Astara Energy Corp. is a privately held, junior oil and natural gas producer headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. With operations primarily focused in Alberta, Astara is building a strong, fundamentally driven, growth oriented, private light-oil focused company. Our strategy is to continue growing through accretive acquisitions that support expanding our existing footprint with high-quality opportunities, while pursuing paths to realize meaningful shareholder returns and liquidity.
About Astara
Our Vision
Management Team
Andrew Greenslade, P. Eng.President & Chief Executive Officer
- Founder and Former President and CEO at Astra Oil Corp.
- Former Interim CEO at Renegade Petroleum Ltd. (prior to this, progressed through roles of Operations Engineer, Manager of Operations and Engineering, and VP Operations)
- Prior to Renegade, held various engineering focused roles at Talisman Energy, Nexen Canada, ERCB and various oilfield services
- Extensive experience with all levels of engineering and operations, budgeting as well as health, safety and environment
- Proven leadership in corporate strategy development and ultimate execution
- Considerable experience with Board of Director collaboration and investor relations
Russell Walz, P. Geol.Vice President, Exploration
- Founder and Former VP, Exploration at Astra Oil Corp.
- Former VP Exploration at Renegade Petroleum Ltd. (prior to this, progressed through roles of Geologist and Manager of Geoscience)
- Prior to Renegade, Geologist at Talisman Energy in both Canadian asset development as well as North American exploration
- Extensive experience in both carbonate and clastic reservoirs across the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
- A proven track record of drilling success and management of geology and geophysics in both development and exploration plays
- Established prospect generator and asset evaluator with a strong integrated understanding of value creation
Shaun Thiessen, B.CommVice President, Land & Business Development
- Founder and Former VP, Land and Business Development at Astra Oil Corp.
- Former Director of Land at PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.
- Prior to PrairieSky, Director of Land at Encana Corporation
- Extensive knowledge in all forms of commercial negotiations including evaluations, A&D, joint venture and gas handling agreements
- Experience across the vast majority of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
Mark Lobello, CAVice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer
- Founder and Former VP, Finance & CFO at Astra Oil Corp.
- Former Interim CFO at Renegade Petroleum Ltd (prior to this, Controller)
- Prior to Renegade, Manager in the KPMG LLP Calgary junior oil and gas division
- Extensive experience with M&A transactions, financial modelling, budgeting/forecasting, tax planning, public and private company financial reporting, operational accounting, internal controls and team leadership
- Direct liaison with Board of Directors, legal counsel, financial advisors and shareholders
Jason Ellithorpe, P. Eng.Vice President, Engineering
- Founder and Former VP, Engineering at Astra Oil Corp.
- Former Production and Operations Manager at Renegade Petroleum Ltd. (prior to this, progressed through roles of Operations Engineer and Reservoir Engineer)
- Prior to Renegade, held various engineering and management roles at Apache Canada
- Extensive experience in reservoir engineering, fracture design, waterflood design, implementation and optimization
- An integral component of corporate budgeting and reserve evaluation as well as acquisition scoping and evaluations
- Substantial contributor to all aspects of operations ranging from daily field operations, drilling and completions, to facilities
Board of Directors
P.L. (Lonny) Tetley, LL.B(1)(3)Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Partner at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP within corporate finance and securities group
- Wide range of experience in corporate governance, equity financings and M&A transactions
- Director and/or Corporate Secretary of several companies including Certarus Ltd., Calima Energy Limited, Durham Creek Exploration Ltd., Woodland Development Corp. and North 40 Resources Ltd.
Ingram Gillmore, P.Eng.(2*)(3)Director
- Director, President and CEO of Gear Energy Ltd.
- Experienced executive who has held various engineering, leadership and executive roles with, ARC Resources, Talisman Energy and Gulf Canada
Andrew Greenslade, P.Eng.Director
- President and CEO of Astara Energy Corp. (see full bio in Management section)
Jody Forsyth, Dip.Eng., B.Sc., LL.B., M.B.A., LL.M.(1)(2)(3*)Director
- Co-founder and Managing Partner of Annapolis Capital
- Brings extensive industry knowledge having served as an officer of eight private oil and gas companies from start up through to corporate sale and has held director roles with various junior E&P companies
Shane Grypiuk, CA, CBV, CIM(1*)(2)Director
- Managing Partner of Northbridge Capital Partners Ltd.
- A member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Canadian Institute of Chartered Business and Chartered Investment Manager
- Former Manager at Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP in the Valuations, Forensic & Disputes group, specializing in valuing oil and gas businesses including start ups, junior conventional and unconventional E&P companies, shale gas plays, domestic & international resource plays, oil sands projects and various energy related businesses
Paul Mereau, LL.B.Corporate Secretary
- Partner at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
- Wide range of experience in corporate governance, equity financings and M&A transactions
- Corporate Secretary of Spur Petroleum Ltd., Woodland Development Corp. and Beyond Energy Services & Technology Corp.
(1) Member of the Audit Committee
(2) Member of the Reserve and Health Safety and Environment Committee
(3) Member of the Compensation and Governance Committee
* Denotes the chair of the committee
