Katie Charuga

General Manager Port and Rail Services, Fortescue Hedland Operations

Katie Charuga has 20 years’ experience in the Mining Industry, working the majority of these years at Fortescue where she is currently General Manager, leading our Port, Rail, Villages and Resource Definition Teams.

Katie joined Fortescue in 2010 in the Health, Safety and Risk team, supporting the Health, Safety and Contractor Management function.

Between May 2013 and Jan 2020, Katie worked at our Port and Rail facilities in Port Hedland, firstly as Health, Safety, Environment, and Security Manager and then transitioned into the pivotal role of Rail Operations Manager, responsible for the safe and efficient execution of our Railway Network.

After almost 7 years of leadership positions, Katie became General Manager of Port Hedland Operations in Dec 2018. In this crucial position, she oversaw Fortescue's port and rail operations, operating one of the world's fastest heavy haul railway and Australia's most efficient bulk port operation.

In Jan 2020 Katie was asked to transition to General Manager of Eliwana, as a greenfields project, this was an exciting opportunity to get the Eliwana Operations started from its project phase while embedding the Fortescue Values and Culture that Katie is well known for.

From here, Katie transitioned to Solomon General Manager to take on a new challenge of leading a larger Mining Operation.

The joy of motherhood welcomed her in October 2022 as she celebrated the birth of her first child. In July 2023, Katie returned from parental leave and was appointed to the position of General Manager, Port, Rail & Services, further cementing her reputation as a dedicated and accomplished professional.

Throughout her journey, she seamlessly transitioned between fly-in-fly-out and residential work arrangements, showcasing her ability to thrive in various work-life situations. Her story at Fortescue is one of continuous growth, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.