Exclusive Interview with
SAPL Brisbane Office GM Ms Romina Bratton
“Be kind... to yourself and to others”
Ms Romina Bratton
General Manager
Brisbane Office
Sumitomo Australia Pty Ltd
You have been the first and only female Office GM appointed in SCAO group. What are your thoughts on this and any advice for our fellow female colleagues who aspire to achieve the same?
I feel honoured to be appointed as the first female Office GM and hopefully not the last. It has been a journey of learning and development for both Sumitomo and I, and for the Company to now also consider capable female Officers for a wide range of executive roles demonstrates its progressive development over time. I would like to continue this new ‘tradition’ of providing fair and equal opportunities to all capable Sumitomo employees (irrespective of gender) and encourage our female and male colleagues to step up and grab those opportunities.
GLP Global Leadership Programme in Tokyo October 2018
- with SC President Mr Hyodo and GLP Team
2018 - At the Besshi Copper Mine Museum
You are in-charge of the Mineral Resources & Energy business which involves substantial investment and complex environmental issues. Please share with us how the market has been evolving in Australia, and what SAPL has been doing to strike a balance in the triple bottom line (profit, people, planet).
Having a dual role, I am also the Deputy GM of Mineral Resources & Energy (MRE) Division of Sumitomo Australia (SAPL). The MRE Team and I manage the various investments of Sumitomo in mineral resources related assets and energy projects within Australia. I am glad to report that all operations of these assets comply with stringent Australian regulatory requirements (which include Environmental, Mining and Work Health and Safety legislations to name a few).
The MRE market continues to be driven by global demand for commodities, which in turn are affected by factors such as population growth, urbanisation and industrialisation. However, the industry and supply chains are continually evolving both in the domestic and global stage as various other factors increasingly affect the demand for certain commodities. Factors such as government policies, technological progress, environmental concerns and social obligations.
SAPL MRE also takes these various factors into account when looking to invest or participate in new businesses and projects. This is in alignment with Sumitomo’s strategies, to engage in investments, projects, technology and innovations that can secure our growth and at the same time address social and environmental issues. For example as we shift towards cleaner energy sources, SAPL is currently participating in projects that will commercially produce hydrogen (and which can potentially replace the declining demand for fossil fuels) in transportation, electricity and industrial processes with lower greenhouse gas emissions (by utilising renewable energy or brown coal with carbon capture and storage).
SAPL is also actively looking for investment opportunities in commodities (such as lithium) required for batteries which are used in renewable generation and storage and in electric vehicles (such as copper, in addition to our existing investment). We also have invested and continue to be active in identifying innovation and technology that can improve our existing Sumitomo operations and potentially create our new generation of business. As the market evolves, SAPL MRE will need to evolve and rise to the challenges, to seize opportunities arising from changes in the global energy mix and demand, and to meet our environmental and social obligations.
What in the world do you hope never changes? Why?
Never say never, change can be good. But if I can be philosophical about this question… in the world of rapid development in technology and processes, I hope we never lose our sense of humanity.
2019 Brisbane Office Christmas party
2018 - At a Tokyo restaurant with Sumiya san (I've never seen fish served this way, it was amazing!)
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SNAPSHOT
I strongly believe in… the love and support of my family
I spend most of my time.. reading (for both work & pleasure)
The food I crave most often is… spaghetti marinara
The slang I used on a regular basis is… C’mon… give it a go
One personal rule that I never break is… to be true to oneself
The thing that cheers me up whenever I think about is… my sister…, who is intelligently hilarious
One thing I really want but can’t afford yet is… to learn French in France, Spanish in Spain and Italian in Italy (at least 1 year in each country)
If I could go back in time, I would… learn languages and learn to play musical instruments at an early age. (At the moment, I can only confidently play the stereo)
If I have enough money to live comfortably without having to work, I would… ensure my family is well looked after and provide opportunities to others in need.
