Sinead Kaufman
CEO - Minerals Rio Tinto
As Chief Executive of Rio Tinto’s Minerals portfolio Sinead has accountability for a global suite of businesses including battery materials, titanium dioxide, diamonds, borates, scandium and iron ore pellets and concentrate from operations and projects in Canada, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Australia, Europe, Argentina and the US.
The Minerals portfolio is focused on meeting the demand for critical minerals for the energy transition. As part of this, Sinead oversaw the creation of Rio Tinto’s Battery Materials business which includes the Rincon lithium project in Argentina, the Jadar lithium project in Serbia and multiple technology partnerships. The Minerals portfolio also includes the recent acquisition of the Platina Scandium Project, a high grade scandium resource in New South Wales.
Sinead brings to her current role deep operational expertise and leadership combined with a track record and a commitment to sustainability and empowerment, advancing a culture of diversity and inclusion in the mining industry.
Sinead first joined Rio Tinto as a geologist in the United Kingdom in 1997 and has since gained international mining experience across a range of commodities including copper, aluminium, bauxite, diamonds, coal, salt, uranium and iron ore in both underground and open pit environments
2025 Agenda Sessions
Leader Spotlight – Rio Tinto
Hear from one of Africa’s pioneering leaders of change as they share their vision, and actions, for future-proofing Africa’s mining sector
Monday 03 February 14:05 - 14:25 CTICC1
Disruptive Discussions
Hear from one of Africa’s pioneering leaders of change as they share their vision, and actions, for future-proofing Africa’s mining sector
CTICC1 Africa/JohannesburgAre we leading the right way to Future-Proof African mining?
• Does mining have an institutional culture problem?
• What does it mean to lead with moral courage?
• How do you make decisions that are not just about the law and shareholders, but for the greater good?
• What are the fundamentals of building trust?
Tuesday 04 February 11:00 - 12:00 CTICC1
Sustainability Series
• What does it mean to lead with moral courage?
• How do you make decisions that are not just about the law and shareholders, but for the greater good?
• What are the fundamentals of building trust? CTICC1 Africa/Johannesburg