Management

Chris Doornbos

P. Geo., ICD.D. | President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairperson

Chris is an entrepreneur, aviator, and founder of emerging ideas and technology, with a passion for collaboration and innovation. He is the founder of E3 Lithium, a world-leading lithium resource and technology development company. Chris emphasizes risk management, developing and managing an exceptional technical team, and well-strategized project generation, with a clear focus on developing and capturing value for shareholders. Chris has a broad range of experience in capital raising, project execution, and M&A. Chris is a founding member of the Battery Metals Association of Canada and former Chair of the Canada ISO mirror committee for TC333 (lithium standards).

Brian Newmarch

CFA | Chief Financial Officer

Brian Newmarch joined E3 Lithium as chief financial officer in July 2025, bringing over 20 years of experience in finance, resource development, and midstream infrastructure. He has held senior leadership positions across the North American energy sector, including serving as the chief financial officer of Denver-based Humble Midstream and Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure. Brian also held executive roles at ARC Resources and Seven Generations Energy, as well as senior commodity origination positions at Credit Suisse and Citi. Throughout his career, he has led strategic equity and debt financings to support major infrastructure developments and operational growth across Western Canada, along with go-public transactions, corporate mergers, and large-scale asset acquisitions and divestitures. Brian holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and a bachelor of commerce degree from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. 

Kevin Carroll

P. Eng. | Chief Development Officer

Kevin Carroll has served as the chief development officer at E3 Lithium since 2023. He brings over 30 years of engineering and operational experience in Alberta’s oil and gas sector. His expertise includes managing facilities and infrastructure projects, leading drilling and completion programs, advancing subsurface developments, and implementing health, safety, and environmental frameworks. Prior to joining E3 Lithium, Kevin co-founded Huron Resources in 2013 and held various leadership roles at Shell Canada, Star Oil & Gas, ARC Resources, and Huron Energy. Kevin is also recognized for his strong stakeholder engagement experience, including work with landowners, Indigenous communities, and provincial regulators. He holds a bachelor of engineering degree and is a Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA. 

Leigh Clarke

LL.B. | Vice President, Government and Stakeholder Engagement

Leigh Clarke has served as a vice president at E3 Lithium since 2022. A second-generation Calgarian, Leigh practiced regulatory and energy law for ten years before transitioning into management, where he supported several energy companies in managing legal and governance risks and overseeing all aspects of stakeholder engagement. With over 30 years of experience in the energy and utilities sectors, Leigh has successfully led numerous strategic initiatives and executive leadership functions. Prior to joining E3 Lithium, he held leadership roles at TransAlta, AltaLink, Tathacus Resources, Communica, and the Balancing Pool of Alberta. Leigh is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a bachelor of arts in history and a bachelor of laws. 

Peter Ratzlaff

P.Eng. | Vice President, Resource Development

Peter Ratzlaff has worked with E3 Lithium since 2021. He brings over 30 years of diversified engineering and operations experience, spanning production strategy, field operations, and capital programs in the oil and gas sector. Peter has held various leadership and senior technical positions with Huron Resources, Cequence Energy, Canadian Hunter Exploration, Burlington Resources, and ConocoPhillips. At E3 Lithium, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of drilling, field operations, and capital projects. His technical leadership in subsurface development, production optimization, and project execution, combined with his strong regulatory and stakeholder engagement skills, plays a key role in the successful advancement of E3 Lithium’s resource development initiatives. He is a graduate of the University of Calgary with a bachelor of science in chemical engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA. 

Rob Knowles

MBA | Vice President, Investor Relations

Rob Knowles joined E3 Lithium as a vice president in February 2025. Rob has over 20 years of capital market experience in investor relations, investment banking, and equity research. He has held various senior leadership and strategic research and investment roles with Husky Energy Inc., Sunniva Inc., J.F. Mackie & Company, and TD Newcrest. Rob is responsible for overseeing all aspects of investor relations and corporate communications, leveraging his strong relationships with institutional and retail investors, analysts, and investment bankers to strengthen the company’s capital markets profile and strategic financing initiatives. Rob holds a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of British Columbia and a master of business administration in finance from the University of Calgary.  

Jody Calvert

P. Eng. | Director, Facility Projects

Jody Calvert has served as a director at E3 Lithium since 2022. With over 25 years of engineering and project execution experience, she brings a strong background in facility engineering, project development, and operations. Jody began her career in manufacturing in Ontario before moving to Alberta to work for Imperial Oil Ltd. for more than 16 years, contributing to both conventional oil and gas projects as well as the Kearl oilsands development. She later transitioned to consulting, focusing on sustainability and water-treatment infrastructure across various sectors. Jody holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo and is a Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA. 

Brian Ceelen

P.Eng. | Director, Commercial Development

Brian Ceelen has served as a director at E3 Lithium since 2023. He is an experienced leader focused on driving strategic growth by building strong partnerships and creating opportunities that deliver long-term value. His expertise includes capital projects, operations, corporate strategy, project management, and commercial development. With nearly 20 years in Alberta’s energy sector, including technical and commercial roles at Shell Canada and Steel Reef Infrastructure, Brian has a strong understanding of the industry and a proven track record in developing energy projects. He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Alberta and is a Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA.

Jason Doornbos

P.Eng. | Director, External Projects

Jason Doornbos has served as a director at E3 Lithium since 2024. He brings extensive experience in project development and execution across Alberta’s energy and resource sectors. With more than 20 years of experience leading projects from concept through to completion and operation, Jason is responsible for coordinating the company's lithium development efforts, ensuring strong alignment between technical teams and external partners. Jason is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA.  

Joanie Kennedy

P.Geo., PMP | Director, Subsurface

Joanie Kennedy has worked with E3 Lithium since 2021. She is a professional geoscientist with nearly 16 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, where she held diverse roles in operations, exploration, and business development. Her technical expertise spans carbonate and siliciclastic reservoirs across Alberta and Saskatchewan, with hands-on experience in drilling and completions, reservoir characterization and modeling, and enhanced oil recovery. She is actively involved in shaping the future of the geoscience and mining industries through professional associations, including APEGA, the Canadian Association of Energy Geoscientists, and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. She holds a bachelor of science in geology from the University of Calgary, a project management certificate from Mount Royal University, and is a Registered Professional Geologist with APEGA. 

Caroline Mussbacher

P.Eng. | Director, Process & Technology

Caroline Mussbacher has served as a director at E3 Lithium since 2023. She has nearly 20 years of industry-leading expertise in ion exchange and brine treatment in Alberta’s oilsands and unconventional resource sectors. She has led the design, commissioning, and operation of several pilot and commercial-scale water treatment systems. At E3 Lithium, she is responsible for overseeing the development and demonstration of the company’s proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction technology and systems. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta with degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA. 

Kirsten Pugh

P.Eng., PMP | Technical Director, Subsurface

Kirsten Pugh has worked with E3 Lithium since 2022. Kirsten is uniquely qualified as a geological engineer, project manager, and subsurface expert. Her subsurface experience is both broad and deep, enabling her to effectively bridge communication across disciplines. She thrives in environments with a balance of multi-disciplinary collaboration and focused engineering analysis. Kirsten loves making things better – be it unlocking a technical challenge, improving a business process, or standing up for her values. Kirsten has more than 20 years of experience in Alberta’s energy industry in various technical roles. She holds a bachelor of applied science in geological engineering from Queen’s University, a project management certificate from Mount Royal University, and is a Registered Professional Engineer with APEGA.