BHP president Australia Geraldine Slattery has been appointed to the Business Council of Australia (BCA) board, strengthening the peak industry group’s resources sector representation as it pushes a national competitiveness and productivity agenda.
Slattery steps into the directorship role as the BCA seeks to broaden its expertise in investment and industry policy. She leads BHP’s Australian operations, overseeing the miner’s major iron ore, copper, nickel and coal assets across the country.
Business Council president Geoff Culbert welcomed Slattery to the board, saying her operational leadership across geographies and commodities would bring “vital insight” to the organisation’s work on future investment, global competitiveness and shared prosperity.
“Geraldine’s deep experience in what it takes to invest and grow in a complex global industry and an ever more competitive world will strengthen the BCA’s advocacy for a stronger Australian economy built on productivity and innovation,” Culbert said.
Slattery said strong business leadership was necessary to help Australia navigate its emerging challenges and opportunities. “I look forward to continuing to support the BCA work to foster policies that grow investment, improve Australia’s global competitiveness and lift living standards for all Australians,” she said.
The appointment follows the departure of former board members Kellie Parker and Meg O’Neill, who stepped down after leaving their roles at Rio Tinto and Woodside Energy respectively.
Culbert thanked both for their contribution to the board’s deliberations, including Parker’s advocacy for the resources sector and O’Neill’s international perspective.
Slattery joins an experienced board that includes leaders from major Australian businesses such as Commonwealth Bank, Wesfarmers, Telstra, Google Australia and legal and advisory firms, reflecting the BCA’s broad industry base.
Her appointment comes as Slattery remains a frontrunner for potential future leadership roles within BHP, with media coverage in recent months spotlighting her as a possible candidate for the group’s next chief executive – a move that would mark a historic first for the miner.
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