Mark Pownall has more than three decades of media experience, predominantly in business media in Perth, with a foray to the financial centre of London in the mid 1990s.
Mr Pownall has a vast body of work available through the archives of Business News, including news articles and features on many subjects. He has written a regular column for Business News since he joined as Editor in 2000 and has also been a key part of the Mark My Words podcast duo with Mark Beyer since 2014. On stage, Mr Pownall has interviewed many of the state's business leaders.
For most of his time at Business News, Mr Pownall ran the content operations of the business and was integral to the implementation of all the company’s digital products – the twice daily email newsletters, weekly podcasts, deals database and the Data & Insights subscriber database and search engine.
In early 2017 he became CEO of Business News, a role he had for three years before transitioning to his last executive position as Director of Strategy & Innovation, where he was responsible for digital transformation and new product development, including the rollout of a new subscriber-only remuneration platform. He is now back on the tools as a working journalist.
Mr Pownall's media career started with sports reporting while he studied for a Commerce degree at the University of Western Australia. He followed that with a post-graduate qualification in English at Curtin University.
Business News has significantly overhauled the BN30 index, a proxy for the WA economy, with seven new additions, prompted by the exit of takeover targets MMA Offshore, APM and Decmil.
Major charity Telethon Kids Institute is to be chaired by Naomi Flutter, succeeding high-profile Julie Bishop as the organisation prepares to roll out a new name and strategic plan.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss BGC's sale process; the energy sector; Woodside; the role of gas and renewables; Defence; the alumina sector and what it means for South32.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss Fortescue job cuts; the labour market; CFMEU; changes at Adrian Fini's property group; iron ore updates; Qantas; and a magazine preview.
Automated water monitoring system Eco Detection, run by local venture capitalist Jefferson Harcourt, has raised $10 million from a UK investment group.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss BHP's Nickel West operations; the resources sector fallout; South32 project approval; new Wildcats owner; the West Coast Eagles; and Perth's retail market.
Ian Armstrong has stepped off the board of major private conglomerate Perron Group, to be replaced after 35 years as a director by Victorian Ken Marshman.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss big news in Perth's hotel sector; mining industry updates; the dispute between Damien Oliver and his former manager; and a magazine preview.
Austin Engineering has 12 months to find a new chief after David Singleton gave notice of his retirement following a three-year stint at the helm, which has earned him almost $20 million.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss a desal plant in the Pilbara, leadership changes at Austal, revised interest rates and the planning saga around Cottesloe's Indiana Tea House and more.
Major Western Australian charity Activ Foundation has announced plans to become part of a national disability organisation through a merger with Victoria's genU.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the Chinese premier's visit to WA; critical minerals; iron ore mines closure; Dutton's nuclear plan; WA's gas market, Woodside and BGC; and a mag preview.
Mark Pownall and Nadia Budihardjo discuss changes in marine services, a Chinese premier's WA visit, Esplanade Hotel, beach shacks, basketball clubs, Forrest's Gaza aid, and the Power 500.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss Rio's Kwinana plan, Fortescue's dispute, MinRes selling its stake, Northern Minerals boardroom, Libby Mettam, House values, VGW, and a magazine preview.
Online gaming company VGW has continued to deliver for shareholders, led by founder Laurence Escalante, with its latest dividend bringing the financial year total to $360 million.
In this podcast, Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss Forrest property buy; resource conferences; BHP; Anglo-American; Carolyn Turnbull's new job; Feral Brewing's new owner; and preview the next magazine.
Car dealer Eagers Automotive's dramatic share price drop this week was costly for shareholders, notably the local Wheatley family, the value of whose stake fell more than $30 million yesterday.
Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the federal budget's mining support, Santos and Quintis job cuts, live sheep exports, property development approvals, NWQ Capital Management, and Clough's journey under Peter Bennett.
Rival fund managers are perplexed by the scale of the debt left by NWQ Capital Management, expressing surprise at the almost $20 million owed, including to four prominent Perth business figures.