Fortescue global growth director Julie Shuttleworth the latest in a string of high-profile departures

Fortescue says the inaugural boss of its green hydrogen arm has severed ties with the business to go travelling. A Fortescue spokeswoman confirmed that Julie Shuttleworth — currently the company’s director of global growth — had finished up. “Julie has been an integral part of Fortescue’s success,” she said. “We thank Julie for all she has contributed over 11 years and wish her the best as she enjoys some travel and time with her family.” The West Australian understands Fortescue threw Ms Shuttleworth a going-away party on Wednesday. Ms Shuttleworth was appointed as the first boss of Fortescue Future Industries in August 2020 and served in the role until August 2022. Prior to that she was the deputy chief executive of Fortescue at a group level and had been general manager of the Cloudbreak and Solomon iron ore mines. In her most recent role Ms Shuttleworth had a focus on Fortescue’s development of an iron ore mine in the African country of Gabon. She was named WA’s “women in resources” champion in 2013 when she was general manager of the Granny Smith gold mine in the State. By the end of the 2023 financial year — the last period when Ms Shuttleworth’s Fortescue share holdings were required to be disclosed — she held approximately 1.07 million shares. At current prices that holding would be worth about $25 million. While Ms Shuttleworth’s departure is not believed to be acrimonious, it is the latest movement in the revolving door at Fortescue’s senior management lounge, particularly female executives. In January the chief financial officer of Fortescue’s energy division, Deborah Caudle, exited after serving in the role for about four months. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and former Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner also formally left the Fortescue empire this year. But 2023 was the year the kept Fortescue’s headhunters more than busy. It was notably headlined by the inauspicious departures of Fiona Hick, who after six months as Fortescue’s chief executive resigned her post on August 28. She was followed by Christine Morris, who spent just three months as chief financial officer before her departure was announced three days later. Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Guy Debelle resigned from his position on the board of Fortescue Future Industries not long after. This came after a suite of other departures in 2023 including Fortescue chief financial officer Ian Wells exiting in January, followed by non-executive director Jenn Morris in June, and Fortescue Future Industries chief financial officer Felicity Gooding in July.