Chris began his career as a metallurgy trainee at BHP’s Whyalla integrated steelworks, an experience that sparked his passion for effective leadership in heavy industry. He joined Rio Tinto in 1988 as a graduate and gained his first middle-management role in 1994. From there he progressed through a succession of General Manager operational roles, COO and Managing Director positions before joining Rio Tinto’s Executive Committee in 2016. Over this period he led across a wide range of commodities, including bauxite, alumina, aluminium, coal, uranium, salt, copper and iron ore, and worked in varied locations across Australia as well as in New Zealand and Namibia, with significant engagement in Asian markets. 

Alongside his executive career, Chris has developed a portfolio of governance roles. He is executive Chair of Deep Yellow Ltd, Chair of pH7 Technologies and a Non-Executive Director at BCI Minerals Ltd. A qualified metallurgical engineer, he is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Chris’ philosophy of leadership is grounded in enabling people to contribute effectively – to the business, to their teams, to their aspirations, and to their wider lives. Acting as a mentor has been a constant thread throughout his career, and he thrives on seeing others succeed in their roles. Having worked with individuals and teams across different cultures and geographies, he is a strong believer in diversity in all its forms, enabled by inclusive behaviour at every level of the organisation. He has also been a major contributor to the redesign of education and capability development to help people navigate the transition to a digital future, particularly in asset-intensive industries.