Meet our Analyst Responsible Sourcing

As a responsible precious metals refiner, we understand the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance.

This is driven by our concern for the welfare of people across our supply chain and to make sure the metal we refine is sustainably sourced.

Analyst Responsible Sourcing Weiwei Zhu supports ESG compliance at The Perth Mint. We asked Weiwei a few questions about her role:

Q1: As the Analyst Responsible Sourcing, what does this role entail?

From a responsible sourcing point of view, this role ensures our precious metals have a clear history. It means our clients can feel comfortable knowing they are purchasing one hundred percent clean, precious metals.

Q2: How long have you been in this role, and what were you doing before?

I joined the Mint in January 2023. Previously I had worked for 10 plus years with GE Oil and Gas, GE Aviation, and Alstom Transportation.

When I lived in China I used to serve as the SRG (Supplier Responsibility Governance) leader of GE Oil and Gas and was the representative of a team of 20 quality engineers who looked after hundreds of suppliers.

Q3: What do you hope to achieve in this role, both personally and professionally for the business?

I feel thrilled to have the chance to contribute and optimise an up-to-date responsible sourcing management system for the Mint. This is an interesting adventure for me.

Q4: Why is this role important to you and the business?

Previously I thought I would never have a chance to use my SRG knowledge in Australia as the governance requirements are usually only enhanced in developing countries. In 2019, I was excited to know that the Modern Slavery Act 2018 was published which means local companies have to pay more attention to their supply chains. This meant that my previous SRG experience could be utilised again.

Eliminating modern slavery

As a government trading enterprise, we submit mandatory reporting under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and voluntarily publish a Modern Slavery Statement. It details the importance of eliminating the risk of modern slavery across our business and supply chains and the actions we take to assess, address and remediate these risks. We’re committed to creating an authentic and transparent marketplace for all commercial and consumer goods.

We also work to keep our supply chain due diligence systems and procedures compliant with the responsible gold and silver guidelines presented by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

We continue to review and uplift internal policies and procedures to achieve accountability in the supply chain management, risk assessments and aligned policies, including obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006.