LLB, BJuris
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Mr O'Leary was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Iluka Resources Limited in September 2016. Mr O’Leary contributes to Iluka more than 30 years’ experience in executive management, business development and investment banking in the energy and banking sectors.
Mr O’Leary was previously Managing Director of Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers, a division of Wesfarmers Limited, having been appointed to that role in 2010. Mr O'Leary had joined Wesfarmers in 2000 and, prior to that, had worked in London in finance law, investment banking and private equity.
Mr O’Leary holds a law degree from The University of Western Australia and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Since 2006 Mr O’Leary has been a non-executive Director of the Clontarf Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that helps young Aboriginal men improve their education, discipline and employment prospects. Mr O’Leary was previously a non-executive member of Edith Cowan University Council.
BA (Hons), FCA, GAICD
Chief Financial Officer and Head of Development
Ms Stratton joined Iluka in 2011 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in September 2018. In the intervening period she held numerous senior roles across the company, most recently General Manager Finance, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs. She is a qualified chartered accountant with 17 years’ experience working in both practice and public listed companies. Ms Stratton commenced her career with KPMG, spending seven years in the assurance practice both in the UK, where she qualified as a chartered accountant, and Australia. Prior to joining Iluka, she worked in a number of finance roles at Rio Tinto Iron Ore in Perth.
B Eng (Mech), Grad Dip (Tech Mgt), MBA, MAICD, MIEAust
Head of Major Projects and Marketing
Mr Blackwell joined Iluka in 2004 as President of US Operations. He has had responsibilities for Land Management and as General Manager, USA, before being appointed Head of Marketing, Mineral Sands in February 2014. Mr Blackwell was appointed Head of Major Projects, Engineering and Innovation in 2019. Prior to joining Iluka he was Executive Vice President of TSX listed Asia Pacific Resources and based in Thailand. Mr Blackwell has a background in mining and processing with positions in project management, maintenance, production and business development.
Ms Hodgson has 25 years' professional experience spanning HR, tax and sustainability. Ms Hodgson joined the People team at Iluka Resources in 2013 and was appointed to her current role in March 2018. Her career started at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London providing advice on UK and US tax, employment and international mobility before relocating to Australia with KPMG in 2002. Prior to joining Iluka, Ms Hodgson held senior roles, both as a consultant and in-house, at Mercer, Westpac and KPMG advising on executive remuneration, HR and governance matters.
Mr McGrath joined Iluka in 1993 and has held technical and operations management roles throughout Iluka for many years. His most recent appointment was as Chief Metallurgist where he oversaw the technical development and metallurgy functions. Prior to this Mr McGrath has held senior positions at Iluka’s Western Australian, Eastern Australian, and USA operations whilst also having held metallurgy and process engineering roles in Australia, Indonesia and Sierra Leone.
PhD Chemical Engineering, BSc (Hons), BEd
Chief Technology Officer
Mr Nexhip joined Iluka in January 2023 as the Chief Technology Officer. Prior to joining Iluka he was the Vice President Assets & Energy Management for Newmont Corporation based in the United States of America (US). Over the past 20 years Mr Nexhip has held several senior roles within resources companies in Australia and the US. He has extensive experience in technical and operational excellence, as well as leading decarbonisation and innovation initiatives.
Mr Nexhip holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Melbourne.
Mr Tilka joined Iluka in November 2004, holding senior roles at the company's Western Australian and South Australian operations before being appointed to operations management roles across Iluka, including in the USA and Sierra Leone.
B Eng (Chem) (Hons), MBA
Project Director, Eneabba Rare Earths
Mr Renner joined Iluka in 2020 as the General Manager of the Strategy, Planning & Commercial functions. Mr Renner has held a number of senior corporate strategy roles, with significant exposure to a range of industries including oil and gas, coal, iron ore and steel. Prior to Iluka he held the position of Head of Strategy, Planning, Studies and Technology, for BHP’s WA Iron Ore business.
In July 2023, Mr Renner was appointed as Acting Project Director, Eneabba Project. He was appointed Project Director, Eneabba Rare Earths, in September 2024.