K92 Mining Inc. is pleased to announce the promotions of David Medilek to the position of President & Chief Operating Officer and Chris Kinver to the position of Vice President Projects & Engineering.
Mr. Medilek is a mining professional with over 16 years of mining capital markets, corporate strategy and technical operating experience. Mr. Medilek joined K92 in 2019, most recently holding the position of President, and prior to that was its Vice President Business Development and Investor Relations. Previously, Mr. Medilek was an equity research analyst covering precious metals companies, with Macquarie Group Limited; a mining investment banker with Cormark Securities Inc.; and a mining engineer with Barrick Gold Corporation in Western Australia. Mr. Medilek holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mining Engineering with Distinction from the University of British Columbia, a Professional Engineer designation in the Province of British Columbia, and is a CFA ® charterholder*.
Mr. Kinver is a Mining Engineer with approximately 20 years of experience in the mining industry, predominantly in senior management roles in underground operations and mine development with senior, intermediate and junior mining companies in Australia, Papua New Guinea, South America, Africa and the United Kingdom. Mr. Kinver joined K92 in 2019, and most recently held the position as the Company’s Project Director, Kora Expansion. Prior to that, Mr. Kinver held the positions of K92’s Mining Manager and also Evaluation and Studies Manager. Before joining K92, Mr. Kinver was with OceanaGold Corporation as the Project Manager for the Didipio Underground Mine for approximately 3 years, successfully transitioning the operation from an open pit to a 1.6 mtpa long hole stoping underground operation. Other senior management roles include: Underground Mine Manager with BHP Billiton at the Perseverance Nickel Mine, one of the largest underground operations in Western Australia; Underground Mine Manager with Barrick Gold Corporation at the Plutonic Gold Mine in Western Australia; and Principal Engineer at mining consulting firm Wardell Armstrong LLP. Mr. Kinver holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining and Mineral Engineering with Honours from Camborne School of Mines and a First Class Western Australian Mine Managers’ Certificate. He holds registrations with the Institute of Engineers Australia, The Engineering Institution of Zambia, and Registered Engineers of Tanzania.
The promotion of David Medilek and Chris Kinver are part of an organizational restructure which is designed to enhance the operational, technical and project execution capacity of the Company. This has already seen Peter du Plessis promoted from General Manager to Executive General Manager of the Kainantu operation and Fergus Hart appointed as General Manager of the Kainantu Gold Mine. In their new roles David and Chris will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
The Company is also announcing the departure of Mr. Warren Uyen as Chief Operating Officer. We thank Warren for his contributions over the past 5 years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic environment where the Kainantu Gold Mine not only continuously operated during this period but also delivered significant growth. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated,
“Over the past several years, David and Chris have made considerable contributions to the success of the Company. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to the business, resourcefulness, plus a high level of capacity and potential to assume greater levels of responsibility. Congratulations David and Chris on your promotions – we look forward to your continued contributions.
These promotions are part of several steps the Company has taken in its progression to become a Tier 1 mid-tier producer with the commissioning of the Stage 3 Expansion scheduled to commence by the end of Q1 2025. At the Kainantu Gold Mine, the team has been notably strengthened, including the creation of a second level of General Manager in Q3 2023, with the appointment of Fergus Hart as General Manager and Peter Du Plessis being promoted from General Manager to Executive General Manager. Corporately, K92 established a regional office in Q2 2023 in Brisbane providing support for the operation in multiple areas.
We see a very exciting period ahead for the Company and look forward to the continued contribution to the success of K92 by David and Chris in their expanded roles.
I would also like to record my thanks, and that of the Company, to Warren Uyen for his contributions to the success of the K92 over the last five years and wish him all the very best for the future."
