This is the first instalment in a new video series that brings BHP's rich history, people and Our Values to life. Stay updated with the latest news from BHP by subscribing to the BHP Insights newsletter.

Edgar Basto speaks from the heart when he talks about the great people and leaders he’s met during his 35-year strong career with BHP, describing the organisational culture as the “secret sauce that connects our people” and forms the foundation of BHP’s company strategy. 

Edgar, a Colombian-born metallurgical engineer who has risen through the ranks and worked across the world for BHP to become Chief Operating Officer, has witnessed first-hand how a people-led approach and focus on culture has been the powerful ingredient to maintaining success across the business. 

“We know more and more that you need to have leaders that empower people, enable people, and give them the opportunity to grow as well,” Edgar says. 

“When I go to the operations, and I see people very proud that they have safely broken their production records – you can clearly see people are really happy in a culture that makes them feel that they are part of a team that achieves exceptional results.”

Family values

Edgar is proud of his Colombian background and strong work ethic that has driven his extensive mining career spanning multiple commodities in Australia, the Netherlands, Colombia, Chile, Peru and South Africa. 

He has been Chief Operating Officer since October 2022, and in this role oversees BHP’s health and safety priorities and global capability, performance and improvement projects through the implementation of BHP’s Operating System. Edgar also oversees our Copper South Australia business and has previously held senior operational roles including President Minerals Australia, Asset President of Western Australia Iron Ore and Asset President Escondida in Chile.

Edgar says it’s his “passion for technology, for operations and for people” that has made his career in mining so enjoyable and motivates him to inspire others to be successful, just as he was mentored during his early years. 

But it could have been very different for him, had it not been for the love of his family, friends and the local priest who helped guide him to success.

Edgar grew up in a “very humble family” in a small rural village outside of the Colombian capital, Bogotá. He was a bright, entrepreneurial child with a big sense of responsibility. He helped his father sell lottery tickets while his mother worked as a nurse in a local hospital treating people affected by leprosy. 

When Edgar was 15, tragedy struck his family when his father, Juan Antonio Basto, passed away. Edgar says his beloved mother, Elena Baez, was a great influence in his teenage years. 

“She was an extremely smart woman, and she wanted me to study and to do something important in life.” 

He remembers the local priest who encouraged him to finish school and find a way to university. He worked hard and was awarded a scholarship to attend Colombia’s Industrial University of Santander, graduating as a metallurgical engineer before joining Billiton’s Cerro Matoso nickel operations. 

His first job was to understand the operational requirements of an electric furnace. He says it confirmed his passion for technology, operations and people. After several years at Cerro Matoso, Edgar moved to the Netherlands where he specialised in the development of mathematical models for ore processing technologies at Billiton’s Research Arnhem facility.

Sense of social value

Edgar’s strong sense of social value came early, growing up in Colombia during a time of great community upheaval, and his time spent in senior leadership roles at South American operations with complex social, local and government issues. 

“My experiences in Peru and Chile helped me learn how to find solutions in situations that are really difficult to resolve – community protests, union meetings, government interactions and social activists,” he says. “We showed what was possible. That we can make a positive difference in people’s lives.”

In Western Australia, he spent time on Country with Traditional Owners in the Pilbara and Goldfields regions, developing a deep appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and connections to land. 

“For me, I can still remember the faces of people in the community where we have worked together to make a real sustainable difference. If you’re able to do that, then you are part of something bigger than yourself.”

The mix of the workforce in mining has evolved a lot over his career. Edgar is proud that BHP has achieved its ambition to have women now comprising 40 per cent of its global employee workforce – a world-first for a global listed mining company.  

He says by bringing more women into the workplace and driving a more inclusive culture, “we have started to see the benefit of not only better safety, better performance, but also a work environment where people are happier.”

For Edgar, family continues to be incredibly important. His career highlights over 35 years could not have been possible without the partnership he has with his wife, Maria Luisa, who he met at university. 

“Maria is a pillar of my family and in all our decisions and making sure our three sons grow in a way where we have done our best job. For me, it’s so pleasing to see the kids achieve their dreams.”

He also understands the importance of spending quality time with family and friends – doing a little fishing – and when possible, to pursue one of his great pleasures: “I like to go dancing!”

Nothing more important than safety

Edgar believes that putting people first in business is the key to success and that nothing is more important than ensuring people get home safely at the end of their shift. 

“To me, safety is not only a system but how you get to a level that people understand how important it is, for them to actually lead their own safety and the safety of their peers and colleagues.”

A critical part of safety is the health and wellbeing of the entire workforce. “We are human beings. It's impossible to separate what worries us at home from what we do at work. But today when we talk about mental health – that people feel safe to speak up – that’s extremely important and shows how much we have matured as well as an organisation,” he said.

A proud history and a strong future

In 2025, BHP will celebrate its 140-year anniversary, having been founded in Broken Hill (Australia) in 1885. 

Since then, BHP has emerged at the forefront of an industry going through tremendous change, while focusing on contributing to the economies and communities it is part of. 

“We feel proud about being part of an organisation like BHP, not only because of our history, but because we are thinking about the future,” Edgar says. 
He points to decarbonisation, along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the growing need for data centres across the world and future copper demand. 

“I mean, if you look at what has happened over the last 35 years in terms of the advancements in technology, it is massive. I just can’t imagine what is going to happen in the next 20, 30 or 40 years because it is going to be very, very interesting. But the essence of ‘how’ we do things will remain, and I’m pretty sure that we will still be ahead of the pack. And it all starts with the right culture, with the right collective effort and mindset,” he says. 

Thank you for sharing your journey, Edgar. Watch this video to learn more about Edgar Basto's inspiring people-centric leadership at BHP: