Emma Roberts – GC Powerlist
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Australia: Rising Stars 2019

Emma Roberts

Head of legal WA iron ore and nickel west | BHP

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Australia: Rising Stars 2019

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Emma Roberts

Head of legal WA iron ore and nickel west | BHP

About

After a number of years in private practice, Emma Roberts found what she calls her ‘natural fit’ as an in-house counsel, first on secondment at BP in Scotland, to AngloGold Ashanti in Perth, before finally arriving at BHP, where she has been for four years. Her two roles in BHP as legal manager at Olympic Dam and her current role as head of legal for WA iron ore and nickel west, built on her four years at AngloGold, have allowed her to build significant experience and skills as an in-house mining lawyer, with particular expertise in managing complex operational and strategic issues within mining companies. Roberts leads a team of ten lawyers and support staff who advise on a range of legal issues, including commercial, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory matters, safety and environmental matters, and disputes. ‘My role now is now more focused on managing the team, creating and implementing team plans and strategies, and coaching, mentoring and developing team members’, says Roberts. During her four years at BHP, she has led the legal team on a number of significant operational events. She was responsible for leading the legal team for BHP at Olympic Dam in South Australia during the state power blackout in 2016, which had significant operational impact for both BHP and for the state of South Australia. She also recently managed a significant derailment following an uncontrolled rollaway train in Western Australia at the BHP iron ore operations in November 2018, as well as managing the appearance of BHP at the South Australia government-led Nuclear Fuel Royal Commissions in 2015. ‘These matters have been interesting and challenging and have given me significant experience in managing crises in complex operating environments’, she says. Roberts is also a member of the business leadership team and the Australia legal leadership team. One nominator describes her as ‘an excellent lawyer and leader, trusted by her team and the business. This reflects her practical and strategic approach, which takes into account the legal position but also the external environment and expectations of a full range of stakeholders. In doing so, she considers both short and long-term impacts and objectives’. Roberts is also an active proponent of diversity and improved well-being in the profession, and has taken a leadership role internally and externally on both topics.

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