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Hearts & Mines

Not just another mining podcast… Hearts & Mines won’t be reporting on share prices, production guidances or the latest advances in mining technologies. Instead, we’ll be showcasing the achievements, practices and insights of company directors and executives who are passionate about improving the human experience within the industry.

Join us as we explore this often underrated but critical aspect of mining. Our guests will share personal stories and experiences that are rich in substance and instructive for our own development. These are the captivating stories of mining people who understand the value of leadership in engaging stakeholders and improving workplace culture.

With your hosts Alana Bray–White & David Beilby, stay tuned for insightful discussions and inspiring stories! Also if you would like to tell your story and join the conversation, please contact us at info@ivyandgecko.com.au to register your interest.

Episode 47

Vulnerability, vision & values: Brendan Tritton’s view on leadership that lasts

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by co-host Stuart Chandler to speak with Brendan Tritton, MD and CEO of Valiant Gold. A country kid from WA turned mining engineer, Brendan has moved from underground crews to the private sector and now into the public arena, leading the restart of the Comet and Reedy gold operations spun out of Westgold. This is a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what genuine leadership looks like at the helm of a newly listed junior, why connecting with people as humans comes before strategy, and how to manage complexity and uncertainty when you are building systems and culture from scratch. Brendan shares the “prove you wrong” moment that shaped his drive, the value of vulnerability and servant leadership, and why 80% is sometimes good enough to keep momentum. A genuinely warm and insightful conversation from one of WA’s emerging mining leaders.

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Episode 46

Introverts, interest rates & inspiration: Sara Prendergast’s view on authentic leadership

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by Sara Prendergast, Chief Financial Officer of ASX-listed gold producer St Barbara. Sara’s finance career has spanned Gold Fields, Xstrata, BHP Billiton, Glencore and Orica, taking her through remote mining towns across Western Australia and Queensland before landing her at the top of St Barbara’s finance function, where she’s steered the company through a major restructure, selling its Leonora asset to Genesis Minerals and refocusing on projects in Papua New Guinea and Nova Scotia.

This is a candid conversation about the formative experiences that shaped Sara as a leader, from a challenging childhood in regional Victoria to a dyslexia diagnosis at university that changed the trajectory of her academic and professional life. Sara talks openly about leading through ambiguity, why authenticity matters more than natural charisma for introverted leaders, how she screens for resilience when hiring, and what the mining industry needs to do to inspire the next generation into a career in resources. Sara was named an Exceptional Woman in Mining by the Minerals Council of Australia and one of the Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.

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Episode 45

Risk, resolve & reinvention: Alex Rovira’s view on mining leadership

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by Alex Rovira, Managing Director of Brightstar Resources. A former professional rugby player and investment banker at Canaccord, Alex made the leap from advising mining companies to running one, and in just three and a half years has grown Brightstar from a handful of employees to a company with a resource base of roughly four million gold ounces, on track to become a mid-tier producer.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about the courage required to build a business from near-nothing, the value of vulnerability and self-awareness at the top, and why “no cowards ever make history.” Alex opens up on Brightstar’s five core values, how the company competes for talent against the majors, using AI responsibly in a fast-moving business, and the toughest issues facing Australian mining today. David and Alex also swap notes on the art of assessing character when hiring, and Alex turns the tables to ask David how he reads people in a search process.

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Episode 44

Taxes, falling rankings and the blue-banded bee – Tania Constable’s view on mining policy – special

Recorded in Canberra, this special edition of Hearts & Mines features ivy & gecko’s Managing Director Alana Bray-White and co-Founder David Beilby, in conversation with Tania Constable, CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) — our nation’s peak body representing the mining industry on federal policy, taxation and regulatory matters.

Returning to the Hearts & Mines platform following her 2025 appearance, Tania provides a timely update on key policy and investment issues shaping the future of Australia’s resources sector. The discussion explores the MCA’s Hands Off Our Fuel campaign, proposed capital gains tax changes and their potential impact on junior explorers, industrial action in the Pilbara, and Australia’s declining competitiveness as a destination for global mining investment.

Alana, David and Tania also examine the industry’s evolving relationship with Traditional Owners, the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across exploration, operations and regulatory approvals, and the policy settings needed to rebuild investor confidence and strengthen Australia’s position as a leading global mining jurisdiction.

A thoughtful policy-driven discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing Australia’s most important industry, featuring insights from one of mining’s most respected policy leaders with contributions from the Founders of ivy & gecko, Australia’s #1 firm for mining executive and board search.

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Episode 43

Ship loaders, sheep stations & uranium dreams: Marnie Finlayson’s view on authentic leadership

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David Beilby speaks with Marnie Finlayson, Managing Director of ASX-listed uranium explorer DevEx Resources. A minerals processing engineer by training, Marnie spent 17 years at Rio Tinto across iron ore, gold, uranium, battery metals and rare earths, culminating in the role of Managing Director of the company’s battery materials business, and played a key role in implementing recommendations from Rio’s landmark workplace culture review. This is a candid, high-energy conversation covering Marnie’s upbringing on a remote sheep station north of Kalgoorlie, why she walked away from a major ASX company to build a junior uranium explorer from scratch, what authentic leadership really looks like at the top, and how AI has become a genuine part of her leadership team. A warm, honest conversation from one of WA’s rising resource sector leaders.

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Episode 42

Site visits, self-esteem & succession planning: Debra Bakker’s view on mining culture

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by co-host Gail Triston to speak with Debra Bakker, professional non-executive director sitting on the boards of IGO and Yancoal. A former corporate banker turned career NED, Debra has spent decades navigating boardrooms, project financing, M&A transactions, and corporate strategy across the resources sector. This is a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what genuine leadership looks like at board level versus the executive level, why empathy and encouragement matter more than authority, and the real value of governance training. A genuinely warm and honest conversation from one of WA’s most respected directors.

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