A senior Yukon government geologist is heading back to the private sector after 20 years with the Yukon Geological Survey.

Mike Burke, head of the mineral services unit, will begin work Feb. 1 as the chief geologist for Golden Predator, a Vancouver-based company who wants to grow a stronger presence in the Yukon.

The company announced Burke was joining its team in a press release Monday.

"I always knew deep down that I would be back with industry some day,” Burke said in an interview today.

"So I'm just going back to where my roots are.”

Meanwhile, Silver Predator, Golden Predator's cousin, announced today it is appointing former Yukon government leader Piers McDonald to its board of directors.

McDonald, who led an NDP government from 1996 to 2000, already sits on Golden Predator's board.

Burke said the timing is right for him to return to the private sector with the brisk pace of mining and exploration in the Yukon these days.

And with his two kids pretty much grown up, there's not as much of an issue being away from home.

Though he suspects he can't be any busier with Golden Predator than he has been in the last years with the geological survey as the Yukon has experienced a significant boom in the industry.

"I've already been burning the midnight oil,” Burke said.

The Minto Mine went into production in late 2007, becoming the first hardrock mine to operate since Faro closed in 1998. Alexco's Bellekeno silver mine announced last week it has attained commercial production status at its Keno City operation.

Yukon Zinc's Wolverine mine south of Ross River is expected to fire up sometime in the middle of this year.

Furthermore, in 2010 alone, the number of quartz mineral claims staked reached a staggering 83,261, compared to 16,000 the year before.

"I think commodity prices are going to be up for a while,” Burke said. "I don't think there is much doubt about that.”

He pointed out Golden Predator already has an office in Whitehorse with one office administrator who he'll be joining down in the Marwell area.

As the company's local chief geologist, he explained, he'll be tasked with helping expand the company's presence in Whitehorse.

Golden Predator has several properties throughout the Yukon, and is currently planning exploration drilling next month at Grew Creek near Faro and Brewery Creek, the gold mine which operated in the 1990s until low commodity prices shut down operations.

The company also has gold and silver interests in Nevada.

A graduate of geology from the University of British Columbia, Burke has been working in the Yukon since 1983 and was there for the discovery, operation and closure of the Ketza River Gold Mine. He joined the Yukon government in 1990.

"I am extremely pleased to announce Mike will be joining the Golden Predator team, and look forward to his taking a leadership role in advancing our property position and exploration program in the Yukon,” Golden Predator chair and CEO William Sheriff said in Monday's press release.

Carl Schulze, a local consulting geologist and the past president of the Yukon Chamber of Mines, said today Burke has been a valuable asset of information over the years, and great to work with.

"I think it was pretty universal that he was a great go-to person,” said Schulze. "Friendly too.”

In his years with the government, Burke said there have been some significant positive developments, including the establishment of the new environmental and socio-economic screening process.

The Yukon Environmental Socio-economic Assessment Board, he said, has provided industry with greater clarity in the evaluation and permitting process.

He also emphasized the importance of devolution, the April 1, 2003 transfer of regulatory authority over mining from Ottawa to the Yukon.