Rio Tinto publishes independent report on cultural heritage management performance
20 March 2023 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Rio Tinto today published an independent report based on a
global audit of its Cultural Heritage Management compliance and
performance – one of a number of steps it is taking to continue to
find better ways to manage and protect heritage.
The audit identified areas where Rio Tinto is achieving leading
cultural heritage practices but also identified other practices
where the company needs to improve its performance.
The report was produced by ERM, a global sustainability
consultancy, following an audit of 37 Rio Tinto assets. The audit
was completed throughout 2021 and 2022 across 20 assets in
Australia and 17 assets in other countries where Rio Tinto operates
including Canada, South Africa, US and Mongolia.
ERM followed a multi-step approach, which included:
- A desktop review of documentation provided as evidence by Rio
Tinto
- A series of interviews with employees and leaders with a focus
on roles in managing cultural heritage
- Views and feedback from community partners
- Follow-up interviews to address gaps
- A presentation of the findings to asset leadership
- Presentation of asset audit reports
- Presentation of the final independent report
Commissioning an independent audit was a commitment made in
response to the findings from the Rio Tinto Board Review of
Cultural Heritage Management which identified priorities for change
following the destruction of the rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in
May 2020.
Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said “We
have been working to strengthen and improve our approach to
cultural heritage and community relations.
“Our immediate focus was in Australia following Juukan Gorge
before steadily expanding across our global operations.
“The report highlights some good progress, in particular in
Australia, where we started. We know we have more work to do and
the report gives us areas for further improvement across our global
operations, and we will adopt all of its recommendations.
“I want to thank everyone who contributed to this important
process, in particular our global community partners who our
dedicated teams engage with daily to ensure heritage is always
managed, protected and celebrated.”
Focus areas will continue to be:
- Embedding understanding and respect for heritage across our
workforce to ensure lasting outcomes for Indigenous peoples and
communities that hold rights and knowledge over heritage
- Providing our global assets with ready access to
regional-specific and internal cultural heritage expertise
- Ensuring our cultural heritage management plans are
co-designed, embedded, understood and managed through a global
heritage management maturity framework
- Elevating the cultural values of water to ensure effective
management alongside safety and production
- Embedding a sustained focus on engagement throughout the life
of our operations to better protect and conserve cultural
heritage
Stefani Eagle, ERM Consulting Director (Cultural Heritage), said
"While examples of good cultural heritage practice were found,
there are further improvements that are required to meet their
internal standards and ensure all assets have appropriate
foundations, underpinned by the principles of co-design.”
The report is available here:
https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/inquiry-into-juukan-gorge
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Investor Relations, United Kingdom Menno
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Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop
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Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No.
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