Donlin Gold is a proposed gold mine in the Middle Kuskokwim Region and the gold deposit is estimated to be 33.8 million ounces. The project is a partnership between NOVAGOLD Resources, Barrick Gold Corporation, The Kuskokwim Corporation and Calista Corporation.

Donlin Gold gave a presentation about the impacts of the proposed mine on the region.

The presentation was followed by a question and answer period. The episode was recorded on January 26th, 2022.

Dan Graham
General Manager

Dan Graham, PE, currently manages the Permitting and Environmental department at Donlin Gold LLC. This is a position he has held since early April of 2017. Mr. Graham originally came to Alaska in September of 1983 to pursue a degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, which he received with honors in May of 1988. His working career in Alaska began operating equipment in placer mines north of Fairbanks for Polar Mining, Inc. in 1984 and 1985. He was hired as a mining engineering intern in 1986 by Usibelli Coal Mine and worked for the company until 2001, working in numerous capacities including exploration engineer, production engineer, mine surveying and planning, production foreman and permitting, ending his career with Usibelli as their Senior Mine Engineer. After leaving Usibelli, Mr. Graham opened his own engineering consulting business until January 2009 when he was offered the position as Project Manager for the Chuitna Coal Project. He worked as the Project Manager for Chuitna until the end of March 2017 and then transitioned to his current position at Donlin Gold.

Mr. Graham married a third generation Alaska miner, Kim (Renshaw), in 1989 and they raised two beautiful daughters in this great state we call home. He also spends time at night and on weekends with his two dogs – Kilo and Milli. He is a board member of the Council of Alaska Producers, Alaska Sealife Center and the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District and past board member of the Alaska State Hockey Association, Alaska Miners Association and the Resource Development Council.

Kristina Woolston
External Affairs Manager

Kristina is the daughter of Dan and Sharon O’Hara and granddaughter of Thomas O’Hara and Aggie Simeon from Old Iliamna. Born and raised in Naknek, Kristina is a tribal member of the Naknek Native Village Council and a shareholder with Bristol Bay Native Corporation and Paug-Vik Inc. Ltd. Prior to joining the Donlin Gold team, Kristina spent 10 years as part of the Chenega Corporation management team, one of Alaska’s largest Alaska Native village corporations. Kristina previously served as Board Chair of the Native American Contractors Association, representing Tribes, Alaska Native corporations and Native Hawaiian organizations in federal-contracting opportunities. Kristina spent three years with Quintillion, an Alaska communications company that built the first fiber-optic network to northern coastal Alaska villages. Kristina earned a degree in government relations from Dartmouth College. Kristina and her husband, Tim, have four children and live in Anchorage.

Enric Fernandez
Permitting and Environmental Manager

Rebecca Wilmarth
Community Development Coordinator

Rebecca joined the Community Relations team in 2019 and was promoted to Regional Supervisor in 2021. Her parents are Shirley Vanderpool and the late Richard Wilmarth. Rebecca graduated with honors from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2019 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Rural Development. Aside from being a small business owner, Rebecca has worked as a community liaison for her Tribe, Native Village of Georgetown, and has held similar positions with The Kuskokwim Corporation and the Native Village of Napaimute.

Rebecca and her husband Corey Nicoli have two daughters and live in Red Devil, one of the smallest villages on the Kuskokwim River and nearest to the Donlin project site.