Social & Environment Society : Panel Discussion – Catalyst for change, real talk with sustainability leaders in mining

Ailan Tran is a leading ESG, sustainability and First Nations engagement specialist, with more than 30 years of experience in executive leadership, strategic project approvals and corporate affairs. She is a trusted advisor to Boards, executives and industry leaders, helping organisations navigate complex environmental, social and governance challenges while building strong, enduring relationships with First Nations peoples.

Mellissa Case is the Global Manager of Sustainable Development for Bechtel Mining and Metals specialising in the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into the design and construction of major infrastructure and mining projects. Based in Perth, she leads multidisciplinary teams delivering projects across the world, with a focus on stakeholder engagement, social risk management, decarbonisation, economic development and compliance.

As Group Manager, Social Performance at Thiess Group, Nevinia leads the organisation’s approach to community engagement, social investment, and stakeholder partnerships. She works closely with Indigenous communities and other key stakeholders to build trust, advance meaningful reconciliation outcomes, and create shared value.
Nevinia is focused on translating social performance commitments into practical outcomes across mining operations. She drives initiatives that strengthen community relationships, deliver measurable social impact, and embed responsible practices into project delivery and business decision-making. Her work helps ensure social performance considerations are integrated into strategy, risk management, and operational execution to support long-term business success.
In addition, Nevinia leads Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the business, partnering with leaders to advance equitable practices, foster inclusive leadership, and support diverse supplier engagement. She is passionate about reducing bias in decision-making, increasing diverse representation, and creating psychologically safe workplaces where people and communities can thrive.

Dr Diane Dowdell is General Manager Sustainability at Energy Transition Minerals, bringing over two decades of ESG and environmental leadership across Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa. She holds an MBA, PhD, MEnvSc, GDipSc and BA(Env St), and is a Fellow of both AusIMM and EIANZ, and an AAICD. Diane has directed audits, compliance frameworks, and due diligence for mining projects worldwide, aligning operations with the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards. At ETM, she leads sustainability strategy and permitting for critical minerals projects, building on a career spanning corporate, consultancy, and executive roles in ESG and social performance.

Rupert Duckworth is an environmental engineer with postgraduate qualifications in Environmental Science and Engineering Geology. He has 16 years’ experience as a Business Manager, Project Manager and Environmental Scientist, with a further 10 years as a Geotechnical Engineer responsible for the delivery of projects in the civil (infrastructure, residential, industrial), mining, oil and gas sectors. He has worked on and managed projects in numerous locations across Western Australia plus in South Africa, Botswana, Oman, UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Qatar, Chile and Southeast Asia.