Corporate. Board
Benchmark Energy combines the strengths of an active Board of Directors with an internationally based consulting team for project sourcing and strategic negotiation.
David Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Robinson has spent the past 20 years working in both the investment and upstream petroleum businesses, and has been involved with major international petroleum projects ranging from the Sudan to Egypt to Kazakhstan, and elsewhere. Most recently, Mr. Robinson was Chief Executive Officer of AIM-listed Forum Energy PLC which is active in the Philippines.
He is also Chairman and a director of CNQ-listed Vital Resources Corp., and a director of privately-held RadCan Energy Services Inc., both of Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Robinson has a BSc (Geology) from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Queen’s University.
Henk Jelsma, Director
Texas, USA
CEO and Founder of Radial Drilling Services Inc. (a Houston-based service company which provides its proprietary radial drilling technology to the oil & gas industry worldwide); Chairman of Radcan Energy Services Inc. in Calgary.
Brian Petersen, Director
Mr. Petersen has been in the investment banking business for 18 years including 16 years with RBC Capital Markets in Toronto, Ontario., Calgary, Alberta., and Houston, Texas. He has been an adviser to numerous energy companies in Canada, the United States and internationally, and has been involved in over $20-billion of mergers and acquisitions and more than $23-billion of equity financings. Mr. Petersen holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, and also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Larry Youell, Non-executive Chairman
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Mr. Larry Youell started his career in oil and gas spending his early years in the oil patch.
After completing an Honors Degree and then an MBA from the University of Western Ontario, Mr. Youell shifted to management consulting focusing on long range planning.
Mr. Youell returned to his oil and gas roots joining Canada’s largest gas company, Consumers Gas, where he held a number of increasingly senior positions, including Senior Vice President of Operations.
Most recently, Mr. Youell has held the position of President and CEO of FEC Resources.
Chris Cooper, Director
With over ten years experience in oil and gas management and finance, Mr. Chris Cooper is the current President and CEO of Northern Sun Exploration Company Inc.
Mr. Cooper earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Hofstra University and an MBA in Business from Dowling College.
Mr. Chris Cooper co-founded several successful junior and intermediate oil and gas companies, Choice Resources Corp., Watch Resources Ltd. and Banks Energy Inc., all of which he is a current board member.