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"The Value of a Great Mining CFO" - Derwent & FTI Consulting

Mike O'Sullivan • May 15, 2025

Derwent are delighted to have co-hosted an event in Perth this week in partnership with FTI Consulting on “The Value of a Great Mining CFO”.


With more than 50 Executives and Board Members in attendance, event facilitator Andrew Bantock (Head of Mining Advisory at FTI Consulting) was joined by guest speakers Morgan Ball, Sandy Sibenaler, and Derwent's Julie Colvin.


The discussion was anchored around FTI Consulting's White Paper “High Grade Financial Leadership of Mining Businesses”. The focus of the discussion was on what defines a ‘great’ CFO in the modern context - exploring this topic from many perspectives, extending to leadership and influence, strategic and capital planning, through to delivering impact in external markets.


Key takeaways from the discussion included:

  • The CFO plays a crucial role in planning – there is never one option and it's important to interrogate with the business the upside and downside scenarios to maximise value and minimise risk.
  • Smart capital strategies vary depending on the lifecycle of the business and the asset, with critical periods of upfront capital investment to consider prior to cash flow.
  • The CFO must establish relationships that are built on "The Three T's – Trust, Transparency and Timeliness" – particularly with the CEO, the Board Chair, and the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.


It was a pleasure to be involved in the launch of this insightful piece, informed by many years of analysis and financial practice.

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