Mr. John Karagiannidis reports

QIMC APPOINTS ENBRIDGE GAZ QUEBEC PRESIDENT JEAN-BENOIT TRAHAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. has appointed Jean-Benoit Trahan, president of Enbridge Gaz Quebec, to its board of directors, effective June 11, 2026.

The appointment comes at a pivotal stage in Quebec Innovative's evolution as the company advances from natural clean hydrogen exploration toward project development, infrastructure planning and potential market integration opportunities across its portfolio in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and the United States.

Appointment highlights

Senior utility leadership: Mr. Trahan is president of Enbridge Gaz Quebec, one of Quebec's natural gas distributors, where he has served for nearly 12 years.

Deep regulatory expertise: Mr. Trahan's prior roles with the Regie de l'energie and Gaz Metro, specializing in energy regulation, tariff design and utility economics, are directly relevant as Quebec Innovative engages with permitting and regulatory frameworks for natural hydrogen.

Hydrogen and decarbonization record: Over the past seven years, Mr. Trahan has helped lead the decarbonization of Quebec's gas distribution network, including renewable natural gas deployment, a major residual hydrogen distribution project and the development of a large-scale district energy network serving significant portions of the city of Gatineau.

Commercialization perspective: Mr. Trahan has experience bringing innovative energy solutions into regulated markets, supporting Quebec Innovative's planning for potential infrastructure, market integration and development pathways.

A strategic addition at a key inflection point

An economist and MBA graduate, Mr. Trahan brings board-level expertise in energy infrastructure, gas distribution networks, hydrogen integration, utility regulation and energy markets. Throughout his career, he has also served as an energy consultant on projects across Quebec, Canada, and Africa, contributing to the establishment of regulatory authorities, and providing expertise in economic regulation, energy policy and utility pricing.

With multiple exploration programs completed and drilling and evaluation activities ongoing, Quebec Innovative is increasingly focused on the technical, regulatory, infrastructure and commercialization considerations required to support potential natural clean hydrogen resource development. Mr. Trahan's appointment strengthens the company's governance and strategic expertise in each of these areas while complementing the board's existing technical and geological strengths.

The appointment reflects Quebec Innovative's continued commitment to strengthening its governance and strategic leadership as the company advances its natural hydrogen initiatives across North America. As the natural hydrogen sector continues to evolve, the company believes that expertise spanning energy infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and hydrogen integration will be increasingly important to evaluating future development opportunities.

Management commentary

John Karagiannidis, chief executive officer and chairman of Quebec Innovative, commented:

"We are delighted to welcome Jean-Benoit to QIMC's board of directors at this important stage in the company's growth. As QIMC advances beyond exploration, Jean-Benoit brings a rare combination of expertise in energy infrastructure, utility operations, regulatory affairs, hydrogen integration and energy markets.

"His leadership at the forefront of Quebec's evolving energy landscape -- including initiatives involving renewable gases, hydrogen distribution and large-scale energy infrastructure -- will provide valuable strategic insight as we continue to develop our natural hydrogen portfolio. As natural hydrogen emerges as a potentially important component of North America's energy mix, we believe Jean-Benoit's experience in regulated energy systems and decarbonization initiatives will further strengthen our board and support the company's long-term growth objectives.

"His appointment reflects our commitment to building a board with the expertise required to guide QIMC through its next phase of growth."

Mr. Trahan stated:

"QIMC has established itself as an innovator in the emerging natural clean hydrogen sector through its scientific approach, technical capabilities and growing portfolio of advanced projects. Natural clean hydrogen has the potential to become an important component of North America's energy transition, and I look forward to working with the board and management team as the company advances its projects and development opportunities."

About Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.

Quebec Innovative is a North American exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of natural hydrogen and critical mineral projects. The company is advancing its district-scale hydrogen exploration model across Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Minnesota through the application of its proprietary R2G2 framework.

Quebec Innovative is focused on responsible exploration, technical innovation and the advancement of natural hydrogen opportunities that may contribute to future clean-energy development initiatives.

We seek Safe Harbor.