Committee Member

Christina Folley

MAusIMM

Manager, Group Safety, First Quantum Minerals

Christina Folley is a distinguished mining safety executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across the Australian resources sector. She is recognised for her deep capability in critical risk management, organisational leadership, psychological safety, and large-scale cultural transformation. Christina currently serves as Manager: Group Safety for First Quantum Minerals (FQM), where she provides expert direction on high-risk activities including critical control verification, safety risk registers, contractor safety management, and the development of mentally healthy, high-performing workplaces.

At FQM, Christina leads several of the organisation’s most significant, multi-year safety initiatives. Her work centres on strengthening leadership alignment, embedding globally consistent safety standards, maturing critical control verification, and advancing fair and just culture across a diverse international mining portfolio. A highly effective influencer, she excels at lifting senior leaders’ understanding of risk and enabling site teams to embed practical, high-impact safety improvements.

Prior to rejoining FQM, Christina held one of the most senior and complex safety roles in Western Australian mining as Director of Mines Safety and Chief Inspector of Mines with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS). In this capacity she provided strategic direction to the State’s Mines Safety Directorate, overseeing the safety performance of approximately 1,000 mines and exploration sites, leading a team of 75 Mines Inspectors, and driving major reforms across policy, legislation, compliance, operational capability, and regulatory practice.

Christina has represented Western Australia at the highest levels of government and public accountability. She has delivered evidence in safety prosecutions, parliamentary inquiries, and Senate-style hearings, and has provided live briefings to Ministers during Parliament. Her ability to rapidly analyse complex technical information, communicate with precision under pressure, and lead through high-stakes situations is well established.

Her influence extends across numerous boards and committees, including the WA Work Health and Safety Commission, the Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee, the Legislative Advisory Council, the Mentally Healthy Workplaces Committee, the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program, and a range of regulatory governance bodies.

Christina holds qualifications in health and safety, emergency response, investigations, human resources and business management. She is widely regarded as a values-driven, transformative leader who brings energy, clarity and purpose to every challenge. Her professional ethos is grounded in prevention, systems excellence and empowering people at all levels to deliver safe and sustainable production.

As a member of the AusIMM Conference Advisory Committee, Christina brings a unique combination of regulatory authority, operational insight and global strategic leadership, strengthening the industry’s ability to progress evidence-based, practical and people-centred safety practices.