Vanessa Torres

Vanessa Torres is a Chief Operating Officer with global operating and strategic experience across the value chain in the resources industry. She has lived and worked in Australia, Canada and South America. An outstanding people leader, she attracts and inspires people to deliver transformational business performance. Vanessa is currently Chief Operating Officer at South32, with full P/L accountability for its Australian Operations. Central to her role is the development and execution of South32 strategy, leading and empowering people to deliver safety, productivity and growth. She was previously Chief Technical Officer, responsible for Major Capital Projects, Technology, Innovation, HSE, Business Optimisation and Infrastructure. Prior to joining South32, Vanessa held senior leadership roles at BHP for 11 years, including Vice President Production, Logistics and Infrastructure, where she delivered an operational turnaround in excess of 30 Mtpa Iron Ore production, equivalent to US$ 3 Billion/year annual revenue. She has also re-shaped BHP’s strategy development as Head of Group Investment and Value Management. Before BHP, she was Director Industrial Projects Development at Vale, where she held leadership roles in the development and delivery of major copper, nickel, phosphate and potash projects, as well as a key role in the Vale-Inco US$ 16 Billion acquisition. Vanessa is a passionate and highly committed executive with 30 years of global experience across operations, strategy, technology, projects, logistics and business development. Her experience spans across base metals, battery minerals, bulk commodities and precious metals. She combines a strategic mindset, highly developed influencing skills and a bias to action with an inclusive leadership style and a passion to make a positive contribution to the community. In addition to her executive role, Vanessa is a Director of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) and Foodbank WA. She is also co-founder and main financial supporter of a NGO in Brazil which has provided free personal and professional development activities to ~100 students per year, over 20 years. Vanessa is a Chemical Engineer and holds Master and Doctorate degrees in Minerals Engineering, and executive education in strategy and finance. Her achievements have been recognised globally throughout her career, including being named one of the inaugural “100 Women of Influence” (AFR 2012), inaugural “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining (2013), and as the 2017 Exceptional Woman in Resources in Australia.