Mark Beyer

This is the fourth year in succession WA Business News has profiled the most influential people in politics, government, business and the community in Western Australia.

This time last year, Rugby WA chairman Geoff Stooke and cricket legend Dennis Lillee were not regarded as major players in the running of sport in Western Australia; but that changed with a vengeance late last year.

John Langoulant has undergone a big change over the past year, moving from his role as under treasurer to become chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA.

The property and construction industry has created many powerful and influential Western Australians, none more so than Multiplex founder John Roberts.

The two most influential public servants in Western Australia, newly appointed Under Treasurer Tim Marney and Acting Director General of Health Neale Fong, are both far removed from the traditional image of career bureaucrats.

Takeovers of major industrial companies have thinned the pool of powerful chief executives in Western Australia.

Western Australia has 27 members and senators in the federal parliament, and while some are very good at generating headlines, there is a group of five who are clearly the most influential.

The debate over the future of Western Australia’s retail sector has provided a keen insight into political and community influence in the state.

July 12 will be a major milestone in corporate Western Australia. It’s the day Michael Chaney will end his remarkably successful 13-year term as managing director of the state’s biggest industrial company, Wesfarmers.

Venture Capital firm Foundation Capital has confirmed it is conducting a major strategic review that is likely to result in a merger with a larger firm.

The boardroom coup at the WA Cricket Association last September was headlined by new president Dennis Lillee, but standing with him were three prominent business figures, who were also elected to the WACA board.

In contemporary government, the reality is that political advisers with direct access to ministers wield far more influence than traditional public service advisers.

Two recent Australians of the Year, Professor Fiona Stanley and Dr Fiona Wood, head the list of influential people in the field of science and technology.

Unionists, lobbyists, party powerbrokers and industry associations are just some of the many behind-the-scenes influences on government policy making.

If money equals power and influence, then Perth’s prominent private business owners must rank as some of the state’s most influential people.

Geoff Gallop and Jim McGinty are the two dominant figures in the Labor governments that have held power since February 2001.

This year’s list of influential executives in the resource sector has two defining characteristics – it’s a long list and it’s dominated increasingly by multinational companies.

The North West Shelf Venture’s $2 billion phase V project, which received formal go-ahead last week, is expected to generate only half the jobs of the Venture’s last big expansion.

The State Government’s strategy of centralising ‘back office’ activities into shared service centres is creating unprecedented opportunities for the information technology sector.

A successful career in politics, just like in business, can depend on being in the right place at the right time.

The State Government appeared to be a model of sensible pragmatism last week when it granted approval for Griffin Group’s planned coal-fired power station at Collie.

Accounting firm Hall Chadwick has become a prime merger candidate after insolvency partners Kim Strickland and Chris Williamson left with their staff to set up a new practice under the name SimsPartners.

The State Government has challenged the accuracy of an Auditor-General’s report on iron ore royalties as it continues its efforts to abolish ‘concessional’ royalty payments by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

Perth-born banker Rob Bransby is aiming to boost the growth of National Australia Bank’s specialist healthcare financier after being appointed to the Sydney post earlier this year.

Private Perth company QVS Shopfitters has won what it considers the biggest fit-out tender in Perth this year following a $500,000 investment in robotic automation equipment.

Perth investors who like the taste of barramundi are currently in the rare position of being able to select from an investment menu with three Western Australian aquaculture companies.

Home-grown technology developed by private Perth company McRobert Aquaculture Systems has been promoted as having the potential to “revolutionise” the global aquaculture industry.

Spending on water and power infrastructure were the two stand-out increases in the 2005-06 State Budget, handed down last week by Treasurer Eric Ripper.

The State Government has held out the possibility of major tax reform after committing to establish a wide-ranging review of state taxes.

South African company Kumba Resources has put forward an indicative proposal to move to full ownership of its Australian mineral sands subsidiary Ticor.

One week after Woolworths and Metcash Trading agreed to the carve up of Foodland’s trans-Tasman grocery business, Woolworths is refusing to disclose details of the 16 grocery stores it plans to acquire in Western Australia.

Perth company Comet Ridge has reported positive results from its Tipton West coal seam methane gas project in Queensland, adding to hopes it may join the ranks of gas producers in the region.