The BHP Foundation today announced that Charles (Chip) Goodyear will join the Board as a Director from September 4, 2018 and take up the role of Chairman from February 1, 2019.

Chip was Chief Executive Officer of BHP Billiton from 2003 until 2007. He joined BHP as Chief Financial Officer in 1999.

“I am delighted to welcome Chip to the Board of the Foundation and am especially pleased that he has agreed to assume the role of Chairman early next year,” said Karen Wood, Chairman of the BHP Foundation.

“The Foundation is addressing some of the most critical sustainable development challenges facing our generation. These include tackling corruption to ensure that natural resource wealth improves the living standards of billions of people around the world; driving new ways of sustainably managing natural environments for the benefit of future generations; and enabling more disadvantaged people to realize the power that education provides to improve their life choices, fulfil their potential and contribute to society.”

The BHP Foundation and its partners meet this week to progress a US$52 million commitment to support programs that aim to address global education disadvantage. Organizations involved in delivering these programs include the Education Endowment Foundation, Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education and Teach For All.

“Our investments are chosen for their potential to forge new models for taking on complex sustainable development issues, and to set new standards. Our education partners do that. They seek to deliver measurable, effective, and practical solutions to global education challenges. We hope that bringing them together will help unlock new ideas and amplify the reach and outcome of their programs,” said Ms Wood.

Chip Goodyear said: “It is an honor to join the Board of the BHP Foundation. I have seen first-hand the power of strategic philanthropy in improving people’s lives. Since its formation, the Foundation has committed more than US$180 million of which US$52 million is one of the largest contributions to global education programs by any private organization. It is visionary and I am humbled to join the Board at such an exciting time for the Foundation.”

Inequality and disadvantage lie at the heart of the global education challenge. There are more than half a billion children either not in school, or in school but failing to learn basic skills.

The Foundation’s education partners focus on different audiences, from frontline teachers to girls and community leaders. What unites them is that they are all striving to identify new and more effective ways to improve education for the most disadvantaged young people by bringing evidence to the forefront of decision making to advance outcomes.

BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie said: “In an era where inequality grows we must strive to meet the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I am proud that BHP, through its longstanding commitment to invest 1% of pre-tax profits in programs that aim to improve quality of life, funds the BHP Foundation.”

Notes to editors

Background on the Foundation

The BHP Foundation was established in 2013 and replaced the UK Charitable Trust BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities.  It undertook a major piece of work to define its strategy culminating in the development of three Global Signature Programs in 2016: Natural Resource Governance, Environmental Resilience and Education Equity.  It also runs country programs in Australia, the United States, Chile and Canada focussing on issues ranging from enhancing Indigenous Peoples governance and self-determination to enhancing the potential of young people.

By working in partnership with others, the Foundation seeks to raise the bar, find new solutions and set new standards for the future. Its programs address challenges that are directly relevant to the resources sector. Its current partners include the World Bank, Transparency International, Conservation International and the Open Contracting Partnership.

Chairman of the BHP Foundation, Karen Wood, will step down as Chairman of the Foundation in February and remain a Director. Karen is a former executive of BHP Billiton who held a number of senior roles including President, People and President Corporate Affairs. She retired from BHP Billiton in 2014.  She is a non-executive director of South32 and Djerriwarrh Investments Limited. The CEO of the BHP Foundation is James Ensor.

Education Equity Programs supported by the Foundation

1. Education Endowment Foundation – Building a Global Evidence-based knowledge Ecosystem for Teaching. This work will equip more teachers with the knowledge they need to enhance decision-making and accelerate learning outcomes for the most disadvantaged young people.
2. The Brookings Institution – Millions Learning: Evidence and Innovation to Scale Impact. This project will help inform education decision-makers on how they can support policies and engage in practices that transform teaching and learning at scale.
3. Teach For All – Leadership and Global Learning for Community Impact. This project aims to create locally rooted, globally informed leaders to support their communities in improving participation and equality in education.

For detailed information on the projects please see separate attachments and at bhp.com/foundation

Chip Goodyear

Chip was Chief Executive Officer of BHP Billiton from 2003 until 2007 and prior to that time held a number of senior executive roles with the company, including Chief Financial Officer of BHP (1999 – 2001) and Chief Development Officer (2001 – 2003). Prior to joining BHP Billiton, Chip was President of Goodyear Capital Corporation and Executive Vice-President & CFO of Freeport-McMoRan.

In addition to his business activities, Chip currently serves on a number of philanthropic Boards including the Board of Trustees of Yale University.  Chip is Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National WWII Museum (US).