LEADERSHIP
Management Team
Helena Psihos
Digital Marketing Manager
Melisa Armand
Executive Assistant
Scott Monteith is an experienced CEO with a successful 30-year track record of moving clean and industrial technology from ideation to commercial success. Mr. Monteith has extensive international experience in the areas of team building, biofuel refining, petrochemical refinery decarbonization, water treatment system manufacturing, research & development, strategic alliance formation, and government affairs.
Mr. Monteith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University and has been a member of the Young President’s Organization for over 20 years.
Lorin Crenshaw was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. in August 2025. He brings nearly 30 years of diversified financial experience, with deep expertise in capital markets, investor relations, and strategic leadership in the lithium and broader critical minerals industry. He also spent over a decade as a Wall Street investor.
Prior to joining Avalon, Mr. Crenshaw served as CFO of Compass Minerals International, Inc., a global provider of essential minerals, and as CFO of Orion S.A., a leading supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black. Earlier in his career, he held senior financial roles at Albemarle Corporation, including CFO of its global lithium business, treasurer, and head of investor relations. He began his career as an equity investor with Citigroup Asset Management and as a debt investor with Prudential Capital Group.
Mr. Crenshaw holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Florida A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University.
Vienna Psihos is a government relations and strategic communications professional with deep experience navigating the intersection of public policy, regulatory decision-making, and industry priorities across Ontario’s critical minerals, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors.
Vienna joined Avalon following her role as Deputy Director of Policy at Ontario’s Treasury Board Secretariat, where she contributed to major provincial funding and policy decisions and helped shape the strategy for the 2025–26 Ontario Budget. In this capacity, she oversaw work across some of Ontario’s largest spending portfolios, spanning capital, operating, and program expenditures.
Previously, Vienna advised clients across the mining, energy, transportation, and infrastructure sectors as a Government Relations and Communications Associate at Sussex Strategy Group. She partnered with executive teams to design integrated public affairs and communications strategies. Recognized for her ability to manage complex issues, build strategic relationships, and align corporate objectives with evolving government priorities, Vienna brings a results-driven approach to Avalon’s public affairs, corporate communications and government advocacy.
Crystal Yi Gordon is Director, Accounting & Financial Reporting at Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., where she is responsible for the Company’s financial reporting, disclosure, and internal control functions, as well as treasury, budgeting, and financial planning and analysis.
Ms. Gordon has more than 20 years of international finance leadership experience across public companies, private equity-backed businesses, and global operations. She previously held senior finance roles with Century Iron Mines Corporation and IAMGOLD Corporation, where she was responsible for financial reporting, corporate governance, and public disclosure.
Prior to joining Avalon, she served as Head of Finance at Wisdom Educational Products Group, where she led financial strategy across North America, Asia, and Europe, and supported the company’s growth through M&A and international expansion.
Bliss Baker is a Strategic Advisor, Public Affairs at Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., where he supports government relations and strategic public policy initiatives.
Bliss has over 30 years of experience as an innovator, practitioner, and commentator in the public affairs arena, both domestically and internationally. He has advised two Prime Ministers, numerous Ministers, and Members of Parliament and Cabinet, and has served as a senior advisor to several elected officials, including as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
His private sector experience includes senior executive roles in the banking, renewables, and pipeline industries. He has spearheaded several successful campaigns, including rewriting Canada’s biofuels policies, advancing changes to multiple mining regulations, supporting the passage of environmental legislation, and contributing to tax reform in the manufacturing sector.
Glen Smith, P.Eng., is Project Director, Refinery Feasibility & Construction at Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. With more than 35 years of experience across the metallurgical, petrochemical, and nuclear industries, Glen brings extensive expertise in process design, process control, plant operations, and project execution. His career spans engineering studies, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, brownfield and greenfield project development, plant commissioning, and operational optimization across projects in Canada, the United States, South America, Africa, Oceania, and Asia.
Prior to joining Avalon, Glen served as Director, Project Execution at NiVolt Technologies, where he supported pre-feasibility and feasibility studies and technical programs related to battery materials production. He has also held senior engineering and operational leadership roles with Sherritt Technologies and Dynatec Madagascar, where he led engineering teams and supported and oversaw major project studies, as well as refinery operations and process technology programs. Glen brings deep experience in advancing complex industrial and metallurgical processing projects through development and operations.
Alan Ferry has been an independent businessperson since 2007, following a 28 year career in the investment industry as a mining analyst and mining corporate finance specialist. Mr. Ferry holds a B.Sc. in Geological Sciences from Queen’s University (1977) and a Chartered Financial Analyst designation (retired). Mr. Ferry has been a director of Avalon since 2000, and is past Chair of Plateau Energy Metals Inc.
Chair of the Audit Committee
Member of the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee
Timothy Haig is a successful entrepreneur, specifically in the renewable fuels and cleantech industrial area, who has not only taken an idea from lab to publicly traded company also a visionary and strategic leader who has helped forge an industry. A strong leader with proven ability to assemble capable and motivated teams. Has a reputation of not being able to hear ‘No’ and finding ways to get things done. Dedicated to maintaining a reputation of integrity and honesty and uncompromising ethics.
Flavio Hees is the Vice-President of Geology and Mining for Sibelco. He currently manages over 130 mines across five core minerals, focusing on long-term strategies that optimize the use of mining assets while ensuring compliance in reporting mineral resources and reserves. His commitment to sustaining the life of the mine reflects his dedication to responsible mining practices. With experience in soil and rock mechanics, he advises executives and board members on the best practices to ensure the safety operations of long-term mining plan. Flavio is a highly experienced geologist with a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering and extensive expertise in industrial minerals. A proponent of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, Flavio actively engages with local communities, believing that mining operations can coexist with nature while minimizing environmental impacts and creating opportunities.
Naomi Johnson is a global CSR executive, international development specialist and lawyer. Ms. Johnson lends a diverse and holistic perspective to approaching stakeholder risk and impact management. She has extensive experience leading on-site teams in challenging jurisdictions, including projects in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Dominican Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, India, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea. Ms. Johnson has held the position of VP, Community Relations at Titan Mining Corporation since 2018. Previously, she was with Barrick Gold (2008-2017), ultimately serving as Partner & Senior Director – Community Relations.
Ms. Johnson is a graduate of King’s College University (BA International Development) and Ottawa University (LL.B, 1998). She is called to the Bar in Ontario (2000). Ms. Johnson joined Avalon’s Board of Directors in September 2019.
Chair of the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee
Alec Kodatsky has been a financial industry professional for over 20 years. He has spent the past six years as a founding member and Co-President of Forthlane Partners, a family office investment firm based in Toronto. Prior to this he spent nearly 15 years as an institutional equity research analyst at both global and domestic banks covering the mining sector. He has received several industry awards: recognized as Canada’s Top Stock Picker – Large Cap by StarMine in 2006 and ranked “Top Gun Analyst” by Brendan Wood International several times. He is a mining engineer by trade and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from Queen’s University and MBA from the Schulich School of Business.
Harvey Yesno is a member and former Chief of the Eabametoong First Nation located at Fort Hope, ON. Mr. Yesno served as Chief for six terms from 1977 to 1991 and one further term from 2019-21. He also served as Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (Treaty #9 and #5) from 2012-15. From 1993 to 2010 he served as President & CEO of Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (“NADF”). NADF is a non-profit Indigenous financial institution that supports Indigenous business and economic development in Northern Ontario. From 2011-2012, Mr. Yesno served as Director of Community Relations for Ontario’s Ring of Fire Secretariat.
Mark N.J. Ashcroft, P.Eng, is a seasoned professional in the mining, resource and finance sectors with a legacy as a sixth-generation miner, who first went underground at 12 years old. Beginning his career underground in Thompson, MB, he later earned an engineering degree and gained extensive experience across North and South America and Australia. He has held roles in mining operations, corporate development, and finance, including President and CEO of Stonegate Agricom, where he managed a pivotal $51.75 million IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Currently, he is the CEO of Aurelius Minerals Inc., focusing on gold projects in Nova Scotia and Ontario.
Mark’s background includes investment banking and corporate finance positions in London, New York, and Toronto at firms like Barclays Capital, Standard Bank, Versant Partners, and Toll Cross Securities, dealing primarily with resource companies. He has served on various public mining and exploration boards, advising on governance and capital markets. Mark is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario, and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining Engineering from Laurentian University and a Master of Science in Finance, Regulation, and Risk Management from the University of Reading..
Cindy Hu joined Avalon in 2007. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Hu was a senior manager with the accounting firm Andersen & Company Professional Corporation. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of experience in public accounting practice and financial reporting, primarily for junior public companies and private wealth management portfolios.
MS. Hu earned her B.Com from Laurentian University in 1996.