Dr. Vanessa Guthrie AO shapes industries and institutions with a perspective honed over three decades in mining, energy, and governance. As Deputy Chair of Cricket Australia, and also past Chancellor of Curtin University, she navigates complex systems while advocating for inclusion and strategic thinking. “At times, being the only woman in the room… you end up being different and therefore bring a different perspective,” she says, reflecting on her early experiences in male-dominated environments and how they inform her leadership today.
Guthrie’s governance roles span multiple sectors. She chairs IGO, a Lithium company, and its key committees, sits on the boards of Santos, Cleanaway, and Lynas Rare Earths, and has held positions with Orica, US-based Tronox Holdings and Adbri. In these roles, she integrates sustainability, operational insight, and strategic oversight to guide corporate decisions and long-term growth.
Her current role is not her first in cricket: She led reforms at the Western Australian Cricket Association and contributed to expanding independent and diverse voices on the Cricket Australia board, ensuring governance reflects the broader community. “I’ve asked questions in the boardroom that perhaps others in the room might not have seen,” she notes, describing the value of diversity of thought in decision-making.
Before her governance career, Guthrie broke ground operationally, becoming Western Australia’s first female mine manager at Alcoa’s Huntly bauxite mine and later leading sustainable development at Alcoa World Alumina and Woodside Energy. She served as CEO and managing director of Toro Energy, advancing uranium projects with a focus on stakeholder engagement and compliance, bridging technical expertise with strategic leadership. “Mining is about understanding how to extract the best value out of the resources. The same applies in cricket. We should ask: ‘how do we make cricket the vehicle to bring the best out of our people?’” she explains, connecting her operational and governance philosophy to impact on people and institutions.
Guthrie’s contributions have been recognized globally. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and the Australiasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, as well as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2021 was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the minerals and resources sector and as a role model for women in business.
Her advice to women early in their careers is its okay to be ambitious but focus on impact. “think big, dream big, but start something. Build your experience… And know what your value proposition is. Ask yourself: what do you bring that will improve the business?”