Site Visits, Self-Esteem & Succession Planning: Debra Bakker's View on Mining Culture

In this episode of Hearts & Mines, David is joined by co-host Gail Triston to speak with Debra Bakker, professional non-executive director sitting on the boards of IGO and Yancoal. A former corporate banker turned career NED, Debra has spent decades navigating boardrooms, project financing, M&A transactions, and corporate strategy across the resources sector.

This is a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what genuine leadership looks like at board level versus the executive level, why empathy and encouragement matter more than authority, and the real value of governance training. A genuinely warm and honest conversation from one of WA's most respected directors.

Debra Bakker🔗 linkedin.com/in/debra-bakker-gaicd-4660b81

David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/

Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/

ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko

Timecodes:

(00:00) Preview & Highlights

(01:00) Welcome introducing Debra Bakker

(03:50) Early life, upbringing & running away to the mining camps

(07:00) How Debra fell into a career in mining finance

(08:30) Life on the farm in Margaret River