Adelaide Gibbs, a Kamilaroi woman from Namoi Waters Way near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, recently participated in Fortescue’s CEO for a Day program. Since joining the company in 2021, Gibbs has advanced her career to become a Supervisor for Fortescue’s Mobilisation team.
Gibbs’ leadership journey is informed by her military experience and commitment to personal growth. She continues to serve part-time in the military while studying for a Graduate Certificate in Business at Curtin University and balancing motherhood.
During the program, Gibbs worked with Fortescue’s executive leadership team, gaining insight into high-level decision-making processes. This included shadowing Fortescue Metals CEO Dino Otranto during the delivery of the March Quarterly Results and engaging with senior executives.
Reflecting on her experience, Gibbs expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with Fortescue’s leadership. “My favourite part has been meeting with each of our executives and hearing firsthand what values drive them,” she said. “It’s rare to get such honest insight from leaders at this level.”
Gibbs also discussed the impact of the program on her personal and professional development. “I’ve taken so much from the knowledge shared, especially around how to lead with purpose and authenticity,” she noted. “Being exposed to real-world leadership in action has helped me make stronger connections between theory and practice.”
To conclude her experience, Gibbs attended ANZ’s celebration of reaching $150 million in lending to First Nations businesses. She described it as an honor to connect with leaders like Shelley Cable and expressed hope for future First Nations leadership.
