The New Gold Standard: Why a Comms VP is Westhaven's Key Asset

VANCOUVER, BC – November 27, 2025

In the capital-intensive world of junior mining, the value of a company is often measured in ounces of gold and the grade of its drill cores. But as the sector navigates a period of unprecedented opportunity, a new, less tangible asset is proving just as critical: the power of a compelling narrative. Westhaven Gold Corp.’s latest strategic move—the appointment of veteran communicator Kaeli Gattens as Vice President, Communications—is a clear signal that for companies on the cusp of major development, storytelling is as valuable as the gold they seek to extract.

The announcement, effective December 1, 2025, goes far beyond a standard personnel update. It represents a deliberate pivot for a company that holds one of British Columbia’s more promising gold projects. As gold prices shatter records, touching $3,800 per ounce, the race is on not just to find deposits, but to secure the capital needed to build the mines. For Westhaven, with its flagship Shovelnose project moving towards the development stage, Gattens' appointment is a calculated investment in bridging the gap between geological potential and market confidence.

Beyond the Drill Core: The Strategic Value of a Narrative

For junior explorers, the journey from discovery to production is a perilous one, littered with financing gaps and fluctuating investor sentiment. While strong technical data is the foundation, it's no longer enough. In today’s crowded market, the ability to articulate a clear, convincing vision is what separates stalled projects from emerging producers. This is the challenge Westhaven now faces, and where Gattens’ role becomes central.

Ken Armstrong, Westhaven's CEO, noted that the hire is part of a broader effort "to strengthen and refresh its corporate and technical management team." He highlighted Gattens' role in leading "the development and execution of a new strategic communications program." This isn't just about issuing press releases; it's about building a comprehensive narrative that resonates with a diverse audience of retail investors, institutional funds, and strategic partners. With a background spanning nearly 15 years in the global metals and mining sector, from giants like Goldcorp to digital innovators like VRIFY, Gattens brings a playbook that extends well beyond traditional investor relations.

The timing aligns with a significant corporate refresh at Westhaven, which has recently seen changes in its CEO, CFO, and VP of Exploration. This new leadership team is now tasked with navigating the company's most critical phase. The successful execution of their strategy hinges on their ability to communicate progress, de-risk the project in the eyes of the market, and ultimately, secure the significant funding required to turn Shovelnose into an operating mine.

Unlocking Shovelnose: Translating Geology into Investor Dollars

At the heart of Westhaven's story is the Shovelnose Gold project. Located just 2.5 hours from Vancouver along the Coquihalla Highway, the project boasts not only promising geology but also crucial infrastructure advantages like direct road and power access—factors that significantly lower development hurdles and costs.

The project's potential was quantified in a March 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), which presented a compelling business case. The report outlined an 11-year underground mine with an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of Cdn$454 million and a robust Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 43.2%. With a projected initial capital expenditure of Cdn$184 million and an impressively low All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of US$836 per ounce, Shovelnose stands out as a high-margin, low-cost opportunity.

However, a PEA, no matter how positive, is a technical document. Its true power lies in its translation into a tangible investment thesis. This is the core of the communications challenge. The task is to take complex data points—like mine production grades of 5.26 g/t gold and metallurgical recoveries of 91.5%—and weave them into a narrative of a low-risk, high-return project in a Tier-1 jurisdiction. Gattens’ mandate will be to ensure that the financial community fully grasps the economic engine described in the PEA and the significant exploration upside that remains across Westhaven's extensive land package in the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. The company's recent 6,202-metre drill program, which more than doubled its initial plans, confirmed existing resource models and validated new exploration targets, adding another chapter to this unfolding story.

A Modern Toolkit for a Traditional Industry

What makes Gattens’ appointment particularly noteworthy is her distinctly modern skillset. Her career trajectory demonstrates a deep understanding of how technology and sophisticated communication strategies are transforming the mining industry. Her experience at VRIFY, a technology company that uses 3D models to help mining companies communicate their projects, and her time as Manager of Communications at Finning Digital, point to a proficiency in leveraging digital tools to enhance investor engagement.

Furthermore, her six-year tenure at Goldcorp included a secondment as a Change Management Lead in Mexico, supporting the adoption of centralized technology systems. This experience, combined with her ProSci® Change Management certification, is invaluable for a company like Westhaven that is undergoing significant internal evolution. Her previous role as Director, ESG at JDS Energy & Mining also signals an awareness of the growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria for modern investors.

This background suggests Westhaven is preparing to deploy a more dynamic and data-driven communications strategy. This could involve everything from sophisticated digital presentations and strategic social media engagement to a more robust ESG reporting framework—all designed to build a deeper, more transparent relationship with the market.

A New Voice in a Favorable Market

Westhaven’s strategic hire is amplified by the powerful tailwinds in the gold market. With gold prices at historic highs, investor appetite for junior miners has surged, reflected in the triple-digit gains of the VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF and the strong performance of the TSX Venture Exchange’s mining sector. This bull market creates an ideal window for companies with advanced-stage projects to secure funding.

However, this rising tide also brings heightened competition. Every junior explorer is vying for a slice of the available capital. In this environment, a strong corporate identity and a clear, consistently communicated message become powerful differentiators. Gattens' leadership, including her past service as a Director of Women in Mining British Columbia, also contributes to building a forward-looking corporate profile that can appeal to a broader and more progressive investor base.

By bringing in a communications leader with a track record of enhancing brand visibility and strengthening investor engagement, Westhaven is not just adding a new executive. It is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on a generational opportunity in the gold market, ensuring its compelling geological story is heard loud and clear by those who can write the checks to build British Columbia’s next gold mine.