Ep20: Leading With Grit: Mel Wren on People, Performance & Personal Strength

In this episode, we speak with Mel Wren, Chief People Officer at Westgold Resources, about leadership, resilience, and transformation in mining HR. With deep expertise in workforce planning, recruitment, and performance management, Mel shares lessons from integrating Karora Resources and the evolving role of digital technologies in people strategy. She also opens up about navigating a complex disability while leading at the highest level, offering a rare and moving perspective on personal strength in professional life. A must-listen for People Leaders and anyone interested in the human side of organisational success.   David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/  Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/  Clayton Timms 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayton-timms/ ivy & gecko  🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko   Timecodes: (00:00) Acknowledging Traditional Owners & Podcast Introduction (00:37) Challenges in Career Advancement (01:09) Introducing Mel Ren (01:45) Mel Ren's Personal Journey (04:05) West Gold Resources & Cultural Integration (06:46) Mel Ren's Background and Early Years (14:59) Leadership and Engagement Insights (23:19) Workplace Flexibility and Trust (24:17) Balancing Flexibility in the Workforce (25:15) Hiring for Culture (28:33) Remuneration and Reward Systems (29:52) Challenges in the Mining Industry (34:42) AI in the Mining Sector (36:52) Personal Reflections and Career Advice (47:14) Conclusion and Final Thoughts   Follow Hearts & Mines 🌐 LinkedIn  🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearts-mines   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in 'Hearts & Mines' are those of the podcast participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ivy & gecko or any other agency, organisation, employer, or company associated with the podcast. Content provided is for informational purposes only.