This week, we bring back our most requested column – Best Mining Story – to meet our new head of Kinross Alaska, Shane Parrow who was appointed Vice-President and General Manager of Kinross Alaska, on January 1, 2026.

In his new role, Shane will be responsible for overseeing Kinross Alaska’s two operations – the Fort Knox mine near Fairbanks and the Manh Choh mine near Tetlin. Before Shane stepped into his new role, he sat down to discuss his journey in the mining industry and the path that led him to this leadership role at Kinross Alaska.

Check out Shane’s story below:

“Mining has always been familiar to me. Growing up, my father worked in drilling, so he introduced me to the industry at a young age. As a child, I wanted to follow in his footsteps one day. Nearly four decades ago, that dream became a reality when I kicked off my career on exploration rigs in Montana.

“During my time there, I studied at the Montana Technological University where I was eager to find a program that aligned my passions of geology, math and the outdoors which ultimately landed me in Mining Engineering. Through my studies, I obtained both a bachelor’s and master’s of mining engineering and later became a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Montana.

“Since graduating in 1997, I’ve had the opportunity to gain broad experience across the country in Montana, Nevada, New York and now settling in Alaska. Through those diverse locations, I was lucky enough to gain exposure to several facets of the industry – whether that be open-pit or underground mines, or roles ranging from research to security, to environment, supply chain and even having the opportunity to work as a Professor at Montana Technological University. It’s safe to say I’ve had my hand in every part of the industry and gained experience at all functions of a mine site.

“In 2022, my wife Becky and I packed up with our cat (who behaves more like a dog) ‘Boobers’ and traveled north for seven days straight to arrive at our new home near Tetlin, Alaska, where I had taken on the position of Operations Director at Manh Choh.

“During my time at Manh Choh, I was quickly exposed to the Kinross culture and understood what sets the Company apart from all the other mining companies. Kinross and its leadership treat people like people, not numbers. People are the priority and the solution.

“This culture excited me and aligned perfectly with my leadership style, making it a natural fit. I believe this helped me find success in leadership roles at Kinross Alaska. I moved up to both Vice-President and Deputy General Manager at Manh Choh, then received the same position at Fort Knox, and now I’m stepping into my new role as Vice-President and General Manager, Kinross Alaska.

“At its core, my new role is to lead our business here and ensure that our corporate values drive everything we do by prioritizing people, championing health and safety, maintaining responsible environmental management, driving continuous improvement and setting clear expectations for performance, costs and partnerships. I believe this new role reflects my leadership style, and I am excited to head up the Kinross Alaska team as we work to accomplish our goals and achieve successful mining operations.

“Resource development is foundational to Alaska’s economy, creating value directly from the ground and supporting communities across the state. I am proud to play a part in that work and build a future here with the Kinross Alaska team, with my wife Becky and our ‘cat-dog’ ‘Boobers’ by my side.”

Do you have a Best Mining Story you want shared on Kinross World? Send your submissions to KinrossWorld@Kinross.com for a chance to be featured! Submissions can range from operational achievements, to exploration adventures, safety shares or inspirational moments. We look forward to your stories!