Hearts & Mines

In this episode, we sit down with Jim Walker—industry veteran with over 45 years of board and executive experience across mining, construction, and agriculture. Jim is Chair of Austin Engineering, the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum, WA State Training Board, and the Motor Museum of WA, and was recently installed as Grand Master of the Freemasons of WA. With a career spanning some of WA’s most i...

In this episode, we speak with Emma Coulthard, the Executive General Manager of Human Resources at Liontown Resources, about leadership in mining and the importance of active listening. Emma shares insights from her 20+ year career and amongst other topics reflects on coaching technically trained executives to become more influential communicators. She draws on her experience at Liontown’s world-c...

In this episode Tony passes judgement on Crazy Elon, the brilliance of Singapore Statesman Lee Kuan Yew and the remarkable leadership qualities of AFL Hall of Famer and legendary Bombers Coach, Kevin Sheedy. He shares insights on his approach to managing board dynamics and cultivating relationships with key executives, and he suggests what the mining industry could be doing to attract and develop...

In this episode, Tania prosecutes the Minerals Council of Australia’s case that the federal government is disrespecting the economic value of WA to our national economy, by failing to provide adequate support and incentives for our explorers, developers and mineral producers. She goes on to recommend one of her favourite books, The Art of War by 6th Century Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. And...

What a delight to have Cheryl in our studio. She tells an inspiring story of ambition, resilience and seizing opportunities when they present. Born in Perth and the eldest of 3 daughters to a carpenter and an office tea-lady, Cheryl left school at the age of 15. Through her intelligence and perseverance, she has risen to become one of the most respected leaders in both the political and corporate...

In this episode, Mike talks about IGO’s strategic pivot some years ago towards the discovery, production and processing of battery minerals. This transformation enabled the company to be a key supplier of products critical for the green energy transition. However, recent volatility in market demand and commodity pricing has presented challenges for IGO’s leadership and stakeholders. Mike talks abo...

Strap-in listeners for this broad-ranging conversation with one of Australia’s best-known businessmen and company directors. John shares his views on leadership, culture development, the state of Australia’s energy policy, the madness of international politics, Elon Musk and the threat of humanoid robots. Along the way, he delves into the art of managing boardroom dynamics, he discusses the import...

In this episode, Carmen discusses her formative years in regional Western Australia. We go on to talk about her international career with some of the major and mid-tier companies and her approach to developing and executing strategy. At the basis of her work is a core belief that you need to be honest with people and respectful of their points of view. "People are the key enabler of business perfo...

Ross knows plenty about leadership in the military and industrial contexts. An award winning practitioner of leadership, he shares his journey of personal challenge and trauma, and reflects on the importance of failure and risk-taking in self-improvement. Ross is a multi-layered character - when not advocating at the executive table, he is in the moshpit at an Iron Maiden concert. Don't miss this...

In this episode, Tim goes head-to-head with fellow organisational psychologist David Beilby to lift the lid on some enduring mysteries, including why it only takes one narcissist to change a lightbulb. As a former WA State representative in hockey, Tim describes how he transferred lessons in leadership from the playing field to the executive suite. He dives deep into the culture of Regis Resources...

In this episode Brad connects the dots between his careers in strategy consulting, engineering services, bulk logistics and mining. He offers valuable insight regarding the development of relationships across cultures, and speaks about the varying roles of the Board and Executive Team in closing the gap between an existing and aspirational culture. This is a candid conversation with one of our mos...

The ivy & gecko team has known Dave for a number of years and always found him to be a source of wisdom and dry humour. I enjoyed the breadth of this conversation. Dave expresses his conviction that we need to get the right people sitting in the right seats on the bus, before we drive away. He goes on to talk about the quality of governance shown by Australian mining boards and the current sta...

In this episode, we listen to Ben’s insights about the process of earning trust, and the role of Elders in leading aboriginal communities. We note some important lessons here for mining corporations. We discuss the outcome of the Voice Referendum, the state of reconciliation, and we learn about the concept of time as understood by indigenous Australians. This is a revealing and heartfelt conversat...

As one of the mining industry’s most respected strategists and deal-makers, Jake has led the transformation of Evolution Mining from a humble start-up just 13 years ago, to a globally relevant player in gold and copper production. It is no coincidence that in 2023, Evolution was ranked as Australia’s mid-tier employer of choice by a large sample of mining executives. In this episode, Jake explains...

In this episode Brendan argues that anyone can choose to demonstrate leadership behaviour, irrespective of their position title. He discusses the power of listening with the intent to understand, and how he has used story-telling to inspire people and convey the importance of values in guiding behaviour. Watch this episode on YouTube @heartsandminespod David Beilby Alana Bray-White Disclaimer: The...

In this episode Jessica explains how she found her voice in challenging circumstances, and the value of courage in her life. A committed advocate of diversity, fairness and inclusion, she describes her approach to earning trust and reflects on the work still to be done in building safe and collaborative workplaces. An insightful conversation with this inspiring practitioner of leadership. Watch th...

In this episode we pose the question about a possible return to international rugby. John has enjoyed illustrious career paths in sport and business. He reveals his key influencers on and off the field, and talks about the challenges of transforming businesses and leading people through M&A activity. Don't miss this conversation - John is more qualified than most to discuss the transferability...

In this episode Wayne reflects on Westgold's transformative deal with Karora. He explains what really excites him, discusses his favourite productivity hacks, and reveals his unusual approach to evaluating key executives. He also reflects on some of his mistakes and failures, and how he has used them to become a more effective leader. Don't miss this candid conversation with one of our most intere...

Hearts & Mines is different. We won’t be reporting on share prices, production guidances or the latest advances in mining technologies. Instead, we'll be showcasing the achievements, practices and insights of company directors and executives who are passionate about improving the human experience within the industry. Join us as we explore this often underrated but critical aspect of mining. Ou...