Industry Insight Symposium - Tasmania

Zixuan’s journey in the resources sector is defined by her commitment to frontline teams, safety, and continuous improvement. As Operations Superintendent at Bell Bay Aluminium, Rio Tinto, she leads three operational areas and 65 frontline team members, managing complex processes with a people- and safety-first approach. Her leadership is grounded in deep respect for her workforce, ensuring that people, safety, and operational excellence go hand in hand.

Zixuan began her career as a graduate process engineer at Rio Tinto’s Boyne Smelter before transitioning to Business Improvement at Bell Bay, where she drove digital transformation program and Lean Six Sigma initiatives. She has led multiple improvement projects/programs, including Green and Black Belt projects and Kaizens, embedding a hands-on, data-driven approach to problem-solving. Notably, she won Rio Tinto’s Pioneering Pitch in 2021, securing $250k USD for a safety enhancement project in smelters, and contributed to waste-to-energy innovations at Glencore Technology, advancing sustainable practices and promoting a circular economy.

A graduate of the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Environmental) (Hons I), Zixuan is currently pursuing a Master of Data Science to deepen her technical expertise. Recognized as a winner of the 2023 Tasmania Women in Resources Awards and having represented Rio Tinto at the One Young World Summit for a decarbonisation workshop, she remains dedicated to fostering continuous learning, diversity, and innovation within the industry.

Grateful for the education, mentorship and support she has received along her journey, Zixuan is passionate about helping others grow and making a lasting impact beyond her own career. She sees leadership as an ongoing journey—one that’s about sharing knowledge, building up future leaders, and driving meaningful change in the industry and communities she works in.