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UWA Business School
A professional development program developed by AIM UWA Business School Executive Education and Rio Tinto is one of just 13 programs worldwide to be honoured in an international competition for best practice educational partnerships.

The Asset Management Professional Development Program (AMPDP) was launched in 2007 by Rio Tinto's Technology & Innovation Asset Management Centre and AIM UWA Business School Executive Education. It aims to develop individual competencies in the area of asset management, ensuring that Rio Tinto continues to engage in best practice in the area.

The program was Highly Commended in the European Foundation of Management Development's Excellence in Practice Professional Development category.

Programs were evaluated by an international jury panel on 10 selection criteria in the areas of operational excellence, excellence in program management and business impact.

Suellen Tapsall, Director of AIM UWA Business School Executive Education, said the award recognised the value of the partnership between Executive Education and Rio Tinto.

‘The international jury panel particularly praised the way in which the AMPDP is firmly anchored in business and business strategy, and provides a variety of leadership and development methods and supportive environment for program participants,' she said.

‘The long-term value of the program is evident in Rio Tinto's deep commitment to the AMPDP, which has seen 20 programs delivered around the world in the past four years.'

The AMPDP was developed using the combined knowledge and experience of a Rio Tinto Asset Management professionals from across its global operations led by Natasha Bartlett, Principal adviser - Asset Management Competencies and Training, and a consortium of global experts led by Associate Professor Melinda Hodkiewicz, from the School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at The University of Western Australia.

Co-ordinated through Rio Tinto's Technology and Innovation Asset Management Centre and Executive Education, the program is delivered in Queensland, Western Australia and the United States. In 2011, the first French-speaking program was delivered in Canada. Future programs are also planned for Africa and Europe.

‘Rio Tinto manages in excess of US$25 billion of plant and equipment,' said Gary West, Rio Tinto's program sponsor. ‘In recent years, the company has focussed strategy on aligning asset management processes to best practice through collaboration, improving competences, increasing asset reliability, and developing new asset systems.'

Dr Hodkiewicz said the AMPDP develops individual competencies in five asset management dimensions, builds collaborative networks, and establishes asset management leadership expectations.

‘In the last three years, the program has conservatively contributed to US$27 million in short-term savings through asset management improvement projects initiated, developed and approved as a core part of the AMPDP,' she said.

‘The Rio Tinto AMPDP lives and models the values it espouses,' Mrs Tapsall added.

‘Rio Tinto and its partners have taken the time to ensure the program is pedagogically sound, strategically significant, individually relevant and authentically aligned to its asset management agenda. The individual and organisational impact of the work is undeniable.'

EFMD is an international network of business schools, companies and consultancies. The EFMD Excellence in Practice Awards recognise and promote outstanding partnerships between companies and learning and development providers.

Media references

Heather Merritt
Director, External Relations
UWA Business School
T: +618 6488 8171
M: 0419 950 027
E: [email protected]

Verity Chia
Communications Officer
UWA Business School
T: +618 6488 1346
E: [email protected]