Shawn Khunkhun

Shawn Khunkhun is a mining executive and company builder who has established himself as one of the most prominent voices in the North American silver and gold sector. As the former CEO of Dolly Varden Silver and now President of Contango Silver & Gold following the transformative merger of the two companies, Khunkhun has demonstrated a rare ability to identify, consolidate, and advance high-grade precious metals assets in tier-one jurisdictions. His leadership in orchestrating the merger between Dolly Varden Silver's exploration-stage silver properties in British Columbia's Golden Triangle and Contango Ore's producing and advanced-stage gold assets in Alaska created a unique multi-asset, mid-tier silver and gold platform focused exclusively on the United States and Canada.

Khunkhun's approach to building a mining company is rooted in a deep understanding of the Golden Triangle's geology and the strategic value of high-grade deposits. Under his tenure at Dolly Varden Silver, the company grew its silver resources to become a dominant landholder in one of the world's most prolific mineral districts. He recognized that combining Dolly Varden's exploration upside with Contango's operational cash flow and mine-building expertise—led by CEO Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse—would create a business capable of self-funding growth in a market where capital discipline has become paramount. The merger was designed to leverage complementary skill sets: Dolly Varden's creative exploration teams would pursue expansion and discovery opportunities on Contango's projects like Johnson Tract and Lucky Shot, while Contango's operators would advance Dolly Varden's properties through development and into production.

Looking forward, Khunkhun has articulated an ambitious but disciplined growth strategy for Contango Silver & Gold. He has provided guidance targeting a 50% increase in silver inventory toward 100 million ounces, improved gold resource conversion and grade, and a pathway to production at Lucky Shot by 2028. The company is expanding its direct shipping ore model across four advanced assets in Alaska and British Columbia, with potential hub-and-spoke processing scenarios that could significantly reduce capital requirements. Khunkhun has publicly discussed scenarios involving up to $250 million in potential value creation, positioning Contango Silver & Gold as a compelling catch-up trade in a precious metals market he believes is still in its early stages.

A frequent guest on mining investment programs including Palisades Gold Radio and Mining Stock Education, Khunkhun is known for his candid assessments of junior mining markets, macroeconomic conditions, and the structural supply deficits in silver. He has argued that the precious metals sector is poised for significant revaluation, citing financial resets, currency debasement, and the critical undersupply of silver as tailwinds for well-positioned producers. His willingness to discuss both opportunities and risks with transparency has earned him a loyal following among retail and institutional mining investors alike.