Kellie Parker

Kellie Parker is a senior operational executive with extensive leadership experience delivering performance across complex mining and processing operations, including aluminium, iron ore, logistics and remote integrated operations. As Chief Executive – Australia at Rio Tinto, she led the company’s reputation and stakeholder engagement agenda, strengthened environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and governance, and drove the strategic execution required to decarbonise Rio Tinto’s Australian aluminium smelters.

Previously, she held end-to-end accountability for an integrated value chain spanning bauxite mines, alumina refineries and smelters across Australia and New Zealand, with approximately 9,000 employees and contractors. She drove disciplined operational improvement to return every asset to positive cash flow and delivered a sustaining capital program exceeding $2 billion to address major hazards. Earlier, as a member of the Rio Tinto Iron Ore executive team, Kellie led Pilbara asset development, major capital portfolios, operational planning, engineering services and technology initiatives supporting the business strategy to achieve $4.2 billion within 5 years. This included aligning product strategy with market requirements and translating future technology and systems priorities into executable plans.

Her earlier roles include General Manager of the Operations Centre and Manager of Railway Operations for one of Australia’s largest private heavy-haul rail networks. In these positions, she integrated logistics and automation to deliver step-change improvements in productivity and operating performance.

Kellie holds a Bachelor of Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Safety Management from Curtin University, complemented by executive leadership and strategic finance training through Duke University and IMD. She served as a Board member of the Business Council of Australia and currently chairs Resources Health and Safety Queensland, where she continues to drive stronger safety outcomes across industry.