Hearts & Mines

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David Beilby speaks with Marnie Finlayson, Managing Director of ASX-listed uranium explorer DevEx Resources. A minerals processing engineer by training, Marnie spent 17 years at Rio Tinto across iron ore, gold, uranium, battery metals and rare earths, culminating in the role of Managing Director of the company's battery materials business, and played a key ro...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by co-host Gail Triston to speak with Debra Bakker, professional non-executive director sitting on the boards of IGO and Yancoal. A former corporate banker turned career NED, Debra has spent decades navigating boardrooms, project financing, M&A transactions, and corporate strategy across the resources sector. This is a candid, wide-ranging...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David sits down with Allan Feinberg, MD of Remsmart, a remuneration and reward strategy consultant with more than 20 years of experience advising boards, REM committees, and HR executives with a particular focus on the mining industry. Far more than a conversation about pay structures, this is a masterclass in understanding what truly drives people, builds tr...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David sits down with Darren Stralow, MD & CEO of Bellevue Gold. Over four years, Darren has led Bellevue through one of the most ambitious journeys in modern Australian mining, from exploration project to the world's first net zero gold producer, built from the ground up as a single-asset company. Far more than a gold story, this conversation is a masterc...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David sits down with Trevor Nisbett, former CEO of The West Coast Eagles and leading businessman. Over more than two decades at the helm, Trevor transformed the Eagles from a financially troubled interstate newcomer into one of the AFL's most commercially successful clubs, competing in five grand finals and winning four premierships. Far more than a football...

In this episode of Hearts & Minds, we speak with Mia Gous, Regional Operations Manager at First Quantum Minerals. Mia is an accomplished engineer with extensive global experience, famously serving as the first female General Manager in Chile’s large-scale mining sector. She shares powerful reflections on leading through the COVID-19 pandemic and her journey across diverse cultures, commodities...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, we speak with Matt Nixon, CEO of Genesis Minerals. Matt is a mining engineer with around 20 years’ experience across operational, technical and executive roles in both underground and open pit mining. He shares insights from his journey through the industry and discusses the strategy behind Genesis Minerals’ growth as a gold producer in Western Australia’s La...

In this episode, we sit down with Tim Hewitt, Chief Operating Officer of Ramelius Resources, to discuss what it takes to scale a Western Australian gold producer toward 500,000 ounces by 2030. A mining engineer with more than 30 years’ experience, Tim shares leadership insights from senior roles at Lihir Gold, St Barbara, Newmont and Gold Fields. The conversation explores operational leadership, g...

In this episode, we speak with Scott Williamson, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Gold, where he is leading the development of the Gum Creek Project. Scott also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Leeuwin Metals and Corazon Mining. With previous roles as Managing Director of Blackstone Minerals, Investor Relations Manager at Resolute Mining, and Resources Analyst at Euroz...

In this episode, we speak with Peter Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of Mount Gibson Iron, who brings more than 25 years of mining leadership experience across Australia and Canada. Having held senior roles in gold, uranium, base metals and iron ore, Peter shares practical insights on leadership impact, stakeholder engagement and building resilient organisational cultures. Recorded prior to the Kool...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, we speak with Derek La Ferla, one of Australia’s most respected ASX 200 chairs and company directors. With more than 30 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer, Derek brings a deep perspective shaped by capital markets, government and industry leadership. A former Chair of Panoramic Nickel and Sandfire Resources, Derek now chairs Greenpeak Energy, Chalice Min...

Our guest today is Fiona Blakely, Chief People Officer at Arafura Rare Earths and an organisational psychologist with more than 30 years’ multinational, multi-sector experience in culture and organisational design. Fiona’s career includes senior roles at OZ Minerals, Shell, Bausch & Lomb and Lion, shaping her deep interest in systems leadership and how organisations create cultures that endure...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, we sit down with David Boshoff, a mining leader with more than 20 years of experience across iron ore, coal, and industrial minerals. David shares insights from his career in South Africa and Australia, including developing major assets, delivering large capital projects, and leading high-performing teams. Now Managing Director of BCI Minerals, he discusses s...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, we sit down with Ian Murray, a seasoned mining executive and company director with more than 25 years’ experience in South Africa and Australia. From his early leadership of DRDGOLD to steering Gold Road Resources through its transformation into a leading gold producer, Ian shares insights on growth, governance, and guiding companies through change. Now servi...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, we sit down with Tommy McKeith, a seasoned mining executive with over 30 years’ experience across geology, exploration, business development, and leadership. From leading international growth at Gold Fields to shaping the direction of companies like Evolution Mining, Arrow Minerals, Thungela Resources, and Ordell Minerals, Tommy brings deep insight into what...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, we welcome Jordan Morrissey, General Manager People at Perseus Mining. With leadership roles spanning sustainability, people, and culture, Jordan brings rare insight into building strong teams and resilient workplaces across complex international operations. Perseus Mining, listed on the ASX and TSX, is Australia’s largest gold producer in Africa, and Jordan...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, Warren Pearce, CEO of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC), shares his mission to make Australia the best place in the world to explore and mine. From reducing regulatory barriers to lowering business costs and unlocking new opportunities, Warren is at the forefront of shaping policy and driving growth for the sector. Tune in to hear how...

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, we sit down with Ron Mitchell, a global commercial and business development executive with 25+ years across mining, manufacturing, renewables, and government. Ron brings deep expertise in lithium mining, battery materials, and EV supply chains— sharing insights on leadership, global partnerships, and building strategic collaboration across the clean energy se...

Our guest is Duncan Gibbs, Managing Director and CEO of Gold Road Resources. With more than 35 years of mining industry experience, Duncan shares insights into leading one of Australia’s largest gold operations, the world-class Gruyere mine. We discuss Gruyere’s long-term future, Gold Road’s exploration projects, and the company’s $3.7 billion acquisition by Gold Fields. Duncan also reflects on le...

Sam is a seasoned executive and company director with more than 30 years of experience across aviation, consulting, and mining. After 13 years at IGO as Chief People and Sustainability Officer, she helped transform the business into a leader in clean energy materials. Today, she continues to shape the leadership landscape through Chief Executive Women and as a director of Youth Focus. In this epis...

Jeff Quartermaine, Managing Director and CEO of Perseus Mining, shares how he transformed the company into Australia’s largest and most successful gold producer in Africa. With over 30 years in senior corporate and financial roles across global resource companies, Jeff reveals insights into leadership, multi-jurisdictional growth, and delivering a five-year production outlook exceeding half a mill...

Mike Spreadborough brings over 30 years of mining leadership to this episode, sharing insights from technical, executive and board roles across gold, base metals, rare earths and iron ore. As Executive Co-Chairman of Novo Resources and Non-Executive Director of Arafura Rare Earths, Mike discusses operational leadership, project development, financing and corporate governance. Join us for a compell...

With over 30 years in mining across five countries, Vanessa Torres, Chief Operating Officer Australia of South32, shares her journey from Brazil to the boardroom. A senior leader at South32 with Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Minerals Engineering, she discusses the challenges she faced navigating socio-political dynamics as a young mining leader. Hear how she applied artificial intelligence in...

In this episode, we speak with Mel Wren, Chief People Officer at Westgold Resources, about leadership, resilience, and transformation in mining HR. With deep expertise in workforce planning, recruitment, and performance management, Mel shares lessons from integrating Karora Resources and the evolving role of digital technologies in people strategy. She also opens up about navigating a complex disa...

In this episode, Clayton Timms joins us to unpack the real drivers behind strong workplace relationships in mining and heavy industry. With deep international experience in strategic HR, Clayton has led systems shaping safety, leadership, and workforce capability in complex operations. This episode explores how to build value through relationships, even amid corporate change and market volatility....