canada that has as many alumni in senior positions as Western,” says Barron.

With this scholarly experience Barron entered the field where he has worked for more than 24 years. During his career, he has worked professionally in 20 countries, toured mines in 40 countries and visited every continent, except Antarctica. He has consulted for many companies and investment houses with his expertise in epithermal gold deposits. Barron has also co-founded two companies, Aurelian Resources Inc. and U3O8 Corp, both based out of Toronto.

This is the experience and professional opportunity he would like current and future exploration geologists to have. His wealth of experience provides Barron with a clear and considered perspective on how the industry has evolved. He sees where it is going and what it needs.

Returning to Western, Barron is helping to spearhead the largest Initiative in its history. He has called upon colleagues and worked alongside other notable alumni, faculty and partners. To lead by example, Barron has generously pledged $1.2 million to the campaign. This investment has led to the creation of the Robert W. Hodder Chair in Economic Geology and established the Richard W. Hutchinson Visiting Industrial Professor in Economic Geology.

“Hutch” and “Hodder” are true mentors who provide their students knowledge, inspiration, and support in the classroom and beyond. Honouring Hutch and Hodder by naming key positions for them punctuates the importance of having outstanding people in place to give students the best academic experience possible.

It is Barron’s hope that this entire Initiative and his personal investment in it will help recreate the dynamism and creativity the Department had in the 80’s and 90’s. He believes it will ‘educate and foster the next generation of explorationists and developers’.

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