Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) appointed Christopher Senyk as Vice President, Corporate Development, according to a company statement.

Senyk will support corporate strategy, strategic partnership development, and business development initiatives as the company advances its critical minerals portfolio. His responsibilities include supporting financing opportunities, offtake and supply discussions, customer relationships, and government engagement across Avalon's lithium, rare earth elements, and critical minerals platform.

Based in Chicago, Senyk brings experience from Rio Tinto's battery materials and borates strategy, along with prior roles at Celanese Corporation, FMC Corporation's lithium business, and Livent Corporation. His background spans specialty chemicals, energy storage, lithium, and mineral products.

Senyk's location will support Avalon's expanded U.S. market engagement, including interaction with customers, strategic partners, government stakeholders, and industry participants across battery materials, defense, clean technology, and critical minerals supply chains.

"Chris joins Avalon at an important stage in the Company's evolution as we advance our critical minerals platform from technical development toward commercial partnerships, customer engagement, and strategic financing," said Scott Monteith, President and CEO of Avalon.

Avalon is developing the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements and Zirconium Project in the Northwest Territories and focusing on vertically integrating Ontario's lithium supply chain through Lake Superior Lithium Inc., a midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility in Thunder Bay.