Leo Lithium Limited announced the appointment of senior mining executive Tim Richards as Chief Operating Officer (COO), as the company brings the Goulamina Lithium Project into operations over the next 18 months. Tim is a mining engineer with an MBA from the University of Oxford. He brings over twenty years of mining experience to Leo, across the full range of asset development and operations including scoping and feasibility studies, site technical services, operations and mine management.

Tim has significant experience in West Africa, having worked for seven years across multiple projects in Ghana and Mauritania as well as in South Africa. Tim was involved in the development of new and existing underground and open pit operations for Kinross Gold in Ghana and Mauritania, and oversaw the successful expansion of mining operations at the Tasiast Gold Mine, including a 500% increase in mine output during his tenure. Tim has also successfully managed remote operations in PNG and Europe.

Notably, Tim was instrumental in the successful operational and financial turnaround of St Barbara's Simberi Gold operation in PNG. Tim has resigned from his current role as CEO of Geopacific Resources Ltd. and will commence with Leo in late January 2023. Initially he will focus on developing the operations team, operational readiness and firming up plans for producing direct shipped ore (DSO) in 2023.