Rio Tinto publishes independent report on cultural heritage management performance

Rhea-AI Summary

Rio Tinto has published an independent report assessing its Cultural Heritage Management compliance following a global audit by ERM. The audit covered 37 assets worldwide, including Australia, Canada, South Africa, the US, and Mongolia, completed between 2021 and 2022. The report highlights areas of effective cultural heritage practices, while also identifying the need for improvement in certain areas. Chief Executive Kellie Parker emphasized the company's commitment to enhancing cultural heritage management post the Juukan Gorge incident in May 2020. Focus areas for improvement include workforce heritage education and regional cultural expertise access.

Positive

• Identification of leading cultural heritage practices across 37 global assets.
• Commitment to adopt all recommendations from the independent audit.
• Focused improvement efforts initiated following the Juukan Gorge incident.

Negative

• Need for enhancements identified in certain cultural heritage management practices.
• Internal standards not fully met across all assets.

MELBOURNE, Australia--(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

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230319005009/en/

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

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Rio Tinto plc

6 St James’s Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in England

No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 43, 120 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category: General

Source: Rio Tinto

FAQ

What did Rio Tinto's independent report reveal about its Cultural Heritage Management?

The report identified both leading practices and areas for improvement in Rio Tinto's Cultural Heritage Management across 37 global assets.

When was the independent audit of Rio Tinto's cultural heritage conducted?

The audit was completed throughout 2021 and 2022.

What are the focus areas for improvement according to Rio Tinto's audit report?

Key focus areas include workforce education on heritage, access to regional-specific cultural expertise, and co-designing cultural heritage management plans.

What incident prompted Rio Tinto to commission this audit?

The audit was commissioned in response to the destruction of rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in May 2020.

How many assets did the Rio Tinto audit cover?

The audit covered a total of 37 assets worldwide.