Marcia Langton knocks back Rio Tinto approach – The Australian Financial Review

Thatll do it.
Bear in mind, Professor Langton is an Aboriginal woman but also an anthropologist, a discipline Rio Tintos latter-day contempt for was proven by its relegation to the aforementioned PR department.
As another anthropologist, Rios original cultural heritage boss Professor Glynn Cochrane, told Radio National on June 19: Its been a source of some puzzlement to me and I still dont understand it why social specialists should really be reporting to public relations. Hint: to help Jean-Sébastien Jacques justify paying Niven $3.2 million a year. I cannot think it gives a very good signal to investors, the world, the public and even to employees themselves when you make public relations the most important thing in social performance.
Langtons refusal to co-lead its review would suggest she also recognises that Rio Tintos present leaders set no great store by the organisations social performance.
Since her rebuff, the miner has clearly failed to attract any other respected Indigenous figure for the task. Such is its (richly deserved) reputational toxicity.
Only this week, junior Rio executives were canvassing external stakeholders for the names of up-and-coming Indigenous leaders to present to LEstrange. Thats right, HQ is now drawing up a shopping list of more attainable blackfellas. Once thats done, they can move on to leaving a whole lot of voicemails destined to go unreturned.
Typically indelicate and, as ever, completely clueless.

Click here to view the original article.