Dr Samuel (Sam) Maurice Cossart Walsh AO

Sam Walsh oversees the world’s second largest mining company operating in 35 countries.

Sam became CEO at Rio Tinto in 2013. His career spanned 25 years in the company, following 20 years in senior roles in the automotive industry with Nissan and General Motors.

Sam is Chair of the Perth Diocesan Trust, Royal  Flying Doctor (WA Operations), Perth Mint, Theatre 180, Accenture Global Mining Council (UK) and a Director of Mitsui & Co Ltd (Japan), and the Anglican Community Fund

Sam’s keen interest in giving back to the community is reflected in Rio’s employment schemes, especially in the remote communities where the mines are creating jobs and training in remote areas for Indigenous people in Australia and the Third World. Rio Tinto Iron Ore is the largest employer of First Nations people in Australia other than the Government.

Sam has a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Melbourne and has completed a Fellowship Program at Kettering University in Michigan. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, the Institute of Directors (UK) and the Australian Academy of Technical Sciences and Engineering.

Sam has a great interest in the arts which began when he was growing up absorbing the love of opera and classical music in his home almost by osmosis. Sam is patron of the Black Swan State Theatre, the WA Chamber of the Arts, Theatre 180, and Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. He has also accumulated a large and diverse collection of milk jugs. Sam believes artistic capital is the sign of a rich society. Sam was Chair of the Australian Council for the Arts, the WA Chamber for the Arts and the Australian Business Arts Foundation (WA).

In 2010 Sam was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Commerce at Edith Cowan University, in 2011 he was awarded the Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award, and in 2014 an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Commerce at the University of Western Australia.