Post government Ferguson has become chairman of an advisory board of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association and an executive with Seven Group Holdings with responsibility for natural resources.

He also chairs a Tasmanian government advisory panel into that state’s timber industry.

BG Group chairman Andrew Gould said Ferguson brought international expertise, particularly in the resources and energy sector.

“With Australia poised to become one of the world’s leading suppliers of LNG and with BG Group set to deliver the world’s first CSG to LNG project in 2014, Martin’s insight and experience in the development of Australia’s natural gas industry and the growing LNG market in Asia will prove invaluable to the board,” Gould said.

Ferguson was very highly regarded as resources minister.