Chairwoman

Michelle Ash is a senior executive with extensive expertise in strategy development, technology transformation and innovation across the mining and manufacturing sectors. Renowned for her leadership in driving digital transformation and organizational change, she has spearheaded major initiatives in turnarounds, acquisitions and mergers, prioritizing stakeholder engagement to achieve lasting impact.

Mrs. Ash’s career spans multiple industries, including iron ore, base metals, coal and gold mining, as well as paper, PVC and FMCG manufacturing. She is widely recognized for her capabilities in disruptive innovation, asset management, project development and engineering, with a reputation for fostering leadership and operational excellence.

Across Mrs. Ash’s distinguished 30-plus-year career in mining, she has held executive roles, including Chief Operating Officer at Acacia Mining, led strategic initiatives at Minerals and Mining Group, and continues to serve on the boards of several prominent companies. Previously, as Chief Innovation Officer at Barrick Gold Corp., she spearheaded transformative efforts to tackle critical challenges in the gold mining industry. Since 2017, Mrs. Ash has been a prominent advocate and keynote speaker on digital mining, driving innovations that capture gold’s investment value in an environmentally, socially and financially responsible manner.