Vanessa Torres
Chair
Biography
Vanessa Torres became Chair of MRIWA in January 2026.
Vanessa is a globally respected executive with a distinguished record of driving business transformation and growth across strategy, operations, M&A, greenfield development, project delivery and innovation.
Her career spans leadership roles at major global organisations, including BHP, Vale and South32, across four continents and a diverse range of commodities, from base and critical minerals to bulk commodities and gold.
Vanessa brings a rare combination of strategic acumen, strong influencing capability, a bias for action and an inclusive leadership style that empowers people and accelerates innovation.
She holds a Chemical Engineering degree, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Minerals Engineering, and executive education in strategy and finance from INSEAD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), IMD and London Business School.
Her achievements have been recognised globally, from being named in the inaugural 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining (2013) to receiving the 2025 AFR Women in Leadership Award.
Vanessa is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and holding dual Australian and Brazilian citizenship.
Initial Appointment: 1 January 2026
Page was last reviewed 8 January 2026