Michelle Ash, Technology Executive Lead, OZ Minerals

The focus on ESG is driving a huge amount of activity to investigate and implement different ways of mining.

As Technology Executive, at OZ Minerals, Michelle Ash is accountable for ICT, including digital, robotics and automation, Mining Technology and Transformation.

Energy and Mines: How is the focus on climate change and ESG driving energy and mobility decisions for mining operations?

Michelle Ash: The focus on ESG is driving a huge amount of activity to investigate and implement different ways of mining. At OZ Minerals we have for many years focused not just on the economic value of a project or improvement, but also how it impacts key value metrics for our stakeholders, we call them stakeholder value creation metrics. There are several of these that focus specifically on ESG, because community, governments, our workforce are key stakeholders.

EandM: How is the drive to decarbonise shifting the thinking and approach to renewable energy for mining?

MA: It is driving key decisions about how we rethink renewable energy, but we still need to focus more on the risks of not implementing processes that use renewable energy, this will drive faster change.

EandM: What are the main challenges of trying to meet 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation goals for mines?

MA: There are key challenges around de-risking or how we think about risk, recapitalization, technology roadmaps as well as how we work with our stakeholders to drive the change.

EandM: Who are you looking forward to connecting with at Energy and Mines Australia Summit, September 6-7, Westin Perth?

MA: Other key leaders who are looking to the future and wanting to not only drive change in our industry faster but to also pave the way for other industries to led to a decarbonized future.

Michelle Ash is proving the Keynote address on September 6th at 8:30 AM, Net Zero by 2030: Oz Minerals’ Decarbonisation Commitment.