What Kevin O’Kane’s appointment as COO means for Northisle’s North Island Project and its path to pre-feasibility success

Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. (TSX-V: NCX) has appointed Kevin O’Kane as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, marking a pivotal leadership shift as the Vancouver-based copper and gold development company accelerates the advancement of its flagship North Island Project in British Columbia. O’Kane, who will retain his position on the company’s board of directors, steps into an expanded operational role with immediate effect.

In parallel, Nicholas Van Dyk has been promoted to Executive Vice President while continuing in his roles as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Meanwhile, Robin Tolbert, who has served as Chief Geoscientist for the past four years, will retire on September 13, 2025, and remain an advisor to the company during the leadership transition. The board has appointed Alex Davidson to replace O’Kane on its Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, as O’Kane no longer qualifies as an independent director.

These appointments underscore Northisle’s transition from an exploration-driven junior to a development-stage copper-gold company. With a pre-feasibility study underway and exploration activity continuing across its extensive Vancouver Island land package, Northisle is strengthening its operational and technical leadership bench in preparation for its next major phase of growth.

Why is Northisle Copper and Gold reinforcing its leadership team with operational depth in 2025?

Northisle’s elevation of Kevin O’Kane to Chief Operating Officer comes as the company advances its North Island Project into pre-feasibility, requiring tight execution, strong stakeholder alignment, and permitting readiness. Kevin O’Kane brings over 40 years of mining industry experience, including 37 years at BHP Billiton where he held senior roles across major copper assets such as Spence, Cerro Colorado, and Minera Escondida.

Most recently, O’Kane served as Executive Vice President and COO of SSR Mining Inc. from 2018 to 2020. During his tenure, SSR Mining achieved record production at all three of its operating mines and completed its transformational merger with Alacer Gold. His background in health, safety, environmental stewardship, and community relations further aligns with the increasing emphasis on ESG-driven development in Canada’s mining sector.

Northisle President and CEO Sam Lee said O’Kane’s appointment would help the company execute its strategic vision with operational rigor, adding that his continued role as Chair of the Technical and Sustainability Committee ensures integration between board governance and execution in the field.

How does Kevin O’Kane’s connection to northern Vancouver Island support project delivery?

Kevin O’Kane began his mining career at the Island Copper Mine, located adjacent to Northisle’s North Island Project, where he eventually became Chief Mining Engineer. This long-standing connection to the region provides him with a nuanced understanding of the local geological, regulatory, and community landscape—assets considered invaluable as Northisle ramps up engagement with North Island First Nations, local governments, and stakeholders.

In a statement, O’Kane expressed enthusiasm about returning to a region where his career began, noting his commitment to building a project that incorporates sustainable development principles and reflects the values of local communities. His unique blend of global operating expertise and local roots makes him a strategic asset as Northisle enters a permitting-intensive stage of development.

What other executive changes did Northisle announce to support its growth phase?

The appointment of Nicholas Van Dyk as Executive Vice President further bolsters Northisle’s leadership team. Van Dyk, who continues to serve as CFO and Corporate Secretary, has been instrumental in shaping the company’s financing strategy, corporate development, and governance framework. Sam Lee credited Van Dyk for his role in positioning Northisle for its next stage of growth, noting the collaborative leadership dynamic between Van Dyk and O’Kane.

Meanwhile, Robin Tolbert’s retirement marks the end of a successful chapter in Northisle’s exploration journey. Tolbert played a central role in shaping the technical work underpinning the 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and advancing exploration across the company’s extensive land package. His continued role as an advisor ensures knowledge continuity through the pre-feasibility process.

The company also announced that Alex Davidson has been appointed to the Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee following O’Kane’s transition out of that role.

Where does the North Island Project currently stand within the Canadian copper sector?

Northisle’s North Island Project spans more than 34,000 hectares along a 50-kilometre mineralized trend on northern Vancouver Island. The project is 100% owned and located near the closed Island Copper Mine operated historically by BHP Billiton. Its scale, accessibility, and geological potential place it among the most advanced undeveloped copper-gold porphyry systems in British Columbia.

In 2022, Northisle released an updated PEA highlighting an open-pit operation with a mine life exceeding 20 years. The study projected favorable post-tax economics and competitive all-in sustaining costs, assuming long-term copper and gold price assumptions in line with current consensus. Since then, the company has been fully funded through pre-feasibility, with active exploration continuing across the broader land package.

The North Island Project’s location within a Tier-1 jurisdiction, coupled with access to existing infrastructure and deepwater port facilities, positions it competitively alongside other advanced-stage Canadian copper juniors such as Western Copper and Gold and Kutcho Copper.

How are institutional stakeholders interpreting these leadership transitions?

Institutional sentiment around copper exploration and development companies has shifted toward projects with long-term scalability, regulatory clarity, and experienced management. The addition of Kevin O’Kane signals a move toward execution readiness and reduces perceived risk associated with operational delivery. Market observers have noted that Northisle’s governance and executive reshuffling could increase investor confidence in the company’s ability to secure long-term financing, navigate permitting, and build ESG-aligned partnerships.

By retaining CFO Nicholas Van Dyk and adding a globally seasoned operations leader like O’Kane, Northisle has created a leadership structure that bridges financial strategy with on-the-ground project delivery. This combination may prove valuable as the company enters discussions around offtake agreements, infrastructure partnerships, and potential joint venture structures.

What milestones should investors and stakeholders watch for in the next 12 months?

With the pre-feasibility study already underway, Northisle is expected to deliver several key milestones by mid-to-late 2026. These include completion of mine design and metallurgical test work, advancement of environmental baseline studies, formal engagement with North Island First Nations and regulators, and progress on infrastructure optimization strategies.

Other priorities include evaluating potential offtake and downstream partnerships, as well as refining the capital structure needed to support a future construction decision. Kevin O’Kane’s onboarding is likely to accelerate progress across all technical fronts, while Nicholas Van Dyk continues to oversee funding, stakeholder relations, and regulatory disclosures.

Should these milestones progress as expected, Northisle could emerge as one of the few Canadian copper juniors entering a fully permitted, construction-ready status in the latter half of the decade.