Weipa’s Shiona Budby has made history as the first Local Aboriginal Person trainee to be appointed to a management role at Rio Tinto’s Amrun operation. Photo: Supplied.
Dedication on a professional journey of more than a decade has helped Weipa’s Shiona Budby make Rio Tinto history after she became the first former Local Aboriginal Person (LAP) program trainee to take on a key management role at the mining giant’s Amrun operation this month.
Ms Budby, a proud Thanikwithi woman and long-serving team member, has been appointed as the new manager of Amrun mining and will lead more than 300 employees at the bauxite operations site.
A mother of three girls under the age of 11, Ms Budby began her career with Rio Tinto more than a decade ago as a trainee mine operator through the LAP traineeship program.
When Ms Budby joined Rio Tinto in 2015, she was a young mother seeking stability and a fresh start for her family, and quicky gained a reputation as a determined, focused and hard-working team member.
She credited her success with her ability to develop strong relationships, as well as the guidance of several mentors over her career with the miner.
“Building strong relationships through shared lived experiences is the foundation of productivity and success,” Ms Budby, who has worked in operator, grade controller, supervisor and production superintendent roles, said.
Ms Budby said she was focusing on fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace culture in her new role.
“To me, being a manager means creating strong foundations that enable people to succeed in their roles,” she said.
Her aim is to inspire future LAP leaders to feel confident in who they are and where they come from, and to empower them to lead with strength and pride in their culture.
General manager Weipa operations Steve Dunstone praised Ms Budby’s appointment and said it represented a significant achievement for both her personally, as well as Rio Tinto as an organisation.
“We are incredibly proud to announce Shiona’s appointment as mine manager – a historic milestone as the first local Aboriginal employee to step into a managerial role,” Mr Dunstone said.
“Her progression through the company reflects both her personal resilience and the strength of Rio Tinto’s commitment to nurturing local Indigenous talent; this achievement is not only a testament to Shiona’s leadership, dedication and deep connection to Country, but also a powerful symbol of progress for Rio Tinto.”
“Shiona’s appointment marks a significant step forward in building a more inclusive and representative future for our operations and our communities.”
