Joanne Farrell - Mining Executive career based on performance

A long time ago I met Joanne Farrell with my friend and collegue Rozey Abbott. Joanne always afforded me the time to chat although I admired and respected her position at Rio Tinto.

Rio Tinto Group executive Joanne Farrell has decided to retire after nearly 32 years with Rio Tinto and left the company at the end of September 2019. Coal, Iron Ore, Diamonds, US, UK, Australia there is a lot to understand how Joanne progressed successfully at one of the largest global miners in what is always referred to as a male industry.

Joanne joined Rio Tinto in 1987 and has worked in a variety of roles across human resources, health, safety, communities and environment, before joining the Rio Tinto Executive Committee as Group executive, Health, Safety & Environment and Managing Director, Australia in July 2016. (reporting to the Global CEO)

Joanne is currently Chair of Safe Work Australia and Chair of Brightwater Care Group. Her non-executive director roles also include Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations) Senate of the University of Western Australia, and Deputy Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Trust.  She is a member of the AICD and Chief Executive Women.

Throughout her career Joanne has been active in supporting indigenous capacity building and reconciliation and has been active in many gender equity related organizations along with mentoring women in both the Mining Industry and Not-For-Profit organisations.  She was recognised for contributions to gender equity with awards from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia, Financial Review’s Women of Influence and Women in Mining International.

Joanne holds a qualification in Psychology, Economics and Executive Management from University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Australian Graduate School of Management (UNSW) and London Business School.

Thanks to Joanne for affording the time in the Diversity series of podcasts.