The former resources minister has been appointed to the institute’s board of trustees along with Rio Tinto executive Andrew Harding, Shell Australia general manager development Terry Freckelton and BHP Billiton project management head Phil Montgomery.
UWA vice-chancellor Paul Johnson said the incoming board members were well-respected in the industry and had worked with UWA for years.
“It is a privilege to have Martin Ferguson share his many years of parliamentary expertise with our board and I look forward to developing our relationship further as we guide the Energy and Minerals Institute to achieve our objectives of leading research, contributing to global knowledge and meeting the needs of local, national and international communities,” he said.
Ferguson and the other industry names will join CSIRO research lead Alex Wohas, foreign diplomat Richard Smith and a number of representatives from the university.
The incoming members replace former Shell Australia head Ann Pickard, Rio Pilbara operation president Greg Lilleyman and former BHP nickel and aluminium president and new Peabody Energy chief operating officer Glenn Kellow.
