Australian Magazine

Dino Otranto is the Chief Executive Officer of Metals and Operations at Fortescue, leading the company’s Real Zero push to decarbonise its iron ore operations by 2030. With a global mining background from BHP, South32 and Vale, he is driving electrification, safety culture and international expansion, particularly in projects such as Gabon’s Belinga iron ore deposit. His leadership is shaping the future of climate-focused mining in Australia.

Who is Dino Otranto?

Dino Otranto is the Chief Executive Officer, Metals and Operations, at Fortescue, one of Australia’s largest iron ore and energy groups. Based in Perth, he oversees Fortescue’s Pilbara metals business and, from July 2025, took on global responsibility for electrification, decarbonisation and hydrogen product production.

With more than two decades in resources across Australia, Canada, Africa and Asia, Dino Otranto has built a reputation for safety-focused leadership, technical depth and strong operational performance.

Early Career and Education of Dino Otranto

Publicly available information about Dino Otranto’s childhood is limited, but he is described as a proud Western Australian who studied science, engineering and finance, including time at Curtin University.

He entered the mining industry in operational and technical roles at BHP and later South32, gaining experience in alumina, base metals and complex processing operations. At South32 he served as vice-president of operations for the Worsley Alumina business in Western Australia, a role that exposed him to large-scale production, logistics and workforce management.

From early on, Dino Otranto was linked with themes that would later define his leadership at Fortescue: practical engineering, hands-on site work, and a strong focus on safety and performance rather than corporate buzzwords.

From BHP and South32 to Vale – How Dino Otranto Went Global

Before joining Fortescue, Dino Otranto held senior posts at Vale, one of the world’s largest nickel and iron ore producers. In 2019 he became Chief Operating Officer for Vale’s North Atlantic Operations and Asian Refineries, based in Sudbury, Canada.

In that position he was responsible for operations in Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, the UK and Asia. The role involved:

• Managing deep underground mines and processing plants
• Overseeing smelters and refineries across several jurisdictions
• Working with local communities in traditional mining regions like Sudbury
• Responding to increasing scrutiny on safety and environmental risk after major incidents in Brazil
  

Interview material and chamber events describe how Dino Otranto pushed for “sustainable mining” and emphasised that modern mining needs “people power and partnerships” to replenish resources responsibly.

These experiences in Canada, Europe and Asia gave him a global view of regulation, environmental expectations and the importance of community licence to operate – foundations that now shape his thinking at Fortescue.

Joining Fortescue – Why Dino Otranto Mattered to the Pilbara

Dino Otranto joined Fortescue in 2021 as Chief Operating Officer, Iron Ore.

At that time Fortescue was already a major Pilbara player, ranked among the world’s top iron ore producers with extensive rail and port infrastructure across Western Australia.

As COO, Dino Otranto was tasked with:

• Running day-to-day production across Chichester, Solomon and other hubs
• Keeping costs low in a highly competitive iron ore market
• Maintaining strong safety performance amid labour shortages
• Supporting Fortescue’s Real Zero decarbonisation plan for 2030
  

His tenure saw Fortescue expand autonomous haulage, deploy new processing technology and progress magnetite projects like Iron Bridge, while preparing for a significant shift towards electrified fleets and renewable power.

Becoming CEO – How Dino Otranto Took the Helm at Fortescue Metals

In August 2023, Fortescue announced that Dino Otranto would become CEO of Fortescue Metals (now Metals and Operations), replacing co-CEO Fiona Hick after a period of leadership turnover.

Media coverage highlighted that, despite executive changes, Fortescue’s iron ore performance remained strong and that Otranto “hasn’t missed a beat” in terms of volume and costs, according to analysts quoted at the time.

By mid-2025, Fortescue reshaped its structure again. Dino Otranto’s role expanded to include global electrification, decarbonisation and hydrogen products, while former rugby star Agustín (Gus) Pichot became CEO of Growth and Energy.

This move effectively placed Dino Otranto at the centre of Fortescue’s operating business – running the Pilbara iron ore operations and steering the technical transformation needed to hit Real Zero.

Real Zero 2030 – Dino Otranto and the Next Stage of Green Mining

The signature theme of Dino Otranto’s leadership is Fortescue’s Real Zero commitment – a pledge to remove all Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its Australian iron ore operations by 2030 without using carbon offsets.

Under his leadership, Real Zero rests on several pillars:

Electrifying the mining fleet

Fortescue plans to replace or convert hundreds of haul trucks, drills and other heavy equipment to zero-emission alternatives over the decade, including battery-electric and potentially hydrogen-powered units.

Deploying large-scale renewable energy

The company aims to install 2–3 gigawatts of renewable capacity and battery storage in the Pilbara by 2030, integrating solar, wind and advanced grid systems to power mines, processing plants and ports.

Modernising processing and rail operations

Projects range from gravity trains and regenerative braking to electric cable-powered equipment and more efficient ore handling, all designed to cut diesel and gas use.

Partnering with global equipment suppliers

Under deals with XCMG and Liebherr, Fortescue is ordering hundreds of zero-emission loaders, dozers and trucks worth around US$400 million, with deliveries scheduled from 2028.

For Dino Otranto, Real Zero is not marketing. In a recent profile he is quoted saying that “a target without a plan is just rhetoric”, underscoring his insistence that climate goals must be backed by engineering detail and project discipline.

What Dino Otranto Says About Decarbonisation and Leadership

Public statements and interviews show a consistent message from Dino Otranto:

• On Real Zero recognition – Fortescue was recently named alongside IKEA and Lendlease as a leader in shifting from “net zero” to “real zero”. Otranto said the recognition proves heavy industry can cut fossil fuels “not someday, but right now.”
• On safety – While still at Fortescue as COO, he joined BHP and Rio Tinto in backing a pilot program to tackle sexual harassment and disrespectful behaviour across mining, stating that safety is the first priority and there is zero tolerance for inappropriate conduct.
• On site progress – On LinkedIn he recently highlighted that 88 per cent of Solomon haul trucks now run fully autonomously, and that Fortescue has its first electric drill operating in the field as part of the Real Zero rollout.
• On motivation – Multiple podcasts describe how his career has been shaped by major challenges, including a 77-day strike and the Brumadinho tailings dam disaster while at Vale. These events appear to reinforce his focus on safety culture and social responsibility in mining.
  

The picture is of a CEO aiming to combine operational discipline with climate ambition, while trying to avoid the perception that green promises are simply marketing.

Dino Otranto and Fortescue’s Global Growth – From Pilbara to Gabon

Beyond the Pilbara, Dino Otranto also plays a role in Fortescue’s international expansion. Business News reports that he is involved in developing a new mining operation in Gabon, centred on the Belinga iron ore deposit, one of the world’s largest undeveloped high-grade hematite resources.

Fortescue holds a majority stake in Ivindo Iron, the company behind Belinga. A feasibility study is underway and the project is expected to produce 40–60 million tonnes of ore annually, with potential links to Fortescue’s magnetite and green iron plans.

For Dino Otranto, success will depend on:

• Proving that Real Zero-style emissions cuts can work in new jurisdictions
• Balancing biodiversity concerns in regions near protected areas
• Managing political risk in emerging markets
  

If Fortescue can execute, Gabon may become a showcase for exporting Australian mining know-how and decarbonisation technology overseas.

Life in Perth – Property, Family and Community Image of Dino Otranto

Local media coverage has also placed Dino Otranto and his family in Western Australia’s property pages. In 2024, PerthNow reported that he and his wife Lauren sold a Mount Lawley home for about $3.7 million after owning it for just over a year. The couple reportedly invested heavily in solar upgrades, a Tesla battery, LED lighting and a magnesium pool conversion, suggesting their household choices mirror Fortescue’s energy-efficiency themes.

While he keeps much of his private life out of the spotlight, Dino Otranto appears regularly at industry conferences, investor events and podcasts in Australia and overseas, positioning himself as both a mining executive and a public advocate for heavy-industry decarbonisation.

How Dino Otranto Shapes Fortescue’s Culture

A recurring thread in commentary about Dino Otranto is his focus on people and workplace culture:

• Posts from his time at Vale celebrated national safety awards for Canadian mines and thanked employees for “creating a safe workplace.”
• Fortescue communications emphasise diversity, with social media clips showing him talking about how varied teams help the business.
• Podcasts from Euroz Hartleys and other platforms describe his emphasis on authenticity, transparency and respect for Fortescue’s founding culture, as well as his acknowledgement of Andrew Forrest’s influence.
  

Internally, that focus translates into:

• A strong safety message, reinforced through slogans and regular communication
• Support for automation and digital tools that reduce risk exposure for workers
• Engagement with local communities and traditional owners in and around Fortescue operations
  

In short, Dino Otranto is trying to link climate ambition, operational delivery and people-centric leadership in a single narrative.

Challenges Facing Dino Otranto and Fortescue

Despite strong messaging, Dino Otranto’s agenda is not without hurdles:

• Execution risk on Real Zero – Independent assessments note that Fortescue has extended its Real Zero timetable slightly and cut back on some hydrogen-heavy plans, reflecting the difficulty of financing and building new infrastructure at speed.
• Leadership turnover and investor scepticism – News coverage has highlighted a series of executive departures in Fortescue’s “green team”, fuelling questions about stability while billions are committed to decarbonisation projects.
• Rising emissions in the short term – Fortescue’s mining emissions temporarily increased in 2024–25 due partly to higher gas use at the Iron Bridge project, underscoring the reality that new operations can lift emissions before electrification catches up.
• Market demand for green iron and hydrogen – The commercial case for premium “green iron” and large-scale hydrogen exports remains uncertain, and Dino Otranto must balance long-term climate goals with near-term shareholder expectations.
  

How he handles these pressures will determine whether Real Zero is remembered as a genuine industrial shift or just another corporate slogan.

Why Dino Otranto Matters for Australia’s Mining Future

For Australian readers, the story of Dino Otranto goes beyond one executive role. Fortescue is a major taxpayer, employer and exporter, and its decisions shape:

• Jobs and training opportunities across Western Australia
• The pace at which heavy industry cuts diesel and gas use
• The development of new energy technologies and supply chains
• Australia’s credibility as a supplier of lower-emission iron ore, iron and future green products
  

By pushing Real Zero, electrified fleets and large-scale renewables under a tight 2030 deadline, Dino Otranto is effectively testing whether a big miner can move faster than governments and many peers on climate.

If Fortescue delivers on even most of its plan, it will strengthen the case that Australian mining can remain globally competitive while cutting emissions sharply. If it falls short, the experience will still provide hard evidence about costs, technology limits and policy settings needed for the next wave of projects.

Either way, the leadership of Dino Otranto at Fortescue Metals and Operations is likely to be studied as a key chapter in how Australia navigates the era of climate-conscious mining.

FOR MORE RELATED ARTICLES VISIT US AT AUSTRALIANMAGAZINE.COM.AU