Northisle Announces Appointment of Kevin O’Kane as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

By: Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. via Business Wire

September 05, 2025 at 07:00 AM EDT

Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. (TSX-V: NCX) (“Northisle” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin O’Kane as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, in addition to continuing as a non-independent Director of the Company. In addition, Nicholas Van Dyk has been appointed Executive Vice President of the Company and will continue as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Robin Tolbert, Chief Geoscientist, will be retiring effective September 13, 2025 and will continue as an advisor to the Company.

Sam Lee, President & CEO of Northisle commented: “I am very pleased to be announcing Kevin O’Kane’s appointment as our Chief Operating Officer. His decades of operating leadership will bring the operational rigour and integrated mindset that will ensure we execute on our growth plans successfully. Kevin will continue to provide leadership of our Technical and Sustainability Committee at the Board level and we are excited to have him take a direct role in ensuring we hit our milestones. In addition, I am pleased to recognize the significant contribution that our CFO, Nicholas Van Dyk, has made to the success of the company. He will work closely with Kevin to lead our next phase of growth. I also want to express my gratitude to Robin for his strong leadership of our exploration over the last four years and wish him the best in his well-earned retirement.”

Kevin O’Kane has more than 40 years of business and operating leadership in the mining industry, including 37 years at BHP Billiton developing, expanding, and operating some of the most significant copper mines in the world, including Spence, Cerro Colorado, and Minera Escondida. From 2018 to 2020, Kevin served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of SSR Mining Inc. prior to its combination with Alacer Gold. Kevin has extensive experience in operations, permitting, and sustainability, and led SSR Mining to record production at all three of its producing mines. During his tenure at BHP he held the position of Vice President Health, Safety, Environment and Community for the Copper business. Kevin started his career at the Island Copper Mine, located adjacent to Northisle’s North Island Project, where he progressed to the role of Chief Mining Engineer. Kevin has been serving on several company Boards since 2020, in addition to Northisle, including Iamgold Corporation, Autlan and Intellisense.io. He intends to rationalize and reduce this work as required, to focus on Northisle.

Kevin O’Kane commented: “I am very excited to take on this expanded role with Northisle and lead the advancement of the North Island Project through the next phase of its growth. I started my career at the Island Copper Mine, adjacent to our project, and have maintained my connection to northern Vancouver Island. I look forward to working closely with the North Island First Nations, communities and governments to build a project we can all be proud of.”

Kevin will remain on the Company’s Board until such time as the Company identifies a replacement, but has stepped down from the Company’s Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee (the “CGCN Committee”) as he no longer qualifies as an independent Director. Alex Davidson has been appointed to the CGCN Committee in his place.

About Northisle

Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. is a Vancouver-based company whose mission is to become a leading and sustainable mineral resource company for the future. Northisle owns the North Island Project, which is one of the most promising copper and gold porphyry deposits in Canada. The North Island Project is located near Port Hardy, British Columbia on a more than 34,000-hectare block of mineral titles 100% owned by Northisle stretching 50 kilometres northwest from the now closed Island Copper Mine operated by BHP Billiton. Northisle recently completed an updated preliminary economic assessment for the North Island Project and is now fully funded through completion of a pre-feasibility study while continuing exploration within this highly prospective land package. For more information on Northisle please visit the Company’s website at www.northisle.ca.

Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities law. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to development of the North Island Project, partnership with First Nations and other communities, future plans, objectives or expectations of Northisle. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, Northisle’s ability to implement its business strategies; risks associated with mineral exploration and production; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; stakeholder engagement; marketing and transportation costs; loss of markets; volatility of commodity prices; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; industry and government regulation; changes in legislation, income tax and regulatory matters; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations; and other risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive.

Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the expectations of management of Northisle as of the date of this news release, and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Northisle does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.