Lithium Africa Strengthens Technical Leadership Team with Appointment of Dr. Rachel Hampton as Vice President of Exploration

Executive Summary

• Lithium Africa Corp. has appointed Dr. Rachel Hampton as Vice President of Exploration, effective May 29, 2026.
• Dr. Hampton will oversee exploration programs in Côte d'Ivoire (Adzopé Project) and South Africa (Springbok Project).
• Ben Gelber will transition from his role as VP of Exploration to serve as a consultant for the Company.

Key Details

• New Appointment: Dr. Rachel Hampton, Vice President of Exploration.
• Effective Date: May 29, 2026.
• Scope of Responsibility: Oversight of the Adzopé Project (Côte d'Ivoire) and the Springbok Project (South Africa).
• Equity Compensation: Dr. Hampton will be granted 200,000 restricted share units (RSUs) upon commencement of her appointment.
• Professional Background: Dr. Hampton joins from KoBold Metals; her previous experience includes work with Lithium Americas Corp. and expertise in machine learning workflows for lithium target generation across brines, volcano-sedimentary, and pegmatite deposits.
• Personnel Transition: Ben Gelber is transitioning from VP of Exploration to a consultant role.

Notable Quotes

"I have known Rachel for over a decade, and what sets her apart is the way she works — translating sharp observations in the field into the data-driven algorithms that point us to the next discovery, with an energy that pulls teams along with her. Bringing that approach to our African portfolio is exactly what this stage of the Company requires." — Dr. Thomas Benson, Director

"Rachel is a powerful addition to the strong African geological team we already have on the ground, and her arrival comes at the right moment as we expand our exploration footprint across the continent. We are delighted to welcome her to Lithium Africa." — Tyron Breytenbach, CEO