Santana Minerals Limited announced that Damian Spring has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective 1 July 2023. Mr. Spring was appointed as the Company's General Manager New Zealand commencing January 2023. Since that time he has successfully lead the Company's New Zealand activities, advancing all facets of the Company's Bendigo-Ophir gold project.

The Company appoints Mr. Spring to the role of Chief Executive Officer as the Company progresses exploration and infill drilling, resource definition and technical and environmental studies in preparation for the development of the Project into a long life, environmentlally sustainable mining operation. Mr. Spring holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from the University of Auckland and is a chartered professional member of Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) as well as holding a First Class Mine Manager certificate in New Zealand. He has spent many years as a consultant or employee in the gold and base metals sectors in New Zealand, Australia Argentina and Mexico.

In his his most recent role prior to joining Santana, Damian held a senior management postion at Bathurst Resources (ASX-BRL) where he acquired experience integrating the key areas of the environment, community, iwi and regulatory compliance matters, with mine development projects in New Zealand. The Board is delighted that Damian has accepted its offer to the position of Chief Executive Officer and notes that since commencing as General Manager of Operations in January, Damian has demonstrated a high degree of competence across the various workstreams required to advance the Bendigo-Ophir Project to its full potential of being a world class, long-life, environmentally sustainable mining operation. The Board has confidence that Damian, supported by his dedicated management team, can rapidly progress the Project through its scoping, feasibility and permitting phases to deliver material value for shareholders and other stakeholders.