Speaker Profiles

Michael Pascoe is one of Australia's most respected and experienced finance and economics commentators with 37 years in newspaper, broadcast and on-line journalism covering the full gamut of economic, business and finance issues.

Michael is seen on Channel 7's Sunrise and news programs, is Contributing Editor for the Sydney Morning Herald and Age BusinessDay.com.au sites, is a weekly finance columnist for Yahoo7 and a busy conference speaker, MC and facilitator, bringing rare humour and plain language to the "dismal science" of economics.

Michael was born and educated in Queensland, starting his career with The Courier-Mail before working in Hong Kong for three years on the South China Morning Post.

He joined the Australian Financial Review in Sydney upon returning to Australia and then pioneered specialist finance journalism in commercial broadcasting - first with the Macquarie Radio network, then with Channel 9, Sky News and 7 Michael has four sons, maintains a love of Rugby Union, a dislike of gardening and what he calls 'an outlook of optimistic scepticism'.

John Langoulant is a former Under Treasurer in the Western Australian Government, Chief Executive of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and, the Chief Executive of private investment group Australian Capital Equity.

Prior to joining the WA Treasury Department in 1988, Mr Langoulant worked in the Australian Treasury Department.

His experience in prominent business roles includes working with government and industry, in capital markets and project management.

Mr Langoulant has extensive experience in leading multi-dimensional and complex projects, including those with challenging logistical requirements.

Current board positions include serving as a Senator of the University of Western Australia, Chair of the Board of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and member of the Board of the Western Australian Ballet and the Committee for Perth, as well as the COAG Reform Council.

John holds a Bachelor of Economics with Honours from the University of Western Australia.

With more than 35 years experience in government and the private sector, John was appointed to lead Oakajee Port and Rail in January 2010.

Mark Leathersich graduated from Cranfield University in 1983 and completed a Masters degree at London University in 1985. Since gradating he has gained over 20 years experience in the water industry including utility operations, strategic water planning, project development and regulatory approvals.

Mark was the lead planner in the development of the Water Corporation's Security through Diversity Strategy. The strategy evolved in response to the very severe drought of 2001 that threatened traditional water sources and lead to a period of rapid infrastructure development and an increase in political and community awareness of the challenges associated with a drying climate.

He led a multi-disciplinary team of around 70 professionals and scientists in the assessment of the South West Yarragadee Water Supply proposal. The project extended over four years and is regarded as the most comprehensive investigation of its type ever undertaken for a new groundwater resource.

Mark's current role is as the Manager for Infrastructure Planning in the Water Corporation of Western Australia.

David Edwards is the Design Manager of the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory power station project and a senior engineer specialising in renewable energy generation in the Projects and Engineering division at Horizon Power. Horizon Power is the energy utility servicing regional and remote WA.

David has experience in utility scale biogas-based generation, the hybridisation of solar concentration and external combustion engine technology and wind farm development. David is Horizon Power's representative on the Power Investigation Task Force for the Square Kilometre Array project and is currently working on the implementation of high penetration solar generation and energy storage management on isolated (or islanded) grid systems.

Tony Brun is a qualified professional civil engineer and has a Masters in Business Administration and Company Directors Diploma. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Geraldton-Greenough.

Tony has worked in various public sector and private organisations throughout Queensland and Western Australia in the fields of engineering, infrastructure management and planning.

Tony is strongly committed to creating a sustainable future and also is an avowed 'regionalist' believing that devolving authority and empowering communities is the greatest way to achieve good outcomes.

Peter Klein is the Chief Executive Officer for the Geraldton Port Authority, a position that he has held since July 2006.

Previous to this role, Peter was the Marketing Manager for the Port of Portland and has held positions with the National Farmers Federation and ABC Radio.

Since arriving in Geraldton, Peter has overseen the delivery of Geraldton's Iron Ore Expansion Project that resulted in the region's first dedicated iron ore handling facility and continues to oversee the port's complex multi-user operation.

Further port expansion is expected to result in trade through Geraldton doubling over the next two years.

Managing this growth and the emergence of Oakajee Port are the sources of major challenges for Peter and the Geraldton Port Authority.

Steve Murdoch was most recently Executive Director-Australia of UK-listed Cape Plc, a leading provider of industrial services to the energy and natural resources sectors.

Prior to that, he held a range of senior executive positions including as Chief Operating Officer with Austal Ships, General Manager – Manufacturing with the Reinforcing Steel Products Division of Smorgon Steel, and General Manager – Metallurgical Operations with Mount Isa Mines Business Unit, where he was responsible for over A$1.7 billion worth of metal and concentrate production.

He also worked in the Queensland coal industry as Mine Manager for the Oaky North Long Wall Recovery and a range of positions including Surface Manager and Production Superintendent for Oaky Creek Coal Pty Ltd, a Mount Isa Mines Joint Venture. He has also worked in the mineral sands industry, holding a number of positions with Consolidated Rutile Limited in the 1990s.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Metallurgy) from the University of Queensland, St Lucia.

Bill Mackenzie assumed the role of Managing Director of the Australian subsidiaries of the Asia Iron Group in November 2007.

Prior to taking up his current position, he was principal of a successful project advisory consultancy, and sat on a number of ASX listed company boards Bill is a qualified Mining Engineer and Company Director with 30+ years experience in the resources sector.

His qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) (University of Queensland) and a Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) (Bond University).

Bill's career has involved the assessment, development and operation of mineral projects within Australia and overseas in a range of commodities including coal, gold, base metals, ferrous metals and industrial minerals

This has given him a comprehensive understanding of resource project evaluation, financing, risk assessment and optimisation.

Andy Caruso is a mining engineer with around 20 years experience in the Australian and Indonesian mining industries.

He has considerable experience in various roles in the coal, nickel and iron ore industries, including operations and strategic planning, drill and blast, capital projects, mine management and corporate leadership.

He has also consulted to numerous companies around the world on technical and management aspects associated with mine operation and development.

Andy was instrumental towards the acquisition and ongoing development of the Balmoral South Iron Project in Western Australia after joining Australasian Resources in July 2006.

From June 2007 to May 2010, he acted in the role of Managing Director with a focus on strategic planning, project development, leadership of the management group, corporate governance, investor relations and advancing the current alliance with Shougang, one of China's leading steel makers.

Andy joined Crosslands Resources in 2010 as its Chief Executive Officer.

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John Nicolaou is the Chief Officer of Membership and Advocacy and Chief Economist at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, Western Australia's peak business association.

John has been with CCIWA since 2003 and during this time he has built a reputation as one of the state's most credible economic and business commentators.

John has been a strong advocate for key reforms aimed at fostering economic growth and development in WA.

He has responsibility for CCIWA's core business functions of membership, marketing and communications, industrial relations advocacy, policy development and external relations.

John is a member of CCIWA's Leadership Team and is the Executive Officer of CCIWA's General Council. He is also a member of the Curtin Business School Advisory Board.

Prior to joining CCIWA, John spent a number of years at the Commonwealth and State Treasuries, working on key policy issues such as the development and implementation of the GST and other taxation reforms and National Competition Policy.

He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia, completing a Bachelor of Economics with First Class Honours in 1996, and in 2007 completed a Master of Business Administration, where he received a Director's letter for outstanding achievement.

The Hon Brian Lacy was appointed Administrator for the Indian Ocean Territories (Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands) on 5 October 2009.

As representative of the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government in the Indian Ocean Territories his primary responsibility is to promote Australian Government policy.

Brian chairs the Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands Economic Development Consultative Groups, the Emergency Management Committees and a number of other co-ordination and planning bodies.

Before taking up office on Christmas Island he was a Senior Deputy President in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission for nine years after having practised as a Barrister and Solicitor for 16 years in Victoria.

Prior to that Brian was a Registrar of the Federal Court of Australia, a senior officer in the Australian Public Service and served for 12 years as an intelligence analyst in the defence forces.

Brian has a Master of Commerce (Honours) and a Bachelor of Law from University of Melbourne and is a qualified Indonesian Interpreter/Translator via the Royal Australian Air Force School of Languages.

Kate Cornick undertook her PhD at the University of Melbourne in optical telecommunications and, as part of her studies, spent time at AT&T Research Laboratories, USA.

After completing her studies Kate worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne prior to joining the office of Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, as the Senior Telecommunications Adviser and Deputy Chief of Staff.

Kate's roles included advising on the National Broadband Network policy, consumer issues and regional telecommunications.

Kate is now the Executive Director of the Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES) - a cross-disciplinary research institute at the University of Melbourne dedicated to products, services, and innovations that maximise the benefit of new broadband technologies to Australian society.

The Institute's activities cover a wide range of fields including content creation and delivery, delivery of remote health services and education, social networking, entertainment and broadband technology.

Antony Schinckel is the CSIRO ASKAP Director with responsibility for the design, construction and commissioning of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio-telescope, and the new site in Western Australia, the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.

After completing his degree at the University of Sydney, Antony started his career at the Anglo Australian Observatory, followed by stints at the Parkes 64 metre and the 100 metre Effelsberg radio telescope in Germany. He then spent eight years commissioning and operating Caltech's Submillimetre Observatory (CSO) on the 4,200 metre high mountain Mauna Kea in Hawaii before a term with the University of NSW working on a range of astronomy instrumentation for optical and infra-red telescopes at the South Pole.

Prior to joining CASS, Antony was Director of Operations for the Smithsonian's Submillimetre Array (SMA) on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, responsible for the construction and operations of this major submillimetre interferometer.

He has been with CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science for four years, and is heavily involved in Australia's SKA bid.

Paul Larsen was appointed Chief Executive Officer of WestNet Rail in February 2010. Paul joined WestNet Rail in early 2003 as the Commercial Manager and, since April 2008 has successfully led WestNet Rail as General Manager.

Paul's primary role is to ensure that WestNet Rail enables major export commodity projects throughout the southwest corner of WA in a safe and sustainable manner whilst delivering a satisfactory return to its shareholders, Prime Infrastructure.

Paul has management responsibility for all financial and operational aspects of the business of the 5,100km of rail infrastructure throughout the southern half of Western Australia.

Prior to commencing with WestNet Rail, Mr Larsen was a Project Manager with ERG Ltd on various offshore projects; Commercial Manager with Toll Logistics; and held various finance roles with Tubemakers / Onesteel.

Mr Larsen holds a Bachelor of Business and is a Certified Practicing Accountant.

Paul has a detailed understanding of the rail industry and is well placed to lead WestNet Rail through its next exciting phase.

Over 20 years experience within the electricity supply industry, early career was UK based working for Scottish and Southern Energy and Scottish Power working as a lead transmission planning engineer. Career milestones include connection of Heathrow T5 – 150MW and the connection of many generators (wind and other types).

Relocated to Australia in 2007 and joined Powerlink, Queensland as a Senior Transmission Planning Engineer where I undertook a number of studies and connection proposals. Eg Brisbane CBD – Long term strategic plans and the Surat Basin strategic plans to connect prospective mining and pumping loads.

Moved to Western Australia to work with Western Power in 2010 as a Principal Engineer and later Acting Transmission Planning and Projects Manager. During the time have undertaken the planning and regulatory sponsorship of the Mid West Energy Project (southern section) which looks at the connection of major new mining loads in the Mid West to the Western Power Network. The project gained regulatory approval in February 2010 and the New Facilities Investment Test (NFIT) was submitted to the Economic Regulation Authority in July 2011.

With a strong background in the planning, implementation and marketing of industrial estates, John Hackett has a great practical understanding of all sectors across Perth and throughout Western Australia. As LandCorp's Industrial General Manager, his work covers both the general, heavy and special industry areas, which are the backbone of the State's economic and employment development. John is also Chair of the Property Council of Australia – Industrial Committee.

High profile examples of John's general industrial projects include Enterprise Park, Wangara; Meridian Park, Neerabup and Rockingham Industry Zone and Latitude 32. In heavy and special industry he leads the team to develop the Kemerton Industrial Estate near Bunbury, Oakajee Industrial Estate Geraldton, Burrup Peninsula near Karratha, Ashburton North, Anketell and Browse Precinct.

John holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Curtin University, an Associate Diploma in Valuation and a Diploma in Real Estate Management.

His areas of expertise include employment and economic development through industry, new manufacturing, developing communities that live, work and play closer to home, tailoring individually designed business land.

Helen Morton was elected as the upper house member of the East Metropolitan region on February 26, 2005 and after five years of hard work, she was appointed Minister for Mental Health and Disability Services on December 14, 2010.

In her time as a member of the Legislative Council, Helen held the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for Water, Mental Health, Minister for Housing and Minister for Science and Innovation.

During the Liberal Party's time in opposition, Helen performed in the roles of Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Women's Interests and Public Sector Management.

After graduating as a occupational therapist from the WA Institute of Technology (WAIT) in 1969, Helen worked across WA and interstate in a range of hospitals and pioneered private practice occupational therapy in Western Australia. She provided therapy staff and other resources to people in nursing homes, hostels and community services.

Helen was also the Chairperson of the OT Registration Board of WA and chaired the Council of OT Registration Boards in Australian and New Zealand and was awarded the Elizabeth Adam Award for services in OT in 1988.

In her impressive career, Helen moved into management and held senior executive positions in the WA Health Service for more than 20 years, managing acute care services, community based services and continuing care services across country and metropolitan areas. Helen was also General Manager for Finance and Resources for the Department of Health in WA.

Helen holds a deep understanding of rural and remote challenges relating to the health sector after five years working as Director of the Central Wheatbelt, Midwest and Gascoyne Health Regions.

Her passion and dedication saw her play an instrumental role in designing, building and managing the full spectrum of mental health services in WA before becoming a politician.

Helen has dedicated her time to reforming mental health services in WA and was the driving force behind establishing the Mental Health Commission. Her role now as Mental Health minister means she is responsible for reviewing and amending the Mental Health Act.

Vacating his position as Chief Executive Officer of the City of Geraldton in March 2007, ahead of the amalgamation with the Shire of Greenough, Rob Jefferies created his own consulting business, Rob Jefferies and Associates.

Serving a number of private businesses and local government authorities, Rob provides professional consulting services in strategic and business planning, regional development, project management, community consultation and government liaison.

He is Chief Executive Officer of the Geraldton Iron Ore Alliance, which is made up of five iron ore companies which are at various stages of developing iron ore projects in the Mid West/Murchison region of the state.

Rob has significant management, economic development and project management experience, having lived and worked in locations across the state, from Broome in the north to Albany in the south, in private enterprise, state and local government roles.

Rob has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and is a qualified Civil Engineer.

He is also the Chairman of the Board of the new Geraldton Community Bank.

Brett Manning commenced his career in the Royal Australian Air Force before moving into the private sector.

He has spent the last 15 years in iron ore project development in the mid west region of Western Australia and was General Manager Administration at Midwest Corporation before becoming a founding director of Ferrowest Limited in 2005 where he is currently Managing Director.

Brett is also a published author.

Bruce McQuitty is a founding director of Sheffield Resources Ltd which listed on the ASX in December 2010.

Bruce was previously Managing Director of Pilbara iron ore explorer Warwick Resources Limited until its merger with Atlas Iron Limited in 2009.

Prior to his time with Warwick, he held senior positions with Consolidated Minerals Limited, Renison Goldfields Consolidated (RGC) Limited and Gympie Gold Limited.

Bruce has been involved in exploration, project generation, feasibility, underground mining and engineering geology and has managed exploration teams in Australia and overseas.

Bruce is a geologist with 28 years' experience in the mining and civil construction industries.

He holds Masters of Economic Geology and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Tasmania.

James has served in the Australian Defence Force for over 24 years.

At the operational level, the majority of James service was in the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) where he was the Commanding Officer.

At the strategic level, the majority of his service was in Capability Management and Human Resources.

Whilst in Capability Management, he directly contributed to the development and implementation of a Defence Force organisational model, which was designed to increase sustainable capability by developing and changing organisational structures, managing costs and enhancing procurement programs.

In Human Resources, James focused on leadership and capability development programs, remuneration and initiatives to increase organisational performance.

James has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for command and leadership in action during his command in Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and Iraq.

During James' time as an SAS Squadron Commander, the Squadron was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for exemplary performance. As a Commanding Officer, the SAS Unit was awarded both the Meritorious Unit Citation and Unit Gallantry Citation.

Since 2007, in the area of leadership development and organisational improvement, James has presented to a number of ASX listed companies and non-profit organisations including Rio Tinto, MacMahon, Fosters, Bilfinger Berger and NAB.

James is the Chief Operating Officer at Azure Capital. He joined Azure Capital in late 2007.

James is a graduate of the Australian Defence College and holds a Graduate Diploma in Management, a Masters in Management and a Masters in Business Administration.

He was appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the Board of the West Coast Eagles Football Club in March 2007 and the SAS Resources Trust Board in April 2009.

Gary Stokes was appointed Managing Director for Padbury Mining Limited in 2009.

Gary has previously held the positions of Chief Executive Officer of Magna Mining NL and Managing Director West Australian Metals Ltd.

He brings Padbury Mining a wealth of experience in mining projects, having been responsible for

Magna's interests in diamonds and mineral sands in Namibia and with West Australian Metal's uranium ambitions in Namibia.

He was a former senior State Government executive responsible for managing government involvement in mining and infrastructure projects, including the management of State Agreements for major mining operations throughout the state.

Gary has had experience in promoting iron ore projects to steel mills in China, Korea and Japan; and uranium to interests in Russia, India, China and Taiwan.

He has international trade experience in markets such as the USA, EU, Middle East and South East Asia.

Gary holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree, is a Freeman of the City of London and is a Justice of the Peace.

David Welch joined Australian Railroad Group (ARG – now QR National) in 2007 after a diversified career in the management of supply chains in mining/industrial, publishing and general retail industries.

David was previously Managing Director of The Millennium Group and prior to that was integral in the development of mining processing products for CSBP (part of the Wesfarmers Group of companies).

David's previous role with QR National as GGM Business Development saw him spend the best part of four years building their iron ore business.

He also spent six months prior to the listing of QR National on the Australian Stock Exchange as Acting CEO, QR National Freight.

In his current role, David is the head of iron ore in QR National with a portfolio spanning from QLD to WA.