Hugh Morgan

"I was just about to go and join Shell," he recalls, "and I got this last-minute suggestion, 'Why not come and join North Broken Hill?' … That was enough to say, 'Okay’, so I joined North Broken Hill."

Morgan describes his entry into North Broken Hill, based at Collins House in Melbourne, as joining a community of mining organisations.

"Most of the mining companies were all housed in one building at 360 Collins Street," he notes.

“Everybody knew each other pretty well and it was an industry house of some note.”

The importance of mentorship

Morgan’s journey has been significantly influenced by mentorship. His own mentors at North Broken Hill were pivotal, as he recalls: "I was surrounded by good people... there was no nastiness.”

In turn, Morgan has taken up the mantle of mentoring others – among them, a young engineer caught between family expectations and his career at Shell.

“[He was] torn between his attachment to family… that expected him to succeed in running the [family] business, and on the other hand, he’d been picked up as a bright engineer by Shell,” he recalls.

“He had his feet on the ground, but he really needed somebody to talk to.”

Morgan recognised the man needed support in navigating the decision and stepped in to provide guidance.

Having served as the CEO of Western Mining Corporation, Morgan notes that while mentorship has a role to play, there is no strict formula for success.

He says you could be overly ambitious and climb your way to the top, or you could be inclusive and mould a loyal team behind you – either approach could lead to success or failure.

“I think in both instances you can run off the rails, but I think it’s more likely in the earlier case than the latter case.”

Fall into it

In a world focused on specialisations, Morgan advocates for a broader engagement with history, industry and community. He believes that a curious mind is vital: "Time matters to absorb what's going on over a longer period of time."

If you’re interested in history and you’re interested in national development, if you’re interested in corporate structures… you fall into it.

Morgan has developed many interests over the years. Chief among them is his interest in the arts. His engagement began early, influenced by his mother’s passion for modern art.

"She led me by the nose on that," he says.

This early exposure led him to long-standing roles on the NGV board and, later, as the founder of the NGV Foundation, where he remains a board member today.

"Going on the board of the gallery was a bit of a culture shock," he admits of his first non-industry appointment, but it became a significant part of his life’s work.

“What you see today is really wonderful… I can’t be more praiseworthy about the gallery,” he says.

His love for the countryside is another defining feature. Morgan has maintained a farm near Romsey since 1972, transitioning from a stud to mostly farming sheep, specifically producing prime lamb.

"I like the mountains, I like the countryside, I like the farming activity," he says.

Morgan has made his passions his life’s work. His story goes beyond mining, reflecting a lifetime of learning and creating deep connections to people and place.