Selection, appointment and election of directors

Rio Tinto has a diverse Board. It comprises directors drawn from a wide range of professional backgrounds and geographic areas. On behalf of the Board, the Chairman leads the development of the Group's diversity and inclusion strategy. The Board supports the principle of diversity and inclusion and the implementation of this strategy and believes this reflects the Group's vision of global leadership in the mining and metals sector.

The Nominations committee is chaired by Jan du Plessis, chairman of Rio Tinto. The Committee reviews succession plans aimed at maintaining a mix of skills, knowledge, experience and diversity on the Board and the Executive Committee. This review takes into account the challenges and opportunities facing the Group, and includes an evaluation of the balance of skills, knowledge, experience and diversity currently on the Board and Executive Committee. This evaluation helps to identify the necessary and desired profile of potential candidates for appointment to Board and Executive Committee roles.

In consultation with professional search firms and based upon the agreed profile for potential candidates, the Nominations committee oversees the recruitment process for new non-executive directors, including the formal assessment of shortlisted candidates who are identified as being suitable for the role in question, as well as the final selection process. Proposals for the appointment of any new director are then submitted to the full Board for approval.

The Board has established measurable objectives for achieving gender diversity on the Board in accordance with the Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Any director appointed by the Board holds office only until the next annual general meeting and shall then be eligible for election. Any director who is elected by shareholders at the first annual general meeting after their appointment must thereafter retire at least once every three years and, if they so wish, offer themselves for re-election. This is known as retirement by rotation. However, in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, Rio Tinto submits all directors for re-election annually. Non-executive directors are generally expected to serve on the Board for at least six years and, except in special circumstances, would not normally serve more than nine years.