Sam Walsh AO

Mr Sam Walsh AO is a former Ambassador for the Commissioner for Children and Young People. He is a non-executive director of Mitsui & Co.

Previously, he was the Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Group from 2013-16 after being appointed to the Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited boards in 2009.

In Mr Walsh’s view, operating a profitable, ethical company is the best community investment that a business can make. This ideal is the impetus for the community investment programs and activities which are part of Rio Tinto’s business. As the Chair of the Rio Tinto Community Investment Fund until the end of 2011, Mr Walsh helped guide the investment of more than $35 million to build a stronger and more sustainable community. Investments by the Fund assist the Better Beginnings program and The Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation.

Mr Walsh has engaged with a number of arts and cultural organisations, chairing the Australian Council for the Arts, the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

In 2007 he was named WA Citizen of the Year – Industry and Commerce, and was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2010 for his contributions to business and the community. Mr Walsh was also awarded the Australian Business Arts Foundation’s Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award in 2011.