West Hawk Development Corp.: Appointment of Independent Director

DENVER, COLORADO–(EMWNews – July 16, 2008) – West Hawk Development Corp. (TSX VENTURE:WHD)(FRANKFURT:H5N) (“West Hawk” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Mr. Fabio Capponi from Endeavour Financial has been appointed to the Board of Directors of West Hawk as an independent Director. Mr. Capponi is currently an external consultant with Endeavour Financial and works in the area of mergers and acquisitions. He has also held the positions of VP Business Development and Director of Sardinia Energy, a subsidiary of Adobe Ventures Inc. (now Coalcorp Mining Inc.). He has direct coal mining and coal gasification experience and knowledge. Mr. Capponi has developed his career working in Europe, Latin America and North America.

“Mr. Capponi has outstanding skills in business and acclaimed acumen in business structures. It is a great pleasure to have him on the Board of Directors of West Hawk,” said Dr. Wm. Mark Hart, President and CEO of West Hawk.

The Board of Directors of West Hawk has approved 100,000 stock options (the “Options”) for Mr. Capponi. The Options are exercisable for a five year period at an exercise price of C$0.24. The Options, while reserved, are subject to shareholder approval of West Hawk’s expanded Option Plan at the next Annual General Meeting. The Options are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”) and will also be subject to a four month plus a day hold period starting from the date of issue pursuant to the policies of the Exchange.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Wm. Mark Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer

About the Company: West Hawk Development Corp. is focused on providing valuable, high-demand energy products from a variety of sources. Assets include the Figure Four natural gas property located in the Piceance Basin, Colorado, being developed under a drilling and development agreement; the Groundhog coal property located in northwest British Columbia; the Tulita coal property located in the Northwest Territories; and the Ellesmere Island, Nunavut Territory coal property.

Cautionary Note: This news release contains forward looking statements, particularly those regarding cash flow, capital expenditures and investment plans. Resource estimates, unless specially noted, are considered speculative. The Company has filed a National Instrument 51-101 Report on the Figure Four property. The Company has filed National Instrument 43-101 Reports for each of the Groundhog coal property in British Columbia, the Tulita coal property in the Northwest Territories, and the Nunavut coal property. Any and all other resource or reserve estimates are historical in nature, and should not be relied upon. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on factors that will or may occur in the future. Actual results may vary depending upon exploration and development activities, industry production, commodity demand and pricing, currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to, general economic factors. Cautionary note to U.S. investors: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of certain terms, such as “reserves” unless such figures are based upon actual production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not yet reviewed and does not take responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.