From 21-23 April 2026, Anglo American’s General Managers (GMs), Country CEOs and members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) came together at our 17 Charterhouse Street headquarters in London for the 2026 GM Forum.
Hosted by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Office, Ruben Fernandes, COO of Anglo American, said: “It was an important moment to bring leadership together, and listen deeply as we continue to drive operational excellence for safe, stable and responsible performance through this period of transition. As Captain Michael Abrashoff of the US Navy once said, the most important thing a leader can do is to see the ship through the eyes of the crew and I am confident in the teams’ ability to create the best operations in this industry.”
Leadership presence was a defining feature of the Forum. CEO Duncan Wanblad led an extended fireside chat with just the GM cohort – creating the space for open, candid discussion on what mattered most. He, alongside other ELT members, also took part in networking with additional operational leaders who joined their GMs at the Forum this year, together with Monique Carter, Chief People Officer, Matt Walker, CEO of Marketing, and Tom McCulley, Chief Technical Officer. This dedicated time was highly valued by participants and demonstrated the proximity, accessibility and commitment of our leadership to building strong, trusted relationships across the business.
The Forum is a rare opportunity to have such a breadth of senior leadership in one place, creating a valuable space to step back from day‑to‑day operations, build connections and focus on the themes shaping our business and leadership agenda.
Across three days, discussions centred on safety, operational excellence, sustainability, innovation and AI-enabled, data-driven leadership, alongside culture, inclusion and leadership development.
The programme combined structured conversations with interactive sessions designed to build trust, psychological safety and connection across the GM cohort and Group Functions. Highlights included updates on Teck integration, deep dives into safety strategy and risk management, perspectives from external partners and academia, and open discussions on the issues facing GMs today. Time was also dedicated to succession planning, talent development and strengthening collaboration.
Reflecting on the sessions, Monique Carter, Chief People Officer said: “Our General Managers are critical custodians of the extraordinary talent across the operations, and it is only through their knowledge and insights that we can gain greater visibility into how best to nurture and develop our people for future critical roles.”
The forum concluded with a strong focus on alignment and affinity, reinforced through networking and other social engagements – including a formal dinner in the Glasshouse Restaurant at 17 Charterhouse Street.
By bringing together leaders from across regions and functions, the 2026 GM Forum helped strengthen shared understanding, relationships and momentum as we continue to progress our strategic priorities and live our culture of empowered and accountable people growing Anglo American for the long term.
