Rio Tinto has appointed a former trainee from its Local Aboriginal Person (LAP) program as manager of its Amrum bauxite mine in far north Queensland.
Shiona Budby, a long-serving member of the team – and proud Thanikwithi woman – will lead a team of more than 300 employees after beginning her career more than ten years ago.
Budby, who joined Rio Tinto in 2015, said her aim is to inspire future LAP leaders to feel confident in who they are, where they come from, and to empower them to lead with strength and pride in their culture.
The LAP program has run since 2002, with more than 300 Indigenous participants taking part since its inception.
“Building strong relationships through shared lived experiences is the foundation of productivity and success,” Budby said.
“To me, being a manager means creating strong foundations that enable people to succeed in their roles.”
She described her leadership style as one grounded in empathy and collaboration, while having a deep commitment to empowering others.
“Shiona’s appointment marks a significant step forward in building a more inclusive and representative future for our operations and our communities,” Rio Tinto general manager of Weipa operations Steve Dunstone said.
“This achievement is not only a testament to Shiona’s leadership, dedication, and deep connection to Country, but also a powerful symbol of progress.”
Rio Tinto recently began early works and final engineering studies to increase Amrun’s production capacity, aiming for first output in 2029.
The proposed project, named Kangwinan at the request of the Wik Waya People, will establish a new mine and expand the existing port to nearly double production from the Rio’s Weipa Southern operations, where Amrun is located.
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