Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, April 11, 2016 – Lee Barker, MSc (applied), PEng, PGeol, has joined Gem International Resources Inc.’s technical advisory committee as a consultant. He will advise management and the exploration and productions teams formed to explore and develop the company’s mineral properties.

Currently president and chief executive officer of Sparton Resources Inc., a public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, Mr. Barker has over 50 years experience in the resource sector and has held senior management positions in several junior and major mining companies, where he was involved in the discovery and development of a number of base, precious metal and industrial mineral deposits, including diamonds.

Between 1990 and 2007, Mr. Barker was closely involved in the exploration, discovery, evaluation and development programs of significant diamond deposits in Canada, South Africa, Angola and parts of South America. He initiated and supervised the early exploration program at the Diavik project near Lac de Gras in the Northwest Territories, which led to the discovery of over 60 kimberlite bodies. Diavik is now one of the world’s premier diamond producers and Canada’s richest diamond mine.

Mr. Barker also has extensive experience in exploration, development and production of alluvial and kimberlite-hosted diamond deposits in Europe and South America. As well, in sub-Saharan Africa, he has explored for and developed deposits in Angola, South Africa, DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Zambia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Namibia.

In the Lunda provinces of Angola, Mr. Barker acted as project manager and consultant to several kimberlite and alluvial diamond evaluation and production operations. These include Chiri, Catoca, Luo, Camafuca, Camutue, Luarica and Cassanguidi, where he has advised various clients, including Ascorp, the Angola diamond-selling organization.

“I am confident that Mr. Barker, with his wealth of knowledge and expertise in all aspects of the diamond pipeline and extensive operating experience, will provide the company with the additional talent that the company needs for developing its projects,” said Simon Tam, chief executive officer and director of the company.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Gem International Resources Inc.

“Simon Tam”
Simon Tam, CEO and Director

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