Former U.S. Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem has been hired as an advisor by British Columbia-based mineral exploration company NovaRed Mining Inc.
Noem, who now serves as the special envoy to the Shield of the Americas, will advise NovaRed as it seeks to advance critical mineral projects, the company said in a press release.
“Kristi brings exceptional leadership experience and a deep understanding of the policy, regulatory, and economic factors that influence infrastructure investment, resource development, and long-term economic growth,” NovaRed CEO Brian Goss said in the June 16 press release. “Her perspective and experience working across government and industry will be valuable as NovaRed advances its corporate development strategy and evaluates new opportunities.”
NovaRed focuses on finding and developing copper and gold projects in south-central B.C.’s Quesnel porphyry belt. This geological region extends more than 1,500 kilometres from the U.S. border to northern British Columbia. It ranks among Canada’s longest mineral belts and is known for its large deposits of copper and gold porphyry.
NovaRed said the integration of machine learning-based geospatial intelligence with conventional geological knowledge will enable the identification and promotion of domestic exploration opportunities that align with the firm’s long-term economic and strategic goals.
The company said Noem’s appointment reflects its commitment to assembling an advisory team with expertise across government, industry, capital markets, infrastructure, and resource development.
Noem said she is looking forward to “supporting the company’s strategic objectives.”
“In an increasingly competitive global environment, secure and reliable access to critical minerals has become an important economic and national security priority,” she said in the press release. “NovaRed is pursuing opportunities in sectors that will remain important to long-term growth and supply-chain resilience, and I am excited to contribute my experience in public policy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.”
U.S. President Donald Trump replaced Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary in March 2026, ending her 13-month tenure.
He said Noem had served the United States well, and had “had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border).”
Noem was governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025 and represented South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.
