Sam Walsh AO is a prominent company director who is also active in the arts and philanthropy.
Prior to becoming a professional director, he was one of the most powerful executives in the global mining industry. Between 2013 and 2016, Mr Walsh was the London-based chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto. He was also chief executive of iron ore and Australia, based in Rio Tinto's Perth office. Mr Walsh worked for General Motors Holden and Nissan Australia for nearly 20 years before joining Rio in 1991.
Mr Walsh is chair of Gold Corporation which operates The Perth Mint, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations, Accenture’s global mining council, and the Perth Diocesan Trustees which is similar to a board of directors for the Anglican Church in WA. He is also a director of giant Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co, one of the largest foreign investors in Australia. He was previously a director of the Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, chair of the Australia Business Arts Foundation's WA chapter, chair of the Black Swan State Theatre Company, and inaugural chair of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA.
In 2007, Mr Walsh was awarded Australian Export Hero and Western Australian Citizen of the Year - Industry and Commerce.
In 2010, he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for his work in the mining industry and establishing employment programs for indigenous Australians.
In 2021, Mr Walsh was awarded The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon for his contributions to economic relations between Japan and Australia. The Japanese order is awarded to those who have made significant achievements in international relations, advancement in their field and promotion of Japanese culture, among other contributions.
