Our People

Mr. Edward S. Sampson - Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Edward Sampson has excelled in the field of business management during the past 39 years. He has initiated and managed a series of successful business operations focused primarily on oil and gas exploration and development. Mr. Sampson was instrumental in the growth and development of a number of mid-sized Canadian public companies.

Mr. William T. Hornaday - Chief Operating Officer, Director

Mr. William Hornaday is a professional engineer with over 35 years of industry experience. He has worked in North America, India, Indonesia and Australia. Mr. Hornaday has extensive experience in all aspects of operations including project management, production, facilities, drilling and business development. He was previously executive Director & Chief Operating Officer for a successful intermediate size international gas and power generating company.

Mr. Jim Cummings - Director

Mr. Jim Cummings has been involved in the petroleum industry for the past 36 years. He graduated from The University of Alberta with a degree in Law, has practiced in government, corporate and private roles, specializing in international oil and gas law. Jim has served as Senior Counsel with the Attorney General of Alberta in the Constitutional and Energy Law Department, Senior Counsel with Home Oil, Vice-President and General Counsel with Asamera and Bow Valley and was formerly a partner in Donahue and Company. He is currently a partner in International Energy Counsel LLP and a director in a number of private corporations. He is a past Chair of the Association of General Counsel of Alberta and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Canadian Chapter of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.

Mr. Conrad Kathol - Director and Corporate Secretary

Mr. Conrad Kathol is an engineering graduate of the University of Alberta and has worked in the oil and gas industry for the past 39 years. He has worked as an exploration geologist in Western Canada and the United States and has a strong background in all aspects of the industry including modern exploration technology, reservoir engineering and economic evaluation.

Mr. Wendell Robinson - Director

Wendell Robinson joined Global Environment Fund as Managing Director from Rockefeller & Co. where he was responsible for Rockefeller’s worldwide private equity program. Mr. Robinson oversaw the investment and successful sale of more than $300 million in private equity and venture capital positions throughout Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Mr. Robinson has been the director of numerous corporations, as well as a member of investment advisory boards and investment committees for private investment funds and partnerships in Argentine, Brazil, China, Spain, France and the U.S. Mr. Robinson has over 46 years of experience in domestic and international financial, investment and company management.

Mr. Edward S. Sampson - Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Edward Sampson has excelled in the field of business management during the past 39 years. He has initiated and managed a series of successful business operations focused primarily on oil and gas exploration and development. Mr. Sampson was instrumental in the growth and development of a number of mid-sized Canadian public companies.

Mr. William T. Hornaday - Chief Operating Officer, Director

Mr. William Hornaday is a professional engineer with over 35 years of industry experience. He has worked in North America, India, Indonesia and Australia. Mr. Hornaday has extensive experience in all aspects of operations including project management, production, facilities, drilling and business development. He was previously executive Director & Chief Operating Officer for a successful intermediate size international gas and power generating company.

Mr. Glen R. Valk - Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Valk has 25 years of finance experience with international exploration and production companies in Canada, Indonesia and the United States, including ConocoPhillips, Gulf Indonesia, and Gulf Canada. Mr. Valk is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. Mr. Valk joined Niko as Corporate Treasurer in August 2012 and was appointed to his current position effective January 1, 2013.

Mr. Keith Rawlinson - Vice President Exploration

Mr. Keith Rawlinson graduated from Queens University with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) degree. He has over 28 years international exploration and management experience. He has been responsible for new ventures and exploration activities in Southeast Asia, Australasia and South America. His Canadian experience has been primarily in the Mackenzie Delta.

Mr. Gary Christenson - Vice President Indonesia Operations

Mr. Gary Christensen has 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including positions as Chairman and CEO of Black Gold Energy; President and General Manager of Santos Indonesia; General Manager of Unocal Makassar and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Unocal Indonesia Deepwater Exploration and Production; Exploration Manager of British Gas Indonesia and British Gas Gabon. Unocal Indonesia Deepwater drilled over 100 deepwater exploration and appraisal wells resulting in the discovery of over 6 trillion cubic feet of gas and 100 million barrels of liquids; and developed and produced the West Seno field. British Gas Indonesia was part of the 7 trillion cubic feet Vorwata gas discovery which anchors the Tangguh LNG plant.

Mr. Brian Adolph - Vice President/Country Manager– Caribbean, South Asia and Madagascar

Mr. Brian Adolph, is a professional engineer with over 31 years of industry experience including 16 years internationally. He has worked worldwide including North America, Indonesia, Peru, Hungary, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Australia and New Zealand. He has received a Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering) degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He has strong managerial, operational and technical skills in developing and optimizing oil and gas projects in an international setting.

Mr. Larry Fisher - Vice President/Country Manager - India, Bangladesh and Pakistan

Mr. Larry Fisher, is a professional engineer with over 32 years experience including 16 years internationally in engineering, operations and management in the petroleum and mining sectors. He has and B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta. His international experience has exposed him to many diverse cultures and he has led the international engineering and operating initiatives for a large international oil and gas company.