Michelle Ash, a technology executive, has made significant contributions to the mining sector with a focus on innovation strategy, technology and digital transformation. Michelle is highly passionate about mining and infrastructure and remains focused on delivering sustainable solutions that help these sectors to continue to create and shape the world in which we live. As Chair of the Global Mining Guidelines Group from 2018 to 2022, Michelle contributed to develop best practices and guidelines for the implementation of technology and socially enabled changes in the mining industry. She is currently a member of the GMG Board of Directors.

Previously she was CEO GEOVIA Dassault Systemes, where she helped develop and bring to the industry transformational capabilities. Prior to that she was Chief Innovation Officer at Barrick Gold Corporation where she oversaw the company’s innovation program, looking both at how innovation can drive productivity in the existing business as well as how it can be harnessed to deliver alternative business models.

She began her career as a Blasting Engineer with Rio Tinto and has held several operational roles in various mining companies and across commodities.

Michelle was named to the 2016 list of “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining” by Women in Mining UK and won the Technology Innovator of the Year Award by Mines and Technology in 2019.  She holds a degree in Civil Engineering and an Executive MBA from the Melbourne Business School.