As Vice President – Sustainability at Evolution Mining, Fiona Murfitt leads risk, health, safety, training, and social performance for the company’s operations in Australia and Canada. “I feel privileged to manage an expansive role that allows me to spend time across our sites and meet stakeholders, supporting a positive legacy for our communities,” Fiona says.
Her passion for health and safety is deeply personal. “My ambition is to help people go home better from work than how they arrived and is a deeply personal one, having experienced a workplace fatality in the family,” she shares.
A self-described “techie by trade,” Fiona’s career has centred on leading change and fostering trusted relationships to connect strategy with practical action, especially across high-risk sectors. “I am passionate about sustainability, inclusive of health and safety, underpinned by a genuine care for people,” she adds.
Facing 2025’s safety challenges
Fiona notes that mining faces complex challenges, including ethical dilemmas from AI, workforce engagement and training, and the burden of compliance with federal and state jurisdictions. Core to Evolution’s response is a belief that ‘people are at the heart of our business.’ The company aims to make Evolution “the highlight of people’s careers,” supporting employee development and aligning business priorities with personal values.
Embedded programs such as Evolution’s Felt Leadership encourages leaders to connect with teams in the field, ensuring visibility and validation of safety controls. “It’s a good way to show that you care,” says Fiona, explaining how these efforts integrate safety into daily routines.
Complementing this, Evolution fosters learning through storytelling – every Thursday, leaders share stories and lessons from incidents or areas of excellence, inviting open discussion. Fiona describes this as “a valuable way to prevent recurrence of incidents, share lessons and help people connect more broadly across the business.”
Innovation and best practice
While innovation is constantly evolving, Fiona stresses the importance of “doing the fundamentals well” as the foundation for best practice and safe operations. Technologies like drones are “game changers for reviewing ground topography, stability, and water sampling,” and the use of AI in such things like 3D modelling helps with safer mine design. Remote bogging also enhances safety by removing people from hazardous areas.
Looking ahead: Learning and accountability
At the upcoming Workplace Health & Safety Sydney event, Fiona looks forward to “catching up with some amazing people and reflecting on how far we’ve come, but also recognising the need to improve.” Her panel will discuss an integrated approach to safety, emphasising that “risk needs to be owned closest to the source – understood by those doing the work” and that empowering people at every level is crucial. “The importance of creating a culture where people can speak up” will be a core topic.
Fiona Murfitt’s approach is driven by both professional and operational expertise and personal conviction, ensuring sustainability is integrated into every aspect of Evolution Mining’s operations.
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Don’t miss Fiona’s session at Workplace Health & Safety Show Sydney!
Date & Time: Thursday, 23 October, 10:40 – 11:20
Location: Safety Leadership & Culture Summit
Title: How safety leaders embed accountability from the ground up
