Denise Goldsworthy
Managing Director Dampier Salt Limited and HIsmelt®
Denise Goldsworthy was appointed Managing Director of Dampier Salt Limited in August 2008 and Managing Director of HIsmelt Corporation in January 2009.
As Managing Director of two of Rio Tinto's subsidiary companies, Dampier Salt Limited (DSL) and HIsmelt, Denise is responsible for more than 500 employees and a large global customer base.
Since Denise's appointment to DSL, the world's leading exporter of solar salt, record earnings of US$129 million was posted in 2009. In her role as MD of HIsmelt, she is responsible for the marketing of HIsmelt iron-making technology.
Denise attributes her success to her style of leading and motivating her management team. In 2009 she challenged them with a motivational campaign designed to get them thinking about ways to increase salt capacity. Denise's innovative Sustainable Health and Safety programme has also ensured significant improvement in all injury rates.
Denise has held a number of senior positions within Rio Tinto's minerals group including Vice President, Operations, Rio Tinto Minerals - Asia Pacific (2006-2008) accountable for operational performance delivery in the Group's solar salt, gypsum and talc businesses in Western Australia and Japan; and General Manager, Salt Operations (2003-2006) accountable for operations, engineering, HSE and human resources aspects of the salt business.
Before joining Rio Tinto Minerals, Denise spent five years in a series of senior roles with Rio Tinto's iron ore business, including marketing, strategic planning, operations and engineering management, and feasibility studies management.
Prior to Rio Tinto, Denise's earlier career included seventeen years with BHP Steel working in a number of areas including sinter plant, blast furnace and steelmaking at the Newcastle Steelworks.
Denise holds a Metallurgy degree (BMet Hons and University Medal) from the University of Newcastle in New South Wales.
In December Denise was named the 2010 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year. Denise was also awarded the Hudson Australian Private and Corporate Sector Award.
