The University of Western Australia Business School has welcomed the appointment of alumnus Chris Walton as Chair of The Royal Mint in the UK, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first Chair of this prestigious institution not to be British-born. 

Dating back to the ninth century The Royal Mint is the official maker of UK coins and a leader in precious metals and currency services.

Mr Walton earned an MBA at UWA in 1985 and serves as Deputy Chair of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter.

He is also Chairman of Aegis Energy, a company developing green energy refuelling infrastructure for heavy road transport, and audit chair of East West Railway, which is designing and building the Oxford-Cambridge railway in the UK.  Mr Walton recently stepped down as chair of oil company KMG.

Image: New Chair of the Royal Mint, UWA alumnus Chris Walton.

Mr Walton served two terms as audit chair of the UK’s Submarine Delivery Agency, which builds, maintains and disposes of the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet and successfully directed easyJet’s Initial Public Offering when Finance Director.

He has held senior finance and commercial posts at Qantas, Air New Zealand, Australia Post and Australian Airlines, is the only Australian to be Master of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London and served as chair of the UK Institute of Directors.

Dean of the UWA Business School Professor Peter Robertson said Mr Walton’s appointment to lead the Royal Mint reflected the exceptional calibre of UWA graduates making their mark on the global stage.

“Chris’s remarkable career trajectory from his time in Perth to one of Britain's most historic institutions demonstrates the international impact being made by UWA Business School alumni,” Professor Robertson said.

Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter Chairman David MacKinlay said the appointment recognised Mr Walton’s exceptional capabilities and experience, along with his outstanding achievements in both public and business life in the UK and internationally.