K92 Mining Announces Management Changes to Strengthen Leadership Team
Suite 488 - 1090 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6E 3V7
Telephone: +1 (604) 416-4445
Facsimile: +1 (604) 608-9110
www.k92mining.com
NEWS RELEASE
K92 MINING ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES TO STRENGTHEN
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Vancouver, British Columbia, January 16, 2025 - K92 Mining Inc. (“K92” or the “Company”)
(TSX: KNT; OTCQB: KNTNF) announces the promotion of Heidi Grobler to the position of
Vice President – Human Resources; the appointment of Stanley Komunt to the position of General
Manager, External Affairs designate, who will be taking over from Mark Schubert when he retires
in 2025; and the promotion of Andrew Kohler to the position of Interim Vice President –
Exploration. The Company also announces the departure of Chris Muller. To ensure continuity
during this transitional period, Andrew Kohler has been appointed as Interim Vice President –
Exploration while the Company evaluates its long-term plans for the role.
Heidi Grobler is a senior HR professional with over 20 years of experience in the mining and heavy
manufacturing industries, both at operational and corporate levels. She has extensive international
human resources management experience across Australia, Asia Pacific, and Africa. Joining K92
in 2021, Ms. Grobler most recently served as General Manager – Group Human Resources. Prior
to this, she held senior HR leadership roles at Newcrest Mining Ltd., Afrique Gold Ltd., Adelaide
Brighton Ltd., and Anglo Platinum Ltd. Mrs. Grobler holds a Bachelor of Law (B.Proc) from the
University of South Africa and a Graduate Certificate in Business Law from Curtin University of
Technology. She is a professional member of the Australian HR Institute and a certified change
management practitioner.
Stanley K. Komunt is an experienced community and government relations leader with over 25
years of experience in the mining industry, specializing in corporate governance, stakeholder
engagement, and risk management. From 2018 to 2024, he served as Country Manager for
Newcrest Mining Ltd. and, following its acquisition, with Newmont Corporation in Papua New
Guinea, where he played a key role in negotiations and oversaw government, regulatory, and
community relations. He previously held senior roles with Nautilus Minerals Ltd., Morobe Mining
Joint Venture, Highlands Pacific Limited at the Kainantu Gold Mine , and Ok Tedi Mining Ltd.,
managing community programs, security operations, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mr. Komunt has completed advanced
training in leadership, governance, a nd project management through Newcrest Mining Ltd. and
other organizations, contributing to the success of major mining projects. Mr. Komunt also serves
as a Vice President Papua New Guinea for the Australia PNG Business Council, a Director of the
PNG Motor Vehicle Insurance Company and previously served as a council member of the Papua
New Guinea Chamber of Resources and Energy.
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Andrew G. Kohler is a geologist with over 30 years of experience in the mining industry, holding
senior roles in underground, open pit, and exploration operations across gold, copper, nickel, and
base metals projects. Mr. Kohler joined K92 in 2016 and currently serves as K92 Mining’s Chief
Geologist. At the Kainantu Gold Mine, he was part of the geologic leadership team that made the
discovery of the Kora North Deposit in 2017, which ultimately was recognized with the Thayer
Lindsley Award, for Best Global Discovery from the Prospectors and Developers Association of
Canada in 2021. Prior to joining K92, Mr. Kohler held senior leadership positions with companies
that included India Resources Limited, Ramu NiCo Management Limited, Avocet Gold Limited,
Resolute Tanzania Limited, and Sons of Gwalia Limited, where he led resource development,
drilling programs, and technical operations at various global mining projects. He holds a Bachelor
of Applied Science in Geology from Curtin University of Technology, a Postg raduate Certificate
in Geostatistics from Edith Cowan University, and is a member of the Australasian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), the Geological Society of Australia, and the Australian
Institute of Geoscientists.
Dr. Chris Muller joined K92 in 2016 and most recently served as the Company’s Executive Vice
President – Exploration. Dr. Muller was part of the team that made the discovery of Kora North,
which was awarded the 2021 Thayer Lindsley Award for best global discovery from the
Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. Additionally, Chris was also instrumental in
the discovery of the Blue Lake porphyry, delivering a maiden 10.8 million ounces AuEq inferred
resource in 2022. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
Dr. Mark Schubert joined K92 in 2019 serving as the Company’s General Manager, External
Affairs and Sustainable Development, leading engagement efforts and sustainable development
with our local communities. Over the years, Dr. Schubert ’s team have been recognized with
multiple ESG Industry Awards from the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Resources and Energ y,
including the Award in Recognition of Outstanding Community Humanitarian Initiative in 2024
for our Sustainable Livelihoods Agricultural Program; the Award in Recognition of Outstanding
Community Humanitarian Initiative in 2023 for our Women -in-Mining Program focused on
empowerment initiatives including upskilling and preventative healthcare , and; the Award for
Outstanding Women’s Contribution in the Resources Industry in 2022 for our Women-in-Mining
Program, focused on adult literacy. We wish him well in his well-deserved retirement.
John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated, “As K92 Mining continues to grow
and evolve, the leadership changes announced today reflect our firm commitment to building a
strong, dynamic team capable of driving our success well into the future. Over the past three years,
Heidi Grobler has consistentl y demonstrated exceptional dedication, resourcefulness, and the
ability to excel in many roles, making her a natural fit for this promotion. We are also pleased to
welcome Stanley Komunt to the team, who brings a wealth of community and government relations
expertise in Papua New Guinea, most recently with Newcrest and Newmont.
I would also like to recognize Andrew Kohler, who will serve as Interim Vice President ,
Exploration. With over eight years of significant contributions to K92 and a wealth of industry
expertise, Andrew is well -positioned to ensure continuity and leadership during this transitional
period while we evaluate the long-term needs of the role.
I want to express my gratitude to Chris Muller for his very significant contribution to our
exploration success. While Mark Schubert will still be with us for some months, I would also like
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to recognize his exceptional contribution and initiatives within our local communities . We wish
them all the best in their future endeavours. Congratulations to Heidi, Stanley and Andrew on their
appointments, and I look forward to their continued contributions as we build on our achievements
and pursue the exciting opportunities ahead.”
About K92
K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine
in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and development
of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The Company declared commercial
production from Kainantu i n February 2018 , is in a strong financial position, and is working to
become a Tier 1 mid-tier producer through ongoing plant expansions. A maiden resource estimate
on the Blue Lake copper -gold porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated
by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine -building and
operational experience.
On Behalf of the Company,
John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director
For further information, please contact David Medilek, P.Eng., CFA , President and Chief
Operating Officer at +1-604-416-4445
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD -LOOKING INFORMATION: This news
release includes certain “forward -looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the results of the Kainantu Mine Definitive
Feasibility Study, and the Kainantu Preliminary Economic Assessment, including the Stage 3 Expansion, a
new standalone 1.2 mtpa process plant and supporting infrastructure ; (ii) statements regarding the
expansion of the mine and development of any of the deposits; (iii) the Kainantu Stage 4 Expansion,
operating two standalone process plants, larger surface infrastructure and mining throughputs ; and (iv)
the potential extended life of the Kainantu Mine.
All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts
and are generally, although not always, id entified by words such as “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”,
“project”, “target”, “potential”, “schedule”, “forecast”, “budget”, “estimate”, “intend” or “believe”
and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions “will”, “wo uld”,
“may”, “could”, “should” or “might” occur. All such forward -looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward -looking
statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumption s that are inherently subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control, that may
cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, Public
Health Crises, including the COVID-19 virus; changes in the price of gold, silver, copper and other metals
in the world markets; fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other
commodities; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; volatility in price of our common shares;
inherent risks associated with the mining industry, including problems related to weat her and climate in
remote areas in which certain of the Company’s operations are located; failure to achieve production, cost
and other estimates; risks and uncertainties associated with exploration and development; uncertainties
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relating to estimates of mineral resources including uncertainty that mineral resources may never be
converted into mineral reserves; the Company’s ability to carry on current and future operations, including
development and exploration activities at the Arakompa, Kora, Judd and other projects; the timing, extent,
duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified
thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and a ssessments; the
Company’s ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of
inputs; the availability and costs of achieving the Stage 3 Expansion or the Stage 4 Expansion; the ability
of the Company to achieve the inputs the price and market for outputs, including gold, silver and copper;
failures of information systems or information security threats; political, economic and other risks
associated with the Company’s foreign operations; geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the
conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine ; compliance with various laws and regulatory requirements to
which the Company is subject to, including taxation; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable
terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions, i ncluding
relationship with the communities in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions it operates; other
assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry; and the risks, uncertainties and
other factors referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form under the heading “Risk Factors”.
Estimates of mineral resources are also forward -looking statements because they constitute projections,
based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of minerals that may be encountered in
the future and/or the anticipated economics of production. The estimation of mineral resources and mineral
reserves is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral
resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any
such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and
judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation , Forward-looking statements are not a
guarantee of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those
anticipated in such statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward -looking statements, there may be
other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from those that are anticipated, estimated, or
intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should
not place undue reliance on forward -looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward -looking statements, whether a s a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.