BHP: CHAMPIONS OF COMPETITION

BHP PRESIDENT AUSTRALIA GERALDINE SLATTERY DETAILED THE COMPANY’S 2025 OUTLOOK WHILE SPEAKING AT THE MELBOURNE MINING CLUB IN DECEMBER.

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It’s no secret that Australia has one of the strongest mining sectors globally.

Backed by its abundance of metals and critical minerals, Australia’s mining industry has gone from strength to strength over the years.

Leading the pack is BHP, which has just come off a massive 2024 full of operational milestones and production records.

Australian Mining recently gained insight into the BHP engine room when BHP president Australia Geraldine Slattery spoke at the Melbourne Mining Club in December.

Here, she discussed the importance of a competitive mining industry and the Big Australian’s plans for its f lagship commodities.

Staying competitive

Competition is at the heart of an industry’s ability to innovate and provide the best products and services.

This is especially true in the Australian mining industry, where it’s competing with countries that can supply resources and critical minerals at faster rates due to less stringent environmental, social and governance standards.

Slattery said Australia is key to the global energy transition, labelling the movement as “one of the great industrial shifts in history”.

“All of us here know that shift will not occur without the minerals Australia provides,” Slattery said.

Slattery cautioned that Australia cannot take its history for granted, highlighting challenges in skills availability, technology adoption and global investment appeal.

When speaking about labour shortages, Slattery said nearly half of the global skilled engineering workforce will retire in the next decade.

“We know we don’t have enough graduates in mining-related fields to replace them,” Slattery said.

“Part of the solution lies in expanding Australia’s workforce participation – and this highlights the fundamental importance of the entire industry’s work to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce.”