Ivan Vella

Ivan Vella is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IGO Limited, a leading ASX-listed critical minerals company focused on supplying the metals and materials required for the global energy transition.

With more than 25 years' experience across the global mining and resources sector, Ivan has led major operations, business transformations and growth initiatives spanning lithium, copper, nickel, aluminium, iron ore and coal. Since joining IGO in December 2023, he has led a significant reset of the business through a major downturn in lithium and nickel prices, strengthening safety and operating performance, renewing the leadership team, resetting strategy, and agreeing the divestment of the Nova nickel operation as mining there concludes in 2026. Under his leadership, IGO has advanced a refreshed pipeline of copper and lithium growth opportunities, deepened its influence across key joint ventures, and established a breakthrough sulphide leaching technology platform with the potential to unlock significant new value from mineral resources that are currently uneconomic or difficult to process.

Prior to IGO, Ivan spent more than 20 years with Rio Tinto, most recently as Chief Executive Aluminium, where he led one of the world's largest aluminium businesses and some of the company's most significant decarbonisation and growth initiatives. He also served as Interim Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, leading the restoration of the relationship with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura People following the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters.

Earlier Rio Tinto roles included Managing Director of Rail, Port and Core Services in Western Australia, where he delivered the world's first fully autonomous heavy-haul railway, and five years in Mongolia helping build and operate the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine, one of the world's largest and most complex mining developments, ultimately as its Chief Operating Officer.

Ivan also contributes to the broader resources industry as a Board Director of the Minerals Council of Australia, where he chairs the Energy and Climate Change Committee, and as a Board Member of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

Ivan is recognised for his ability to create clarity in complex environments, lead meaningful change and build high-performing teams. He is passionate about improving safety, developing people and creating long-term value through strong partnerships with shareholders, Traditional Owners, communities, governments and industry stakeholders.