David Kong has served on our Board of Directors since January 2011 and served as our lead independent director from June 2016 to May 2024. Mr. Kong serves as Chairperson of our Audit Committee and is a member of our Compensation Committee, our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and our Sustainability Committee. Mr. Kong has also served as a director of GoldMining Inc., a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX ) and the NYSE American since October 2010, as a director of Silvercorp Metals Inc., a public company listed on the TSX and the NYSE American, from November 2011 to September 2023, and as a director of New Pacific Metals Corp., a public company listed on the TSX and the NYSE American, from November 2010 to December 2022. Mr. Kong holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and earned his Chartered Accountant designation (CPA, CA) in British Columbia, Canada, in 1978. Mr. Kong was a partner at Ellis Foster, Chartered Accountants, from 1981 to 2004, before merging with EY (formerly Ernst & Young LLP), Chartered Professional Accountants, in 2005, where he was a partner until 2010. Mr. Kong is a certified director (ICD.D) of the Institute of Corporate Directors. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Kong should serve as a director given his business experience and specialized expertise in finance and accounting.