Avalon Appoints Vienna Psihos as Manager, Public Affairs & Government Relations

Rhea-AI Summary

Avalon Advanced Materials (OTCQB: AVLNF; TSX: AVL) announced the appointment of Vienna Psihos as Manager, Public Affairs & Government Relations effective November 18, 2025. Ms. Psihos previously held a senior policy role at the Government of Ontario's Treasury Board Secretariat and supported the province's 2025-2026 Budget communications and large-scale funding decisions.

Her background includes advising mining and infrastructure companies on permitting, Indigenous engagement, regulatory strategy, and stakeholder communications, including work tied to Glencore Canada and Wyloo's Ring of Fire initiatives. The company says she will strengthen government relationships and support Avalon’s critical minerals projects across Canada.

Positive

• Government relations expertise from Treasury Board Secretariat role
• Supported communications for the 2025-2026 Ontario Budget
• Advised mining/infrastructure firms on regulatory approvals and Indigenous engagement

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• None.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2025) - Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Vienna Psihos as Manager, Public Affairs & Government Relations.

Ms. Psihos brings strong experience at the intersection of government decision-making, regulatory processes, and strategic communications. Her expertise will support Avalon as it advances key critical minerals projects across Canada. Ms. Psihos holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto.

Most recently serving in a senior policy role within the Government of Ontario's Treasury Board Secretariat, Ms. Psihos contributed to major provincial funding and policy decisions and supported the communications strategy for the province's 2025-2026 Budget. Her work involved managing and evaluating large-scale funding initiatives within Ontario's largest spending portfolios, spanning capital, operating, and program investments.

Her background also includes advising companies across Ontario's mining and infrastructure sectors on government relations, permitting, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications. This includes supporting high-priority initiatives for industry leaders such as Glencore Canada and Wyloo's Ring of Fire efforts, where she worked on strategies tied to regulatory approvals, Indigenous engagement, and major project development.

"Vienna's experience navigating government processes and funding programs, along with her work supporting major mining and infrastructure projects, aligns directly with Avalon's strategic priorities," said Scott Monteith, CEO of Avalon. "She will play a key role in strengthening our government relationships and enhancing the Company's public affairs and communications efforts."

"As governments at both the provincial and federal levels intensify their focus on building resilient, homegrown supply chains, investments like Avalon's are precisely the kind of projects needed to advance Canada's critical minerals strategy and presence on the global scale. I'm thrilled to join the team at such a pivotal moment of growth and momentum." said Ms. Psihos, Avalon's new Manager of Public Affairs & Government Relations.

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian critical minerals company advancing the supply of materials essential to a resilient North American supply chain. The Company is focused on developing strategic assets that support secure, domestic supply chains and long-term economic growth. Avalon is advancing the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements and Zirconium Project in the Northwest Territories, which contains all light and heavy rare earth elements, as well as yttrium, zirconium, tantalum, and niobium-critical minerals used in advanced technologies across the communications, defense, clean tech, and energy sectors. The Company is also focused on vertically integrating the Ontario lithium supply chain through the development of Lake Superior Lithium Inc., Ontario's first midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility, located in Thunder Bay. This facility will serve as a vital link between northern Ontario's lithium resources and the growing EV battery manufacturing base in southern Ontario and North America. Through a joint venture with SCR Sibelco NV, Avalon is advancing the Separation Rapids Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario, as well as continuing exploration at its Snowbank lithium and Lilypad lithium-cesium deposits.

For further information regarding Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., please visit www.avalonadvancedmaterials.com, email ir@avalonam.com, or call 416-364-4938.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements related to management team changes and the anticipated benefits of strengthening Avalon's public affairs and government relations functions. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue", "convert" or "conversion", "deliver", "demonstrating", "estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or "expanding" or "expansion", "expect" or "expectations", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves", "increase", "intends", "justification", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "promise", "prospective", "prioritize", "reflects", "robust", "scheduled", "suggesting", "support", "top-tier", "updating", "upside", "will be" or "will consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with mineral exploration and development operations such as: environmental hazards and economic factors as they affect the cost and success of the Company's capital expenditures, the ability of the Company to obtain required permits and approvals, the ability of the Company to obtain financing, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, uncertainty with respect to the ability to successfully construct and develop the Company's lithium processing facility, the price of lithium, no operating history, no operating revenue and negative cash flow, land title risk, the market price of the Company's securities, the economic feasibility of the Company's mineral resources and the Company's commercial viability, inflation and uncertain global economic conditions, uncertain geo-political shifts and risks, successful collaboration with indigenous communities, changes in technology and advancements in innovation may impact the development of the Company's technology innovation centre and its lithium hydroxide processing facility, future pandemics and other health crises, dependence on management and other highly skilled personnel, title to the Company's mineral properties, the ongoing war in Ukraine and Israel, extensive government and environmental regulation, reliance on artificial intelligence technology to influence mining operations, volatility in the financial markets, uninsured risks, climate change, threat of legal proceedings, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated November 28, 2024 (the "AIF") under the heading "Description of the Business - Risk Factors". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions identified in the AIF, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: management of certain of the Company's assets by other companies or joint venture partners, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration and development activities without undue delays or unbudgeted costs, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost effective manner, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner, the ability of the Company to obtain all necessary financing on acceptable terms and when needed, the accuracy of the Company's resource estimates and geological, operational and price assumptions on which these are based and the continuance of the regulatory framework regarding environmental manners. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions that may have been used. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/274986

FAQ

Who is Vienna Psihos and what role did Avalon name her to on November 18, 2025?

Vienna Psihos was appointed Manager, Public Affairs & Government Relations at Avalon on November 18, 2025.

What government experience does Avalon’s new manager Vienna Psihos have?

She served in a senior policy role at the Government of Ontario's Treasury Board Secretariat and supported the 2025-2026 Budget communications.

How will Vienna Psihos support Avalon Advanced Materials (AVLNF)?

She will strengthen government relationships, support public affairs and communications, and advance Avalon’s critical minerals projects in Canada.

Does Vienna Psihos have experience with mining sector stakeholders mentioned by Avalon?

Yes; her background includes advising mining and infrastructure companies and work tied to Glencore Canada and Wyloo's Ring of Fire initiatives.

What qualifications does Vienna Psihos hold as listed by Avalon?

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto.