Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

Lachlan Cumming

Summary

I am an influential and dynamic operational leader, that has proven experience across multiple roles within the coal, diamond and iron ore mining industries. Both my strength and passion as a leader is safely driving consistent high performance in my team and wider business that I am a part of. This passion, combined with my ability to effectively influence others, has resulted in a track record of building diverse, highly successful and engaged teams. My approach is to provide authentic leadership and genuine care for people around me. I aim to inspire them to reach their full potential and assist me in building a culture that is always striving for excellence.


  • Substantial experience in leading and running large and complex mining and fixed plant operations
  • Highly engaged and inspirational leader with a track record of developing and mentoring new and existing leaders
  • Continuous improvement mindset delivering superior results across people, safety, production, and cost
  • Strong advocate for improving diversity and equity within the workplace and a track record of setting up multiple leadership pathways programs for female and indigenous employees

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Fixed Plant Manager/Alternate Site Senior Executive

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - WEST ANGELAS
12.2023 - Current
  • Leading the Fixed Plant Operations and Maintenance team. Responsible for all processing, asset maintenance and train load out operations at West Angelas.
  • Improved employee engagement and productivity through effective leadership and motivational techniques.
  • Increased production efficiency by optimising plant operating practices and implementing process improvements.
  • Developed cross-functional teams to foster collaboration and improve communication across departments.

Mine Manager/Alternate Site Senior Executive

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - WEST ANGELAS
08.2021 - 11.2023
  • Led the West Angelas Mine Operations team of 10 superintendents, 40 supervisors, 12 mining engineers, and 700 operators/maintainers
  • Responsible for an annual mining plan and budget of 205 million tonnes and $380m. West Angelas is Rio Tinto's largest mining operation in Western Australia.
  • The role is accountable for Engineering, Mine Water Management, Mine Development, Drilling, Blasting, Mine Production and Mine Rehabilitation
  • The mining fleet is a combination of autonomous and manually operated equipment.

Integrated Control Superintendent/Acting Manager

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - INTEGRATED OPERATIONS
06.2020 - 08.2021
  • Managed an integrated network of 16 autonomous and non-autonomous mines across the Pilbara region of Western Australia
  • Responsible for 1.2 billion tonnes of material movement per year
  • Team consisted of 8 supervisors and 160 Controllers across the whole value chain
  • This included Asset Health monitoring of equipment, Autonomous Drills, Pit Control, Fixed Plant Control and Train Loadout operations.

Mine Production Superintendent and Quarry Manager

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - YANDICOOGINA
01.2018 - 06.2020
  • Led the mine operations teams (production and development) to safely delivered both short and long-term mine plans
  • My approach focused on the coaching and development of 16 frontline leaders and 150 operators
  • Acted in the Mine Manager role for leave coverage and over the weekends.

Senior Production Engineer/Safety Leadership Coach

RIO TINTO IRON ORE & DIAMONDS - YANDICOOGINA & ARGYLE DIAMONDS
01.2017 - 01.2018
  • Leadership role within Mine Operations reporting directly to the Mine Manager
  • Involved coaching and mentoring of supervisors and engineers
  • Provided coverage for the Superintendents and the Quarry Manager.

Mine Production Supervisor

RIO TINTO IRON ORE & DIAMONDS - YANDICOOGINA & ARGYLE DIAMONDS
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Led and developed a team of 30 mine production and development operators to deliver the daily production plan of 320,000 tonnes of material movement.

Mining Engineer - Operations Planning

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - HOPE DOWNS 4
02.2014 - 01.2016
  • Worked within various functions of the operation
  • 2014 was spent working with the frontline team and 2015 was spent with the operations planning team
  • Worked across all areas of the team including Drill and Blast, Mine Planning, Mine Design and Mine Optimisation.

Mining Engineer - Technical services

BHP BILLITON ILLAWARRA COAL - DENDROBIUM
11.2010 - 02.2014
  • Gained experience in all sections of the Technical Services Department including working with the Ventilation Officer, Geotechnical Engineer, Surveyors and Mine Planners for a period of 18months
  • Worked in all the underground operational areas of the mine for 2 years, including the Longwall, Development Panel and Coal Clearance.

Education

Master of Mineral and Energy Economics -

Curtin Graduate School of Business

Bachelor of Engineering - Mining

University of Wollongong

Bachelor of Commerce - Finance

University of Wollongong

Skills

  • Visionary Leadership
  • Strategic thinking
  • Negotiation and conflict management
  • Continuous improvement
  • Team building and talent development
  • Management systems
  • Operations Management

Certification

  • Site Senior Executive Certificate of Competency (WA)
  • Quarry Managers Certificate of Competency (WA)

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Fixed Plant Manager/Alternate Site Senior Executive

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - WEST ANGELAS
12.2023 - Current

Mine Manager/Alternate Site Senior Executive

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - WEST ANGELAS
08.2021 - 11.2023

Integrated Control Superintendent/Acting Manager

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - INTEGRATED OPERATIONS
06.2020 - 08.2021

Mine Production Superintendent and Quarry Manager

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - YANDICOOGINA
01.2018 - 06.2020

Senior Production Engineer/Safety Leadership Coach

RIO TINTO IRON ORE & DIAMONDS - YANDICOOGINA & ARGYLE DIAMONDS
01.2017 - 01.2018

Mine Production Supervisor

RIO TINTO IRON ORE & DIAMONDS - YANDICOOGINA & ARGYLE DIAMONDS
01.2016 - 01.2017

Mining Engineer - Operations Planning

RIO TINTO IRON ORE - HOPE DOWNS 4
02.2014 - 01.2016

Mining Engineer - Technical services

BHP BILLITON ILLAWARRA COAL - DENDROBIUM
11.2010 - 02.2014

Master of Mineral and Energy Economics -

Curtin Graduate School of Business

Bachelor of Engineering - Mining

University of Wollongong

Bachelor of Commerce - Finance

University of Wollongong
Lachlan Cumming