Thorne will serve as president for two years, following on from Ken Foots from Jellinbah Resources.
Pacific Coal, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is one of Queensland's larger resource companies, managing Blair Athol Coal and Kestrel Coal in sentral Queensland and Tarong Coal in South Burnett.
Thorne was previously with Rio Tinto in London and PT Kaltim Prima Coal in Indonesia.
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance chief executive Dave Murray and Mike Menzies EGM mining MIM Holdings were elected as vice-presidents.
