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The Business School Board

The UWA Business School works closely with leading companies, a network of individuals and graduates, and the broader business community. The UWA Business School’s partners provide guest lecturers, case studies, mentoring, and a suite of scholarships and prizes, all designed to support our students as they achieve at the highest level. Our connections with industry allow students to engage with potential employers and ensures our teaching is constantly informed by practical, industry-relevant expertise.

 

Dr Mark Barnaba AM – Reserve Bank of Australia Board (Co-chair)

Mark Barnaba commenced as Co-Deputy Chair of Fortescue Metals Group in November 2017 and has served as Lead Independent Director since November 2014 as well as a Non-Executive Director since February 2010.

Mr Barnaba is a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Prior to his appointment, he worked for McKinsey and Company and also recently held several senior executive roles at Macquarie Group, where until 30 August 2017, Mr Barnaba served as Chairman and Global Head of Natural Resources for Macquarie Capital.

He is Chairman of The University of Western Australia's Business School Board and is an Adjunct Professor of Finance and Investment Banking at the University of WA, is co-founder (and previously co-executive Chairman) of Azure Capital, is a Senior Advisor at Ernst & Young Oceania and has previously served as the Chairman of Western Power, Chairman of Black Swan State Theatre Company, Edge Employment Solutions, the West Coast Eagles Football Club, Alinta Infrastructure Holdings and member of the Advisory Council for The Hugh Jackman Deborah-lee Furness Foundation for the Performing Arts. In 2011, he was appointed by the Premier to chair the WA Steering Committee of the Commonwealth Business Forum for CHOGM.

After graduating from The University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce (first class honours; University medal), Mr Barnaba entered Harvard Business School receiving an MBA (high distinction; Baker Scholar). Post business school, he spent the majority of his time with McKinsey and Company, overseas, before returning to Australia in the mid-1990s.

Mr Barnaba was the recipient of the WA Citizen of the Year Award in Industry and Commerce in 2009.

In 2015, Mr Barnaba was named a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the investment banking and financial sectors, to business education, and to sporting and cultural organisations.

He received an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from The University of Western Australia in 2012 and was granted the Honorary designation FCPA from CPA Australia. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 


Dr Adrian Fini OAM – Director, Hesperia (Co-chair)

Adrian Fini is Director of Hesperia and Fini Group Pty Ltd, a private property and investment group.  He is also an Adjunct Professor in Entrepreneurship at the UWA Business School.

Adrian is a current Board member of The University of Western Australia Business School Board and the Perth Festival.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from The University of Western Australia.

Professor Peter Robertson – Dean, UWA Business School

Peter Robertson is a Professor of Economics and is Dean of the Business School.

He was Head of Economics 2014-2016  and was Associate Dean of Research from 2011-2014. He was educated at the University of Otago, the University of New England and Simon Fraser University. He has been a visiting Scholar at the University of Otago, The University of British Columbia, Rutgers University and The University of Oxford. He was formerly employed at the Productivity Commission 1994-1996,  and the University of New South Wales 1996-2009. Peter also serves as an expert consultant to the Productivity Commission and to the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and is a member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. He is currently serving on the editorial board of The Indian Growth and Development Review and Economic Papers. 

Professor Peter Robertson
Alan Cransberg – Chairman, The Wirrpanda Foundation

Alan Cransberg was Chairman and Managing Director, Alcoa of Australia, from 2008 until April, 2016. He is an Adjunct Professor in Corporate Strategy at the UWA Business School.

Alan’s last position with Alcoa was President Alcoa Refining and Australia Region. Alcoa of Australia has mining, refining, power and smelting interests across Australia. As President Alcoa Refining, Alan held responsibility for all of Alcoa’s alumina refineries globally. He was also a Vice President of Alcoa Inc., Chairman of Alcoa Australia and a Board Member of the Alcoa Foundation.

Alan graduated from The University of Western Australia with a degree in Civil Engineering (Hons) in 1979. He began his Alcoa career in the West Australian Mining Group in 1980. In 1989, he moved into Alcoa’s Western Australian refining system and became Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Manager in 1998. In 2001, he moved to the United States to continue his Alcoa career with stints in Texas, Tennessee and finally New York where he became President, Global Manufacturing for Alcoa’s Global Primary Products group in 2004.

Alan was Chairman of the West Coast Eagles Football Club from 2011 to 2016, is Chairman of The Wirrpanda Foundation and is Deputy Chairman of the Black Swan State Theatre Company. Other current Board Memberships include the SAS Resources Trust, UWA Business School, ACE Mining Solutions, Swire and Sons Pty Ltd, and he is an ambassador for The Foundation for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and their Children (Our Watch).

Hon Ben Wyatt MLA – Company Director

Ben Wyatt is the former first Aboriginal Australian Treasurer, appointed in March 2017.

Testament to his capability, capacity and strong work ethic, Mr Wyatt also holds the position as Minister for Finance Aboriginal Affairs; Lands.

Mr Wyatt’s priority as a leader of the state is to focus on his pronounced Ministerial portfolio, his obligation to his constituents and to make a difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state and the nation. Mr Wyatt is deeply committed to the principles of closing the gap in Australia. 

Elected to the Legislative Assembly in a by-election, held in March 2006, Mr Wyatt was fast-tracked to fill the vacancy created when the Hon Dr Geoff Gallop resigned and has been serving the State for more than 12 years. 
 
Prior to his appointment as a senior Minister in the current Government, Mr Wyatt held the positions of Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Federal State Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, Native Title and Government Accountability. 

Mr Wyatt holds a Masters Degree with distinction from the London School of Economics, Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia and has also served on the National Board of Indigenous Business Australia and as an officer in the Australian Army - following his graduation from the Royal Military College, Duntroon. 

In 2001, Mr Wyatt was awarded Young Australian of the Year in the Town of Victoria Park. Other accolades include a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship from the Rotary Club of Victoria Park for 2001 to 2002 and receiving the Australian Defence Medal in 2008. 

During his pre-Parliamentary legal career, Mr Wyatt worked as a barrister and solicitor with a national law firm in Perth and Sydney.  Mr Wyatt also served as counsel for the WA Director of Public Prosecutions.

 


Greg Lilleyman – Non-executive Director – Global Lithium Resources
Greg has been a non-executive director on the Board of Global Lithium Resources since February 2022. Greg previously served as CEO & Managing Director of Nathan River Resources after four years at Fortescue Metals Group in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Director Operations and 26 years in various roles with Rio Tinto including as a member of Rio Tinto’s Executive Committee as Group Executive – Technology and Innovation.

Greg has over three decades of extensive international experience in the mining sector, across multiple commodities in large-scale project development and construction, operational and business leadership, joint venture management and technology deployment. 

Greg holds a degree in Construction Engineering from Curtin University and is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow in Ethical Leadership from University of Melbourne, as well as completing the prestigious Wharton Business School’s Advanced Management Program. 

He is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.
 
 
Dr John Willinge – CEO, Alverstoke Group LLC

John Willinge is the founder and CEO of Alverstoke Group LLC, an investment firm based in New York, and has extensive experience as a member of the Board of public and private companies both in the United States and Australia.

He has previously worked at leading financial services firms including Rothschild, Goldman Sachs and Thomas Weisel Partners, where he was a partner of the firm.

John has nearly three decades of experience as an executive, investment professional, and investment committee member in the venture capital, private equity and asset management industries. Before entering the finance industry, he worked as an engineer in the mining and oil and gas industries. 

John is an Adjunct Professor in Finance and Investment at The University of Western Australia and a Patron of The Hackett Foundation. He is also a Member of the Board of the UWA Business School and Chair of its Ambassadorial Council's North American chapter. John was selected as a David Rockefeller Fellow with the Partnership for New York City. In addition, John is the author of a bestselling Harvard Business School publication on private equity.

John holds a Master of Business Administration with Honours from Harvard Business School, a Bachelor of Commerce and an Honorary Doctorate in Commerce from The University of Western Australia, and a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Western Australian School of Mines.

 
Marshall Allen – Managing Partner – Private Equity, Viburnum Funds

Marshall co-founded Viburnum Funds in 2007, following a 16 year banking and investment career in UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia with ANZ Private Equity, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and equity derivatives boutique Credit Agricole Lazard Financial Products (as Deputy Managing Director for Asia).

Viburnum is a Perth based “active ownership” fund manager managing both public and private strategies for local and international institutional investors. Marshall has primary responsibility for management and performance of the Private Equity funds. From time to time he will hold non-executive directorships in portfolio companies currently including MPC Kinetic, Shelf Subsea, Minnovare, MTi Group and Findex.

Marshall was educated at the University of Western Australia (BCom) and Cornell University (MBA).

Meg O’Neill – Chief Executive Officer, Woodside Energy
Meg O’Neill has 27 years experience in the global oil and gas industry, working in the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. Meg was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer on 20 April 2021.

Meg joined Woodside in May 2018 as Chief Operations Officer, responsible for Woodside’s producing facilities, and supporting production, logistics, drilling, HSEQ and reservoir management activities. In October 2019, Meg became Executive Vice President Development which encompasses the delivery of all of Woodside’s major projects, and in August 2020 Meg also assumed responsibility for Marketing.

Prior to joining Woodside, Meg held the position of Vice President, Africa for ExxonMobil Development Company based in Houston, where she was responsible for ExxonMobil’s major projects across Africa, including Angola, Nigeria, Tanzania and Mozambique. Meg’s recent experience also includes her role as Executive Advisor to the Chairman of Exxon Mobil Corporation in 2016. Meg previously held senior leadership roles in ExxonMobil’s Production Company in Asia / Pacific, Norway and Canada.

Meg is on the Boards of West Australian Symphony Orchestra, APPEA, AMMA, GLX Digital and the University of Western Australia Business School. Meg is originally from Colorado and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with degrees in Ocean and Chemical Engineering. 
 
 

 

Rob Scott – Managing Director, Wesfarmers Limited

Rob was appointed Managing Director of Wesfarmers in November 2017 following his appointment as Deputy Chief Executive Officer in February 2017. Prior to this, he was Managing Director of the Wesfarmers Industrials division from August 2015 until August 2017. 

Rob started with Wesfarmers in 1993 before moving into investment banking, where he had various roles in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions in Australia and Asia. Rob rejoined Wesfarmers in 2004 in a commercial role in business development, before being appointed Managing Director of Wesfarmers Insurance in 2007 and then Finance Director of Coles in February 2013. He was appointed to the role of Managing Director, Financial Services in October 2014.

Rob holds a Master of Applied Finance degree from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Australian National University. He has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is a dual Olympian in rowing and a silver medallist from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He is Chairman of Rowing Australia, a director of The University of Western Australia Business School Advisory Board and a director of the Business Council of Australia. Rob is also a director of Gresham Partners Holdings Limited and Gresham Partners Group Limited, and a past president and director of the Insurance Council of Australia.

 
Sue Murphy – Company Director

Sue Murphy is a Company Director who graduated as a Civil Engineer from the University of Western Australia in 1979. 

After winning a Clough Scholarship as an undergraduate, she joined Clough Engineering in 1980 commencing what would be a 25 year career in that organisation.  Twelve years in the field as a site engineer and project manager led to corporate roles with a focus on human resources, safety and engineering design management and her appointment in 1998 as the first woman on the board of Clough Engineering Ltd.

 From 2008 until 2018 Sue was the Chief Executive Officer of the Water Corporation.

Sue is a member of the University of Western Australia Senate, Board Member of the UWA Business School and Director of the West Australian Treasury Corporation.  Sue is also a Board Member for the AFL Fremantle Dockers.

In each year from 2009 – 2015, Sue was listed in the top 100 most influential engineers in Australia by Engineers Australia.

In 2013, Sue was honoured with the prestigious Sir John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year Award by the Board of the College of Civil Engineers of Engineers Australia.  Sue was also elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia.

In 2014, Sue was presented with the IWA’s “International” Women in Water Award and listed at number 8 of the 2017 “Top 25 Global Water Leaders” by Water and Wastewater International Magazine.

Simon Trott - Chief Executive Iron Ore, Rio Tinto
Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive, Iron Ore in 2021, Simon was Chief Commercial Officer from 2018, responsible for global sales and marketing, procurement, marine and logistics. Since joining in 2000, he has held a variety of operating, commercial and business development roles across a number of commodities. 

Under Simon’s leadership, the Commercial team continued to enhance customer experiences, in part by using new technology and digitisation to simplify interactions; the team also launched initiatives to allow the business to respond more quickly to changing market conditions. 

Simon knows Western Australia well and has a deep understanding of the iron ore market and the customers globally. He is committed to leading Iron Ore safely to its next phase, with a strong focus on rebuilding trust with communities and Traditional Owners.

Simon has been with Rio Tinto for nearly two decades, holding a variety of commercial, operating and business development roles across a number of commodities. He has a graduate diploma in Finance & Investment (FINSIA) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
 

 

Emily Roper PSM – Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC)

Emily Roper is the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC). 

As the head of DPC, Ms Roper is responsible for leading the public sector in providing Whole-of-Government advice and support to the Premier and Cabinet in their service of the WA community.

Ms Roper has held various leadership positions in both State and Commonwealth Governments, with experience spanning over a 21-year period in a range of areas including national security, intelligence, and reform. 

Prior to this role, Ms Roper was the Deputy Director General of the Inter-Governmental Relations and COVID-19 at DPC, responsible for leading engagement with the Australian and other State and Territory governments and supporting WA’s COVID-19 pandemic response. 

Ms Roper has also held the Deputy Director General, Policy, and Reform position, overseeing Aboriginal, social, economic and environment policy, as well as the Government’s public sector reform program. 

Ms Roper holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Murdoch University, majoring in Psychology.

In 2023, Ms Roper was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service through leadership and management in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 
Ben Macnamara - Chief Executive Officer, CBH Group

Ben was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the CBH Group in July 2021. Previously, he was Chief Operations Officer from where he was responsible for leading CBH’s world-class storage and handling, logistics and shipping services. Ben is leading CBH Group in creating a sustainable future and returning value to Western Australian growers. Before joining CBH, Ben worked for an investment advisory firm and an international professional services firm. Ben is a member of the Chartered Accountants, Australia, and is on the board of the Business Council of Co-operative and Mutuals (BCCM).

Elsabe Muller - President, Alcoa Australia

Elsabe Muller is currently President Alcoa Australia, and Vice President Operations – Australia. In this capacity she heads up Alcoa’s business in Australia, including all operations of the Company’s bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting activities in Western Australia and Victoria.

Elsabe has considerable local and international resources sector expertise gained from more than 30 years working with BHP. Her career spans four continents and six commodities.

She held senior leadership positions as global Group Health, Safety and Environment Officer, Asset President of BHP Mitsui Coal (BMC) and NSW Energy Coal (NSWEC), General Manager Jimblebar (Iron Ore mine in Western Australia), as well as commodity marketing based out of Singapore, and business planning and improvement.

Headshot of Elsabe Muller

Mark Paganin – Partner, Clayton Utz

Mark is a senior partner at the Australian law firm Clayton Utz, where he leads the Corporate Practice Group in the Perth office. He recently served the maximum terms as an elected partner of the firm’s National Board.

Mark has previously held several prominent positions, including a member of the Australian Government’s Takeovers Panel and Chair of the Boards for the University Club of UWA, Scotch College, and the WA Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA), as well as a national Board member. He has also been a Councillor of HBF and the inaugural WA Chair of ChairConnect, a national association for the Chairs of independent schools.

He holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from The University of Western Australia and completed a three-month executive management program at Harvard Business School. Mark is a senior fellow of both the AICD and FINSIA and a recipient of the UWA Chancellor’s Medal. He serves on the Board of Rock Art Australia and practices as a corporate lawyer also providing pro bono legal services through Clayton Utz to various nonprofit organizations.

Christine Fellowes – Non-Executive Director, National Australia Bank and GuocoLand Group

Christine is an accomplished global business leader and public company board director with three decades of experience driving growth for Fortune 500 multinationals in media, technology and consumer services. 

Christine currently serves as a Non-Executive Board Director of National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) and leading property investment and development company, Guocoland Group (SGX:F17), listed on the Singapore Exchange. Christine previously served on the Board of Directors of technology company VIQ Solutions Inc (TSX:VQS), listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

In her corporate career, she held C-Suite roles across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and North America for global media, technology and communications companies including Comcast Corporation, NBCUniversal, Turner Broadcasting and The Omnicom Media Group, leading P&L and operations, international expansion, innovation and digital transformation. 

Most recently Christine served as the Managing Director of the NBCUniversal Global Networks and Direct to Consumer business in Asia Pacific, overseeing Pay-TV, television and digital services, where she also served on corporate boards until 2022. 

In 2021 she Co-founded and serves as Chair of the Singapore-based not-for-profit organisation, NINEby9, dedicated to research, data-driven solutions and advocacy to drive gender equity for women in the workforce. She also serves as Asia Pacific chapter lead for HBS alumni organization, WomenExecs on Boards.

Based in Singapore, Christine spends time between London and Australia where her three children are studying. Outside of work, she loves hiking in the forest and ocean swimming.

 


Ambassadorial Council

The Ambassadorial Council is a network of prominent UWA alumni and industry leaders who are members of international chapters in Perth, Melbourne, London, Singapore and New York. The role of the council is to assist the Business School with building stronger global connections and to advise on current global issues and perspectives, influencing course structure and student experience. Our council members enhance the learning experience to give students greater opportunities to define their career in the business world.

  • Australian Chapter | Tim Lester, Chair
  • United Kingdom Chapter | David MacKinlay, Chair

Ambassadorial Council - Australia Chapter

Tim Lester

Founder and Principal, Jameson Boyce Partners 

Mr Tim Lester is a Corporate and finance transaction and deal specialist, with particular expertise in corporate governance and advising on, facilitating, negotiating, structuring and managing cross border investments and transactions.

He has 28+ years working in Australia, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London supporting clients, working with and across from Governments and their agencies and industry bodies. Mr Lester has deep experience across the energy and resources sectors as well as the high tech / deep tech, agribusiness, infrastructure, industrial and financial services sectors.

Mr Lester is an advisor whose experience is enriched by outstanding connections with Japan (and Asia more broadly). He chaired the Australia & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan for several years, he also served two terms as a board member of the Government’s Australia Japan Foundation and is currently serving his 12th year as an Executive Committee Member of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee (the peak bilateral business body between Japan and Australia). Mr Lester has also advised and supported the Government over many years on policy development, free trade negotiations and various key initiatives relevant to Australia and Japan. 

Mr Lester holds a Bachelors of Laws degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree (Japanese Studies) from the University of Western Australia.

 
Kelly O'Rourke

Chief Legal and External Affairs Officer, South32 Limited

Kelly O’Rourke was appointed to the role of Chief Legal and External Affairs Officer in July 2021 and is responsible for Legal, Company Secretary, Business Integrity, Communications, Community, Government and Sustainability Strategy. Prior to this, Kelly was our Chief External Affairs Officer, having been appointed to the Lead Team in November 2020.

Kelly joined South32 in 2016 as Head of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations and later became Vice President Corporate Affairs. She previously worked at BHP for nine years where she held senior roles in Legal, Business Development, Mergers and Acquisitions and the Office of the Chief Executive.

Kelly has more than 15 years’ experience in the mining industry across legal, commercial, business development, mergers and acquisitions, corporate affairs and community roles, and has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. 

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Laws (Distinction) from The University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University.
 
Catherine Choate

People Advisory Partner, Ernst & Young 

Ms Catherine Choate is a Partner at EY in the People Advisory Services practice. She is an experienced management consultant specialising in strategic organisational change and business transformation. 

Ms Choate has spent over 18 years advising clients in the areas of operating model and organisation design/structure and organisational change management. She also focuses on the resources and government sectors. 

Ms Choate holds a Bachelor of business degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Curtin University of Technology, a Masters of Business Administration degree from The University of Western Australia and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

 
Jane Muirsmith

Managing Director, Lenox Hill

Jane is an accomplished digital and marketing strategist, having held several executive positions in Sydney, New York, Melbourne, Singapore and Perth. Jane Muirsmith is Managing Director of Lenox Hill, a digital strategy and advisory firm, and is a Non-Executive Director of Cedar Woods Properties Ltd, the Australian Finance Group (AFG) and the Telethon Kids Institute.

Jane is the WA representative on the Business Advisory Committee at Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, a member of the UWA Business School's Ambassadorial Council and a former President of the Western Australian Women's Advisory Council to the Premier.

 
Alec O'Connell

Headmaster, Scotch College 

Dr Alec O’Connell was appointed as the 7th Headmaster of Scotch College in September 2010. Before taking on the role of Headmaster at Scotch College, Dr O’Connell was the Assistant Director at the Catholic Education Office of WA where he held the portfolio of People and Organisational Services and also worked in Capital Planning and Development. 

Dr O’Connell was the foundation Head and CEO of Trinity at the University of Western Australia and held the positions of the Executive Director, Vice Chancellery and Executive of Academic and Student Services at The University of Notre Dame Australia. He was the WA Chairperson and a member of the National Board of the Australian College of Educators.

He is currently Chair of Telethon Speech & Hearing (TSH), Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Schools in WA (AISWA) and a Director of the Independent Schools of Australia (ISA). He is a Director of the Perth Symphony Orchestra Board, a member of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Committee. He currently chairs the External Advisory Board of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

Dr O’Connell has a Doctor of Business Administration from UWA, a Diploma of Teaching, Bachelor and Master of Education, Graduate Diploma of Language Studies and Diploma Royal Society of Arts London. He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators, the Australian Institute of Management and the National Association of University Colleges and Halls, and a Life Member of Trinity Residential College at UWA.

 
Andrew Tome

headshot of Andre TomeChief Executive Officer of Hollywood Private Hospital

Andrew works for Ramsay Health Care and is currently the CEO of Hollywood Private Hospital – Australia’s largest private hospital with 950 licensed beds and 2,500+ employees. Hollywood is also the largest hospital (public and private) in Western Australia. Andrew’s focus is on both the strategic growth opportunities for the hospital as well as managing the operational challenges within the health industry.

Andrew has gained vast commercial experience over his 25+ years in business working in private practice, property development, the mining industry and most recently, health.

Andrew worked in London, UK for 7 years working with clients in the Intellectual property space, collaboratively negotiating outcomes between big corporate and university bodies around the world.

Andrew has a Bachelor of Business (majoring in Accounting). He is also an Associate of the Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, and a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Kathleen Bozanic

headshot of Kathleen BozanicChief Financial Officer of IGO Limited

Kathleen has over 30 years’ experience as a finance professional including as Partner of the professional services firm, Deloitte and Chief Financial Officer/General Manager of listed and private mining and contracting companies.

Kathleen is current the Chief Financial Officer of IGO Limited and has previously held senior positions with BGC Contracting, Atlas Iron and Mt Gibson. In addition to her corporate work, Kath has been a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committees for several listed, private and government organisations and is currently a member of the board of Rugby WA.

Sara Curtin

Image of Sara CurtinDirector, Gen Sustainability

Sara Curtin has over 30 years' experience in the global resource sector, working in the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Sara has worked predominately in mining and oil and gas in a range of roles spanning geology, hydrogeology, environmental, health and safety, risk, sustainability, digital transformation, project and business management. 

Sara is Director of Gen Sustainability, sustainability advisor business, supporting businesses to create their sustainability journey and drive generational change.

Prior to starting her own business Sara worked in oil and gas for over 18 years in a variety of roles across the value chain in exploration, development, operations, projects and Corporate. Working for many years on the exploration project in Libya, North Africa with responsibility for HSSE and Q Management. Sara’s corporate role was leading sustainability performance and reporting.

Sara worked for over 12 years in mining with the majority of that time with Western Mining Corporation (WMC) in regional and field-based roles on geological and hydrogeological projects in Australia and internationally in USA, Philippines, and Canada. 

Sara did her initial degree at University of WA graduating with honours in Geology. Sara originally from the UK led a tailing investigation project in Finland that formed part of her Masters in Hydrogeology from University College London (UCL) sponsored by WMC. Sara has also completed Post Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management from Murdoch University and an Executive MBA from University of WA.

Elizabeth Fells

Executive Director, Department of the Premier and Cabinet

Elizabeth has 20 years’ experience in public policy from across the Commonwealth and State public sectors, advising on a broad range of policy issues including economics, trade, investment, infrastructure, international engagement and Federal-State relations. 

Her international experience includes roles as the CEO of the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce in London, and as the Head of International Strategy at the Confederation of British Industry in London and Washington DC.


Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and Politics, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Australia, and an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australian National University. 

She is the Chair of Iona Presentation College’s Advisory Council and Finance and Risk Committee, and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Emma Scotney

Non-executive Director, De Grey Mining

Emma is an experienced corporate lawyer and non-executive director with strong financial and commercial acumen who has over 25 years combined expertise in the mining, agricultural and property industries. She has extensive experience in advising on corporate, financial, governance and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets. In addition to private practice law firm experience, Emma was legal counsel at an ASX listed global mining services company where she specialised in international supply and distribution contracts for mining tools and equipment.

Emma serves as a non-executive director for ASX 200 listed De Grey Mining Limited (ASX):DEG), Minerals 260 Limited (ASX:MI6) and is a Commissioner with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia. Emma is also a member of a private company responsible for the operation of a high performing commercial livestock and cropping enterprise.

Emma has a Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Diploma in Management (University of Western Australia), Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (Edith Cowan University) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ambassadorial Council – UK Chapter

Dr David MacKinlay

BE 1969 (The University of Western Australia); BCom 1973 (The University of Western Australia); Hon DCom 2014 (The University of Western Australia); MBA 1975 (Harvard Business School)
Chairman, Friends of UWA in the UK and Europe

David MackinlayDr MacKinlay is a former executive and independent corporate adviser in the UK engineering sector.

After graduating with an MBA from Harvard Business School, he became a management consultant with McKinsey & Co in London. Later Dr MacKinlay entered the engineering sector undertaking a range of roles for UK-listed international companies as Director of Corporate Strategy, Development Director and Divisional Chief Executive.

Dr MacKinlay is Chairman of Friends of UWA in the UK and Europe and Chairman of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter (ACUK). He is a former UWA Guild President and Sports Council President, and a former member of the UWA Senate.

He represents ACUK on the UWA Business School Board and works with UWA MBA students assisting them to shape their careers. Earlier he was a mentor of MBA students at Oxford’s Saïd Business School where he was an Associate Fellow.

Chris Walton FIoD FRAeS

BA 1979 (The University of Western Australia); MBA 1985 (The University of Western Australia)
Chairman, KazMunayGas NC

Chris WaltonMr Walton is the Chairman of KazMunayGas NC, a large, vertically integrated oil and gas company. In addition, he is the Audit Chair of the UK MoD’s Submarine Delivery Agency and a non-executive member of the Royal Navy’s Naval Shipbuilding Strategy Client Board.

Pro bono, Mr Walton is a trustee of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London Charity. He has recently stepped down as the Interim Chairman of the UK Institute of Directors.

He is an experienced company chairman: Lothian Buses Plc, the operator of Edinburgh’s bus and tram network; Goldenport Holdings, a former UK-listed shipping company;
and Asia Resource Minerals Plc, a former UK-listed coal miner. In addition, he was the Senior Independent Director and Audit Chair of Rockhopper Exploration Plc, a listed oil exploration company, and Audit Chair of the Kazakhstan State Railways, the world’s 19th-largest railway system.

In the past, he has been a non-executive member of the Audit Committee of the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which was responsible for the “digital economy”, broadcasting, arts, sport and, formerly, the 2012 London Olympic Games.
In addition, Mr Walton was a member of the Bank of England’s Regional Economic Advisory Panel (SE England & Anglia) from 2002 to 2005.

As Finance Director of easyJet Plc, Mr Walton successfully directed its IPO. He has held senior finance and commercial posts at Qantas, Air New Zealand, Australia Post and Australian Airlines. Mr Walton has also worked for BP Australia, in the Australian Senate and for Hamersley Iron.

Mr Walton is a Fellow of the UK Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is a Court member (and Treasurer) of the Guild of Freeman of the City
of London. Mr Walton served for almost a decade in the Australian Army Reserve, in Norforce and 2 Commando.

 
Christine Scholes

LLB 1993 (The University of Western Australia); LLM 1996 (The University of Western Australia)
Accredited Commercial Mediator and Executive Business Coach

Christine ScholesA former private practice and in-house commercial lawyer, Ms Scholes supports senior executives and fast-track executives in UK and international businesses through coaching, commercial mediation and strategic HR consultancy. She is accredited with the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches.

Ms Scholes is a former Board member of the International Womens’ Forum (UK) and mentor for the Prince’s Trust. She is currently undertaking a Doctorate in Coaching.

Ms Scholes is a member of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter.

Dr Dick Porter

Hon DCom 2014 (The University of Western Australia)
Portfolio Chairman, Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce Director, Australia Day Foundation UK

Dick PorterDr Porter is Chairman of the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Australia Day Foundation UK, Member of the Global Implementation Group and Honorary Fellow at University College London (UCL), President of the British Educational Travel Association, and a director of and investor in a number of companies.

Dr Porter was a co-founder of STA TRAVEL and worked as CEO and/or Director for 35 years until 2011. Dr Porter was enrolled at UWA from 1969 to 1973. While at UWA, Dr Porter was President of the UWA Student Guild in 1973 and Society Council President in 1972. He played rugby and rowed intervarsity for UWA, and was a Kings Cup rower for Western Australia. Dr Porter is a Trustee of Friends of UWA in UK and Europe and a member of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Council UK chapter.

Dick's podcast

 
Glen Travers

BCom 1976 (The University of Western Australia)
Co Founder and Chairman, Proxima Concepts Ltd

Glen TraversMr Travers studied at UWA and trained as a chartered accountant in Perth and Price Waterhouse in London. He co-founded Western Capital Ltd, an equity bank in Perth supported by Fletcher Challenge group and Paterson Ord Minnet, which in 1987 achieved a market capitalisation of $700 million, three years after being established. Among international interests in leveraged buyouts, fashion retail and heavy engineering, the group developed and marketed products from inventors of two of the 15 most important Australian medical breakthroughs since 1900 (according to the AFR).

Mr Travers relocated to London to pursue developments in the biopharmaceutical industry. He listed Cortecs International Ltd, major shareholders Banque Paribas and Nomura on LSE and Nasdaq. Nomura achieved a peak market capitalisation of $1.2 billion in 1996. Cortecs was ranked as the best performing Australian stock market company over three years with the LEK/Australian Newspaper award. After leaving in 1998, he co-founded Proxima Concepts Ltd and Diabetology Ltd which won the 2011 Frost and Sullivan Award for best emerging diabetes company in Europe.

He was the recipient of the European Healthcare Entrepreneur of the Year 1996 sponsored by Ernst and Young and Atlas Ventures, and his company was co-royalty holder with inventors who became Nobel Laureates and an Officer of the Order of Australia. Mr Travers’ commitment to education drove him to serve on the European and International Boards of the USA-based Young Presidents Organisation, representing 1000 European CEOs across 15 countries, and on the international board dedicated to improving 10,000 CEOs via education. He is a member of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter.

Glen's podcast

 
James McClements

James McClements co-founded Resource Capital Funds Management LLC (RCF), and as Managing Partner, has led its strategic direction, growth, and expansion since its founding in 1998. Pioneering the mining-focused private equity space, James has 35+ years of experience in the mining and private equity industry. His background is in project identification, analysis and development, project finance, valuation, M&A, and sourcing capital across both private and public markets. James has extensive board experience serving on 12 public and numerous private RCF portfolio companies. He is currently serving on the board of directors of three mining companies: Mineral Resources Ltd. where he is the Non-Executive Chairman, Ausenco Pty Ltd. (an RCF portfolio company), and Global Advanced Materials Pty Ltd. (an RCF portfolio company). He is also Acting Chair of the WA Museum Foundation. 

Born in Perth and raised and educated in the Pilbara mining region of Western Australia, James completed an Honours degree in Economics from The University of Western Australia. He began his professional career with the BHP Group LTD, before joining Standard Chartered Bank in Perth and then N.M. Rothschild & Sons in Sydney and then Denver. He spent 11 years in the USA, and during this time co-founded Resource Capital Funds Management LLC.  James is an avid cyclist, philanthropist, reader, and traveler.

 
Hilton Nathanson

BCom '92 (The University of Western Australia), EM ’15 Consulting and Coaching for Change (INSEAD)

Hilton NathansonHilton graduated from UWA in 1991 with a degree in Accounting and Finance and moved to the UK, landing his first job in the stock market at Albert Sharp in Birmingham. Nine months later Hilton was offered a role at Goldman Sachs in London. He followed this with a stint on the LIFFE exchange and in 1996 Hilton launched his own stock broking business called Kyte Securities which then became Eden Group. 

In 2002 Hilton launched a hedge fund called Marble Bar Asset Management (MBAM). MBAM became one of London’s most successful hedge funds peaking in 2008 with an AUM of $5BM. Hilton sold Marble Bar to Swiss bank EFG in 2008.
In 2013 Hilton reacquired Marble Bar and in the same year created Firefly Capital.  Hilton went on to create Red Deer in 2014, with the goal of solving the primary problems he had encountered as an asset manager through an E2E software solution that focuses on effective management of information flow. 
In 2015 Hilton completed an Executive Masters in Consulting and Coaching for Change at INSEAD. 

Hilton believes in giving back and he started the Rosemarie Nathanson Charitable Trust to support charities that focus on helping young people gain critical life skills through non-formal education and training. Amongst others, the RNCT supports the Israel Youth Awards which is part of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Programme.

Hilton is a member of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter.

Hilton's podcast

Jacqueline Nelson
BJuris and LLB 1984 (The University of Western Australia)
Managing Director, Centrus Advisors
Jacqueline NelsonMs Nelson has been very active in transportation financing, particularly in the rail sector, since leaving the legal profession. The advisory business of Ms Nelson’s company, MDT, has recently been acquired by a London- and Dublin-based advisory business, Centrus Advisors, in order to develop the Centrus transportation capability.

After graduating from UWA, Ms Nelson worked for King & Wood Mallesons in Perth and Sydney. She then joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London, where she specialised in banking, capital markets and asset financing transactions. Ms Nelson is a member of the UWA Business School Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter.
 
 
Olivia Markham CFA
BCom (Hons) 2003 (The University of Western Australia)
Director, BlackRock
Olivia MarkhamMrs Markham, CFA, director and portfolio manager, is a member of the Natural Resources team within the Fundamental Equity division of BlackRock’s Active Equity Group. She is responsible for coverage of the gold and mining sectors and co-manages the BlackRock World Mining Trust, the BGF World Mining Fund, the BlackRock Commodities Income Investment Trust and a number of the team’s segregated portfolios.

Mrs Markham joined BlackRock in 2011. Previously, she was head of the European Mining team at UBS with lead coverage of the UK diversified miners. Before moving to London in 2009, Mrs Markham worked for Merrill Lynch in Sydney covering the Australian miners. She also spent four years working within the Mergers and Acquisition team at BHP Billiton.

Mrs Markham earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with honours, in finance, from The University of Western Australia in 2003.
 
Professor Ann Tarca
BCom '79, MAcc '98, PhD '03 (The University of Western Australia)

Ann TarcaProfessor Ann Tarca qualified as a chartered accountant in 1985 and graduated with her PhD in accounting at UWA in 2003.

She was an accounting teacher and researcher at the UWA Business School since 1996 and a professor since 2011.

Ann served as a member of the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) from 2014 to 2017 and was research director for the AASB from February 2017. She was an academic fellow of the IFRS Foundation from 2011 to 2012. She has authored a text book on accounting and written a wide range of research papers related to IFRS Standards, for which she has received many awards. Professor Tarca is an active member of the international accounting academic community, having served on several boards and committees.

In July 2017, Ann was appointed as a member of the International Accounting Standards Board.  Ann is member of the Business School Ambassadorial Council UK Chapter.

Ann's podcast

John Langoulant

Agent General for Western Australia in the United Kingdom/Europe region

Mr Langoulant is the Agent General for Western Australia in the United Kingdom/Europe region. Mr Langoulant and his team work to attract investment and increase trade into Western Australia from the United Kingdom and Europe.

A respected business leader who has held a diverse range of executive and non-executive roles, Mr Langoulant has decades of experience across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. He has extensive knowledge of the Western Australian economy and industry and considerable experience undertaking reviews to support government reform agendas. 

As Western Australia’s Under Treasurer from 1995 to 2004, Mr Langoulant was instrumental in restoring the State’s AAA rating. He has also held Chief Executive positions with Australian Capital Equity, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia and the Oakajee Port and Rail project.

Most recently, Mr Langoulant has held a number of non-executive director roles including as Chair of Infrastructure WA where he was responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, planning, management and performance of the agency. He has also been the Chair of the Government Employees Superannuation Fund for the past decade.

In 2010, Mr Langoulant was awarded an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia and was the Western Australian Citizen of the Year for Business in 2011.