BHP CEO Brandon Craig outlines priorities at 2026 AGM
- Two recent on-site fatalities—one at Peak Downs and one at Escondida—are deemed unacceptable and the CEO set a target of zero.
- FY2026 underlying EBITDA rose to US$33 billion and underlying attributable profit increased 30% to US$13 billion.
- Jansen is progressing toward first production mid next year and remains a near-term priority for disciplined delivery.
- Company plans support about 3–4% compound annual production growth to 2035, including roughly 5% annual copper growth.
Leadership transition and opening remarks
Brandon Craig opened his first AGM as Chief Executive, thanking predecessor Mike Henry for a smooth transition and expressing confidence in the company’s future after 25 years with BHP.
Safety first
Craig made safety his first priority following two recent site fatalities at Peak Downs and Escondida, calling both losses unacceptable and committing to a goal of zero fatalities, faster adoption of safety technology, and equal safety standards for contractors.
FY2026 performance
BHP delivered strong operational and financial results in FY2026: record production at Western Australia Iron Ore, Olympic Dam’s highest copper output in over 20 years, and Escondida’s record material moved and concentrator throughput. Copper contributed more than half of earnings for the first time. Underlying EBITDA rose to US$33 billion and underlying attributable profit increased 30% to US$13 billion.
Three strategic priorities
Craig set three priorities: strengthen foundations (safety, talent, social value, relationships), accelerate performance by pairing the BHP Operating System with technology and AI, and deliver disciplined, programmatic growth with focus on project execution and capital discipline.
Growth pipeline and commitments
Jansen is prioritized for safe, on-time first production mid next year. BHP expects company-wide production to grow about 3–4% annually through 2035, with copper growth of around 5% per year, and emphasised tighter project controls and execution capability.
Why BHP
Craig highlighted the company’s portfolio—iron ore, copper, steelmaking coal and potash—world-class assets, operating discipline and customer relationships as the basis for winning the next decade and creating shareholder value.
Source: BHP