Hugh Kitchen is a pilot, not a miner.

But the former partner in Alkan Air understands exploration and mining, having serviced the industry in the air for more than 30 years.

"When I got into the aviation business in 1979, there was a bit of boom going on in the Yukon,” Kitchen said in a brief interview following his acclamation Tuesday as president of the Yukon Chamber of Mines.

And in the five years before he began flying, the 40-year Yukon resident worked for White Pass, a company which was largely driven at the time by its connection to the Faro lead-zinc mine.

Kitchen had been serving on the chamber's board of directors for the past four years, and as first vice-president over the last year.

So it wasn't a stretch for him to take over as president at the chamber's annual general meeting during this week's 41st Yukon Geoscience Forum, when Rob McIntyre decided not to seek re-election.

Kitchen said he had the time to serve as president. As well, he wanted to give something back to what he described as a dynamic industry that is essential to the Yukon's economy.

Like McIntyre alluded to in his departing remarks, Kitchen also sees the requirement to amend the Quartz Mining Act as the chamber's primary focus currently.

There is still the matter of the long-awaited government announcement regarding a final land use plan for the Peel River watershed, Kitchen acknowledged.

He said rumour has it an announcement is coming soon, though he emphasized it's a rumour.

Right now, however, the chamber needs to make sure it remains involved with amending the mining act to comply with the Yukon Court of Appeal decision of last Dec. 27, he said.

"We are just working really hard to keep the connection open, to contribute as much as we can,” Kitchen said.

"We have had meetings with Ross River and the government to tell them our position and to learn about their interests.

"But yeah, keep communicating, that is my philosophy; keep talking and work through the stuff.”

The Court of Appeal ruled the Yukon government has a duty to consult the Ross River Dena Council before permitting any mineral staking or exploration work on its traditional territory.

It gave the government a year to comply.

The government has undertaken an overhaul of the legislation.

It has indicated the ruling has implications for the entire Yukon.

But it has not yet released any proposed regulations which will set out how the new regime will work.

McIntyre said in his remarks at Tuesday's annual general meeting the government is up to its eyeballs with the required amendments to the Quartz Mining Act.

The chamber must make sure the government proceeds with caution, said McIntyre, who will remain on the executive as past president.

"We need to be there.”

Brad Thrall will remain on the board of directors as vice-president, along with Ron Light, who moves up from director to vice-president. Carl Schulze is returning to the board as director.

New to the board as directors are Floyd Varley, Tim Smith, Mike Burke, Sam Wallingham and Marc Blythe.