09-07-2025
Fortescue head of decarbonisation Christiaan Heyning steps down from full-time role
The executive responsible for rolling out the plan to eliminate carbon emissions across Fortescue's sprawling iron ore mining empire is the latest to depart Andrew Forrest's flagship company.
Fortescue head of decarbonisation Christiaan Heyning left the business in May after a three-year tenure, but his departure only came to light on Wednesday.
It is understood Fortescue may retain his services on an ad-hoc basis going forward.
Mr Heyning was implementing a $US6.2 billion ($9.5b) plan unveiled in September 2022 to reduce FMG's carbon emissions to zero by the end of 2030.
'We've now reached an important turning point where decarbonisation is no longer a standalone initiative but is being embedded into the way we run our business,' a Fortescue spokeswoman said.
Fortescue's green energy arm has experienced significant turnover within the past two years culminating in the boss of the whole division — Mark Hutchinson — departing the business in May.
That month
The West Australian revealed
Fortescue had laid off about 90 staff working on its Gladstone electrolyser facility in Queensland and its hydrogen division in Perth.
Gladstone opened in 2024 as one of Fortescue's most advanced energy-related projects and had been expected to advance to producing green hydrogen this year. It has other green hydrogen projects in Australia and overseas in limbo.
