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From mine sites to the boardroom, building leadership together

For many organisations, the greatest impact from lifelong learning comes when it is shared. For Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group in Australia, the professional development of its senior leadership team fostered a common language, strengthened team alignment, and enhanced collective decision-making.

When Miles Rigney first stepped onto a mine site 30 years ago as a Tyre Serviceman, a trade responsible for the large off-the-road tyres used in heavy mining machinery, his skills were very much on the tools. His extensive industry experience, combined with a commitment to continuous professional development, has seen his career evolve into the boardroom into his current role as Kal Tire’s Managing Director / Vice President, Australia.

Realising the potential benefits of ongoing education to the company, Miles made it a team-wide priority, with multiple senior leaders of Kal Tire undertaking several ���������¼� short courses, allowing them to strengthen capabilities, align on strategy, and lead more effectively

When learning transforms into leadership 

Having worked across different sites in south-east Asia, Miles eventually transitioned from being on the tools to an advisor role, overseeing hundreds of team members. This hands-on industry experience gave him a real appreciation for the power of knowledge and the benefits of transferring it to others.

“When I was promoted to General Manager, I had a real mindset shift. I went from supporting team members on-site to working on solving customer problems. There were different ways of managing and dealing with adaptive and technical challenges that I hadn’t considered,” he said.

The General Manager Program at AGSM stood out to Miles as a pivotal opportunity to further enhance his leadership.

“It was the best week of professional development that I've had. There were a lot of light bulb moments that came to me throughout the course. From strategic thinking to problem solving, I had a much clearer understanding of navigating complex situations, how to take decisive action, lead with confidence, and be more adaptive in my approach,” he said.

Miles spent the following days digesting a vast amount of learning into his very own handbook.

“I reviewed the important insights from the course, documenting them into an executive practice. This pack still lives in my calendar today and is particularly helpful when thinking about technical versus adaptive challenges,” he said. 

Building a common leadership language  

The impact of the ���������¼� General Manager Program was so significant that Miles wanted his senior leadership team to have the same experience.

Having refreshed the executive team, there was a lot of diversity and enthusiasm to learn and grow. One by one, several members completed the General Manager Program.

“We had everything that we needed to be successful, but to fully unlock everyone’s potential, there was one thing missing: a shared framework and common language for leadership,” Miles explained.

Many leaders gained not only strategic insight but also techniques for structured reflection, decision-making, and aligning executive priorities with team objectives.

Lulu Song, Financial Controller at Kal Tire said: “On an individual level, I now regularly set aside time to reflect on key business challenges, consider different perspectives, and anticipate potential risks before making decisions.

“As a collective, the courses have helped the senior leadership team to set clear priorities, communicate efficiently, and lead our teams consistently,” she explained.

To complement the program, Kal Tire General Manager, Australia, Wesley Woodroffe completed the Financial Essentials course, which allowed him to strengthen his business acumen in collaboration with his colleagues.

"The program equipped us with a shared language, which helped us to navigate financial discussions with clarity and purpose,” Wesley explained.

Continuous learning as the cornerstone of leadership  

Like Miles, who had transitioned from a site-based mining role to a corporate environment, Wesley had to step outside his comfort zone. His experience on the ground meant he could easily build rapport with his peers. The challenge for him was conducting himself in a business context and communicating effectively.

Through ���������¼�’s Authentic Communicator: Activating Presence course, Wesley discovered the importance of adapting to his surroundings, being prepared, and speaking concisely.

“When I undertook my next round of meetings after the program, I was able to be myself, project what I was saying, and confidently get my point across, whether it was to a contractor on site or in the boardroom,” he said.

While each senior leader completed courses individually, the unique benefits of undertaking study as a collective culminated in business value for Kal Tire.

“When we come together, everyone has their own experience and personal insights to share. These spark conversation, highlight our strengths, and help the team to work more cohesively and effectively,” Wesley explained.

Learn more about the General Manager Program,��Finance Essentials and Authentic Communicator courses by visiting ���������¼�’s Australian Graduate School of Management.