Heather White joined NovaGold Resources as director, mining, in April 2011 and was promoted to vice president, mining, in December 2011. Prior to joining NovaGold, Heather held the role of director marketing, supply chain at Vale Canada Limited in Toronto where she was responsible for planning and managing the worldwide nickel supply chain for Vale Canada Limited, including alignment of production of all products at all finished nickel smelting and refining facilities with market demand.

Previously, she was mine manager at Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Ltd. in Labrador. She also worked as a senior mine engineering roles for PT Inco in Indonesia at their open pit laterite operation as well as for Inco in Sudbury at their underground mining operation. She holds a bachelor of mining engineering from Queen's University.