Our Board and Lead Team

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is committed to representing shareholders and promoting and protecting the interests of South32. It does so by governing the company, having regard to our purpose, strategy, values and culture, our shareholders as a whole, and the interests of other relevant stakeholders.

Mr Stephen Pearce

BBus(Acc), FCA, FGIA, MAICD

Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 1 February 2025 and Chair since 1 March 2026.
Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee
Location: Australia

Career summary
Stephen Pearce has more than 20 years’ experience as a director of public companies and more than 35 years of financial and commercial experience in the mining, oil and gas, and utilities industries.
Mr Pearce holds a Bachelor of Business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
He has held a range of leadership roles including Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Anglo American plc, a position he held for close to seven years. He also served as Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Fortescue Metals Group Limited and as CFO at Alinta Energy.
External appointments
Mr Pearce was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Ampol Limited in March 2025, where he is also a member of the Audit and Risk Committee and Nomination Committee. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director at BAE Systems plc, where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and until May 2025 was a Director and Strategic Advisor to the Wyllie Group.
Skills and experience
Mr Pearce brings a wealth of global experience with resources, finance, commercial and operational expertise over more than 35 years in mining, oil and gas, and utilities. He is highly skilled in finance, strategy and capital projects. Mr Pearce also has well-regarded people and remuneration, leadership, corporate development and regulatory compliance experience. His financial experience and industry knowledge are valuable additions to our Board.

Mr Graham Kerr

BBUS, FCPA

Chief Executive Officer since October 2014.
Managing Director, appointed 21 January 2015.
Location: Australia

Career summary
Mr Kerr joined BHP in 1994 and held a wide range of operational and commercial roles across the business, including Chief Financial Officer Stainless Steel Materials, Vice President Finance Diamonds and Finance Director for the BHP Canadian Diamonds Company.
In 2004, Mr Kerr joined Iluka Resources Limited as General Manager Commercial. He returned to BHP in 2006, leading to his appointment as President of Diamonds and Specialty Products where he was accountable for the Ekati Diamond Mine in Canada, Richards Bay Minerals joint venture in South Africa, diamonds exploration in Angola, the Corridor Sands Project in Mozambique and the development of BHP’s potash portfolio in Canada.
Mr Kerr was appointed BHP’s Chief Financial Officer in 2011, a role which he held until 2015 when he left to lead South32 through its demerger from BHP and listing in three countries.
External appointments
Mr Kerr is a Director of the Fremantle Football Club.
Skills and experience
Mr Kerr’s strong track record in resource development, and global experience as a commercial and operational leader within the resource industry, means that he brings deep mining and metals expertise and exceptional financial acumen. His health and safety expertise, and passion for promoting diversity and inclusion, are valued contributions to our Board as it oversees our commitment to elevate our safety performance and instil a culture where everyone feels safe and respected at work. Mr Kerr’s strong focus on a purpose-driven and values-led future for South32 make him a trusted leader as we progress the next phase of our strategy.

Mr Geoff Healy

BLaws, BEc

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 2 December 2025.
Location: Australia

Career summary
Mr Healy has more than 30 years’ experience within the professional services and natural resources industries. He is currently a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), having previously served as Managing Director and Partner where he co-led BCG’s Climate and Sustainability practice across Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to BCG, Mr Healy was Chief Legal Counsel and Chief External Affairs Officer at BHP, serving as a member of its Executive Leadership Team for more than seven years. He was also a Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for 16 years and a member of the firm’s Global Council before joining BHP in 2013. He has also been a member of the Board of the Grattan Institute, a leading Australian not-for-profit public policy think tank.
External appointments
None.
Skills and experience
Mr Healy brings extensive strategy, legal, risk and external affairs experience across a wide array of complex corporate and regulatory environments. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor Economics from the University of Sydney.

Dr Xiaoling Liu

BEng (Extractive Metallurgy), PhD (Extractive Metallurgy), FTSE, GAICD

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 1 November 2017.
Chair of the Sustainability Committee.
Location: Australia

Career summary
Dr Liu completed her undergraduate study in Chongqing University in China and her PhD in Extractive Metallurgy at Imperial College in UK, before joining the Rio Tinto Group as a senior research scientist in 1988.
Over her 26-year career with Rio Tinto, Dr Liu held various roles in smelting operations, including General Manager Operations at Bell Bay (Tasmania), leading to other senior management roles, including Managing Director Technical Services, where she led Rio Tinto’s global technical services unit. Prior to her retirement, Dr Liu was President and Chief Executive Officer of Rio Tinto Minerals, with responsibility for integrated operations of mining, processing, supply chain, marketing and sales for its Borates business in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Dr Liu has served as Vice President of the Board of the Australian Aluminium Council, a Board Member of the California Chamber of Commerce, a Director of Melbourne Business School and Chancellor of Queensland University of Technology. She has also served as a Non-Executive Director at Newcrest Mining Limited (September 2015 until November 2020), Iluka Resources Limited (February 2016 until April 2019) and Incitec Pivot Limited (from November 2019 until May 2024).
External appointments
None.
Skills and experience
With her accomplished career as a global executive in the resources industry, Dr Liu brings to our Board expertise in mining and processing operations, the execution of major capital projects and commodity value chain management. Her high financial acumen, expertise in health and safety, and strong understanding of the key environmental impacts, risks and opportunities relevant to our operations, make her a valued Chair of the Sustainability Committee. Dr Liu’s knowledge and experience in technology and innovation, together with her technical background, is an asset to our Board as it oversees our advancement towards a low-carbon future.

Ms Sinead Kaufman

BSc (Geology), MSc (Mineral Exploration), FAusIMM, GAICD

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 1 April 2026.
Location: Australia

Career summary
Ms Kaufman has 30 years’ international experience in the resources sector, spanning a range of commodities including copper, diamonds, aluminium, bauxite and iron ore. She joined Rio Tinto in 1997 as a geologist and has held a range of senior technical, operational and executive roles globally.
Her most recent role was Chief Executive Minerals, where she was accountable for a global portfolio of critical minerals operational assets, including lithium. In this role, she was responsible for building and scaling Rio Tinto’s position in battery materials, including through the acquisition of the Rincon and Arcadium lithium businesses.
Born in Ireland, Ms Kaufman holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Birmingham and a Master of Science in Mineral Exploration from the University of Leicester.
External appointments
Ms Kaufman was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Deep Yellow Limited in May 2026.
Skills and experience
Ms Kaufman brings extensive international experience in the resources sector, with deep technical and operational expertise across a broad range of commodities. Her background includes senior leadership accountability for large-scale operations, portfolio management, safety and sustainability performance, and organisational transformation in complex, highly regulated environments. She has experience in strategy execution, capital discipline, stakeholder engagement and leading major divestment and change programs.

Mr Carlos Mesquita

BEng (Metal Eng), MBA

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 1 May 2023.
Location: Chile

Career summary
Mr Mesquita is a qualified Metallurgical Engineer. He has worked in the mining and metals industry for more than 40 years and has extensive experience in leading mining and processing operations and major capital projects.
Mr Mesquita spent 30 years with BHP where he held various positions in the company’s base metals and aluminium businesses, including Asset President of Mozal Aluminium and Asset President of Escondida – the world’s largest copper mine. During this time he also served as Vice President Major Projects where he led the base metals projects program, overseeing more than US$10 billion in mining investments in countries including Chile, Australia, and Peru.
Mr Mesquita has also previously advised mining companies and private equity funds on acquisitions of mining assets in South America and from 2014 to 2015 he was a Non-Executive Director of Mineração Serra Verde, a mid-sized rare earth minerals mine in central Brazil.
In the first half of 2022, Mr Mesquita was a consultant for South32 providing in-country support following our acquisition of a 45 per cent interest in the Sierra Gorda copper mine.
External appointments
None
Skills and experience
Mr Mesquita has extensive experience in the global mining and metals industry with a particular focus on base metals and aluminium in the Americas and Africa. His previous roles and first-hand experience of working at a projects in an operational capacity means he brings a unique and diverse perspective to our Board. This, together with his experience in leading complex operations with responsibility for safety, volume and costs, support our strategy of optimising our business by working safely, minimising our impact, consistently delivering stable and predictable performance, and continually improving our competitiveness.

Ms Mandla Msimang

MSc, BA

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 1 February 2025
Location: South Africa

Career summary
Mandla Msimang is an executive with more 20 years of information and communications technology experience.
Ms Msimang's professional area of expertise is regulation, with a focus on economic and infrastructure regulation, public policy, universal service and access, competition policy, and broadband policy and funding.
She is currently Chief Executive Officer of Nozala Women Investments, a female-owned private equity firm that owns and manages a diversified portfolio in the minerals and energy sector as well as industrial and consumer services. The company aims to make a meaningful contribution towards building a lasting legacy for women in Africa.
External appointments
Ms Msimang is also a Non-Executive Director at Telkom SA Limited. She serves on the International Advisory Board of the University of Johannesburg Business School, and the Board of Research ICT Africa. Ms Msimang was a Non-Executive Director at Exxaro Resources Limited from March 2021 until September 2025.
Skills and experience
Ms Msimang brings extensive regulatory, public policy and information, communications and technology expertise, as well as deep knowledge and experience across Africa and the Middle East. She has strong leadership, strategy and risk management skills and solid regulatory and legal compliance knowledge. Through her experience, Ms Msimang has a substantial understanding of working with communities and other stakeholders to create shared value.

Ms Jane Nelson

CMG, BSc (Agricultural Economics (Cum Laude)), BA, MA (Philosophy, Politics and Economics)

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 1 May 2023.
Location: United States of America

Career summary
Ms Nelson has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics (Cum Laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
Ms Nelson has a 30-year career researching and advocating for sustainable business practices and was the founding Director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Corporate Responsibility Initiative, where she is now a senior research fellow. She is a non-resident senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings and a former senior associate of Cambridge University’s Programme for Sustainability Leadership.
Ms Nelson served on ExxonMobil's External Sustainability Advisory Panel from 2010 to 2023, the Independent Advisory Panel to the ICMM’s Resource Endowment Initiative and on advisory councils for other companies, the World Bank Group and the United Nations. She also worked for The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum in the United Kingdom, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Africa, FUNDES in Latin America and as a Vice President at Citibank working in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
In December 2023, Ms Nelson was appointed a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the UK’s Overseas and International Honours List for services to business and to sustainability.
External appointments
Ms Nelson is a Non-Executive Director of NYSE, ASX and TSX-listed Newmont Mining Corporation (since 2011) and Chair of its Safety and Sustainability Committee.
Ms Nelson is a Co-Chair of the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality and in 2025, was also appointed as Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Energy Nexus.
Skills and experience
Ms Nelson’s career comprises a portfolio of roles across academia as well as international policy, business leadership groups and not-for-profit organisations. She has expertise in sustainable development including in human rights, cultural heritage and Indigenous issues and a significant understanding of climate change and biodiversity issues. Ms Nelson’s strong focus on sustainable development, together with her passion for building partnerships between business, government and civil society, is an asset to our Board given this is at the heart of our purpose and underpins the delivery of our strategy.

Mr Wayne Osborn

Dip Elect Eng, MBA, FTSE

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 7 May 2015.
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Location: Australia

Career summary
Mr Osborn worked as an engineer in the telecommunications and iron ore industries, before joining Alcoa (Australia) in 1979.
Mr Osborn held several senior management positions with Alcoa over the course of his career, including having accountability for its Asia-Pacific manufacturing operations in China, Japan, Korea and Australia. In 2001 he was appointed Managing Director, leading an integrated business comprised of bauxite mining, alumina refining, coal mining, power generation and aluminium smelting until his retirement in 2008.
Since 2008, Mr Osborn has served as a Non-Executive Director in the mining, energy and construction industries. Most recently, he was a Non-Executive Director of Wesfarmers Limited from March 2010 to October 2021.
Other key roles Mr Osborn has held include Chairman of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Chairman of the Western Australia Branch of the Australia Business Arts Foundation and Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Western Australia. Mr Osborn is also a recipient of the WA Business Leader Award (2007) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors Award for Excellence (2018)
External appointments
None.
Skills and experience
Mr Osborn brings expertise in mining and smelting operations, large-scale capital projects and commodity value chain management to our Board. His broad skills and experience in health and safety management and strong understanding of the key environmental issues, risks and opportunities relevant to our operations, are an asset to our Board as it oversees our commitments to improve our safety performance, our approach to sustainability-related risks and opportunities and how we manage our environmental impact. Mr Osborn’s experience leading large workforces, expertise in overseeing remuneration design and implementation and strong focus on sustainability, make him a highly capable Remuneration Committee Chair.

Ms Sharon Warburton

BBus (Accounting and Business Law), FCA, FAICD

Independent Non-Executive Director, appointed 28 November 2023
Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee
Location: Australia

Career summary
Ms Warburton is a chartered accountant with more than 25 years’ experience across the major project infrastructure, property development, and resources industries.
She has previously held executive roles with Brookfield Multiplex, Citigroup, and Rio Tinto, working across Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Ms Warburton’s previous board experience includes as a Director of Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, Gold Road Resources Limited, NEXTDC Limited, Barminco, Western Power, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and Blackmores Limited (from April 2021 to August 2023). Ms Warburton was also a Director of Fortescue Metals Group and was a part-time member of the Takeovers Panel.
In 2014, Ms Warburton was awarded Western Australia Telstra Business Woman of the Year.
External appointments
Ms Warburton is currently a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Northern Star Resources Limited (since 2021), and Wesfarmers Limited (since 2019) including Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee. Ms Warburton is also an Independent Director of Mirvac Funds Management Australia Limited, Thiess Group Holdings Pty Limited and Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation. She is an Adjunct Professor in Leadership and Strategy at the Curtin University School of Business. Ms Warburton was a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Worley Limited (from February 2019 to August 2025).
Skills and experience
Ms Warburton is a prominent and highly credentialled Director. She has substantial executive experience in the areas of corporate governance, accounting and finance, and risk management. Ms Warburton’s skills in areas of corporate strategy, business operations and major project construction contribute to the Board’s broad range of skills and support the delivery of our strategy.

Lead Team

Working under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer, our Lead Team’s role is driving our strategic goals in a way that’s in line with our values, Code of Business Conduct and the risk appetite set by our Board. While each member of the team leads a specific part of the business, they also work as a collective to help us achieve our strategy and purpose.

Graham Kerr BBUS, FCPA

Chief Executive Ofﬁcer and Managing Director

Mr Kerr joined BHP in 1994 and held a wide range of operational and commercial roles across the business, including Chief Financial Officer Stainless Steel Materials, Vice President Finance Diamonds and Finance Director for the BHP Canadian Diamonds Company.
In 2004, Mr Kerr joined Iluka Resources Limited as General Manager Commercial. He returned to BHP in 2006, leading to his appointment as President of Diamonds and Specialty Products where he was accountable for the Ekati Diamond Mine in Canada, Richards Bay Minerals joint venture in South Africa, diamonds exploration in Angola, the Corridor Sands Project in Mozambique and the development of BHP’s potash portfolio in Canada.
Mr Kerr was appointed BHP’s Chief Financial Officer in 2011, a role which he held until 2015 when he left to lead South32 through its demerger from BHP and listing in three countries.

Mr Kerr is a Director of the Fremantle Football Club.

Matthew Daley BE (Mining) (Hons)

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Matthew Daley joined South32 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer on 2 February 2026.
Mr Daley has more than 20 years’ experience in the mining and metals industry, spanning underground and open cut mining, smelting, refining, projects and commodity trading. He has held leadership roles around the world in operations, regional management, and as a corporate executive across a range of commodities and disciplines. 

Mr Daley was previously Technical and Operations Director and a member of the executive leadership team at Anglo American plc, which he joined as Group Head of Mining in 2017. Prior to that, he was the Executive General Manager for Glencore’s Canadian copper division, Project Head at Minera Alumbrera for the Agua Rica Project in Argentina, Trader for Xstrata based in Dubai, and Mine Manager for Xstrata at the Mount Isa Copper Mine in Queensland, Australia.  
Mr Daley holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) (Hons) from the University of South Australia.

Sandy Sibenaler BCom, MFin, CA, GAICD

Chief Financial Ofﬁcer

Sandy Sibenaler joined South32 in 2021 and became our Chief Financial Officer in April 2023. Sandy has responsibility for Financial Reporting, Management Reporting, Treasury, Business Evaluation, Tax, Investor Relations, Group Assurance, Digital Technology and Global Business Services. Prior to this role, Sandy was our Vice President Finance.

Sandy has more than 20 years of treasury, finance and commercial experience in the resources sector. Prior to joining South32, she held a number of senior finance and commercial roles at Woodside and BHP including Vice President of Treasury and Insurance, General Manager Logistics and Finance Reporting Manager.
Sandy holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Finance from Kaplan Business School, is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Noel Pillay NHDP Mech Eng

Chief Operating Ofﬁcer, Southern Africa

Noel Pillay became our Chief Operating Officer in October 2021 and is responsible for our operations in Southern Africa.
Prior to this role, Noel was Vice President Operations at Worsley Alumina where he was responsible for the operation’s safety, production and cost performance. Before his time at Worsley Alumina, Noel was Vice President Operations at Hillside Aluminium in South Africa.

Before joining South32, Noel worked for BHP from 1994 as a Maintenance Engineer at Hillside Aluminium and has held several leadership roles in Maintenance, Production, Business Improvement and Human Resources in South Africa and Australia.

Noel is a trained Mechanical Engineer and holds a National Higher Diploma from the University of Johannesburg.

Erwin Schaufler MSc Mag.rer.soc.oec

Chief Commercial and Technical Ofﬁcer

Erwin Schaufler was appointed to the Lead Team in March 2024 and is our Chief Commercial and Technical Officer. Erwin has responsibility for Commercial, Capital Projects, Planning, Innovation and Business Optimisation, and Health, Safety and Technical Stewardship.

Prior to this role, Erwin held various leadership roles at Worsley Alumina for more than six years including Vice President Operations and General Manager Refinery. Before his time at Worsley Alumina, Erwin played a key role in the establishment of the Marketing function when South32 was formed in 2015 and led the design and implementation of a revised Marketing strategy.

Before joining South32 Erwin worked at BHP for eight years, firstly in the Technology team where he held various senior roles before joining Marketing in distribution and supply chain in 2011.
Erwin holds a Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, a Magister rerum socialium oeconomicarumque (Master of Business Administration) from Vienna University of Economics and Business, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has completed the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD.

Kelly O'Rourke LLB, BCom, MAICD

Chief Legal, External Affairs and Sustainability Officer

Kelly O’Rourke was appointed to the Lead Team in November 2020 and is our Chief Legal, External Affairs and Sustainability Officer with responsibility for Legal, Company Secretariat, Business Integrity, Communications, Community, Government, Sustainability and Human Resources.
Kelly joined South32 in 2016 as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations. She previously worked at BHP for nine years where she held senior roles in Legal, Business Development, Mergers and Acquisitions and the Office of the Chief Executive.

Kelly has more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry across legal, commercial, business development, mergers and acquisitions, external affairs and community roles across Australia, Asia, the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Kelly holds a Bachelor of Laws (Distinction) from The University of Western Australia, a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Simon Collins BE (Mining), MBA

Chief Development Officer

Simon Collins has been our Chief Development Officer since October 2018. He is responsible for Exploration, Corporate Development, Brazil Alumina, Brazil Aluminium and Sierra Gorda.
Simon has 30 years of experience in the resources industry in senior leadership, commercial and business development roles. Before joining South32, he worked for BHP for more than a decade, providing leadership to commercial and business development teams in Australia, Africa and the Americas. He began his career in mine operations in Australia and then South Africa.

Simon holds a Master of Business Administration from London Business School and a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from the University of New South Wales.

Our Board and Lead Team

Board of Directors

Mr Stephen Pearce

Mr Graham Kerr

Mr Geoff Healy

Dr Xiaoling Liu

Ms Sinead Kaufman

Mr Carlos Mesquita

Ms Mandla Msimang

Ms Jane Nelson

Mr Wayne Osborn

Ms Sharon Warburton

Lead Team

Graham Kerr BBUS, FCPA

Matthew Daley BE (Mining) (Hons)

Sandy Sibenaler BCom, MFin, CA, GAICD

Noel Pillay NHDP Mech Eng

Erwin Schaufler MSc Mag.rer.soc.oec

Kelly O'Rourke LLB, BCom, MAICD

Simon Collins BE (Mining), MBA

Related information