He's worked as a lawyer, played Australian rules football at the highest level, and has spent the past 20 years as a trade commissioner and private consultant helping Western companies do business in China.
Rio Tinto Ltd, the world's third largest mining company, has forecast higher prices for the company's core commodities of iron, alumina and copper after delivering a record first half profit.
Parochial investors who put their money into Western Australian stocks have just experienced their worst year in nearly a decade, judging by the results of WA Business News' annual total shareholder return survey.
Despite the downturn in the residential property sector during the past eight months, three Western Australian developers have posted increased profits for the year to June.
Kwinana-based engineering and fabrication company Ausgroup Ltd has reported a fall in annual profit despite achieving a big increase in revenue and having a record order book.
Investors trying to pick the next big thing in the resources boom poured their money into a diverse group of Western Australian companies last year, including iron ore, coal and phosphate stocks.
Whether or not you are a fan of the Olympic Games, this wonderful event does highlight the competitiveness of nations, exposing what can be achieved by investment of resources and exploitation of natural advantages.
Uranium miner Paladin Energy and iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group have for the third year running maintained their status as the top performing Western Australian stocks, based on rolling five-year returns.
The recent decision by two of Western Australia's microbrewers to sell up could present growth opportunities for the industry's remaining players, according to Gage Roads CEO Nick Hayler.
Macmahon Holdings Ltd has further strengthened its takeover bid for Ausdrill Ltd, waiving several conditions and allowing shareholders to keep the final six cents dividend.
The downturn in the financial sector has hit West Perth-based financial services company Centrepoint Alliance Ltd, which today reported an $11.8 million goodwill writedown and a full year net loss of $9.5 million.
Despite forecasting a profit growth in excess of $40 million for the 2008 financial year, Western Australian property developer Port Bouvard Ltd has reported an 88 per cent slump in net profit to $3.2 million.
A number of acquisitions over the 2008 financial year have driven Cash Converters International Ltd's net profit up 31 per cent to a record of over $15 million.
Gage Roads has posted a net loss after tax of $3.62 million for fiscal 2008 compared to $3.07 million in 2007, reflecting increased marketing and personnel expenditure against a background of flat sales growth.
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The managing director of earthmoving and mining equipment supplier Emeco Holdings Ltd has described the company's full-year performance as a "tale of two halves" as it booked a net profit decline of 10 per cent.
The state Labor Party has sought to capitalise on community concern over uranium mining, promising to introduce legislation banning the controversial practice if re-elected next month.
Despite a challenging year for the financial sector, Perth-based Police & Nurses Credit Society has reported a slight fall in group net profit to $19 million for the 2008 financial year.
An increase in marketing and personnel expenditure against a background of flat sales growth has prompted Gage Roads Brewing Co Ltd to post a full year net loss of nearly $4 million.
Shares in agribusiness investment manager Great Southern Ltd jumped briefly higher today after a major restructure proposal to create a company with three business streams.
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Alumina Ltd plans to raise up to $910 million through a pro rata entitlement offer to fund expansion plans for its joint venture projects in Brazil to meet growing global demand.
Economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel has forecast a return to strong economic growth in the medium-term, once the current episode of ‘overdone pessimism’ has receded.
Oil and gas producer Amadeus Energy Ltd's bottom line has been impacted by adjustments to its hedge portfolio, with the company reporting a full year net loss of $1.3 million.
East Perth-based North Australian Diamonds Ltd's plan to raise $6 million could face a hurdle from a major shareholder, which has filed an application to the Supreme Court to prevent the initial allotment.
Welshpool-based engineering company RCR Tomlinson Ltd has reported its fifth consecutive year of record earnings and sales for the 2008 financial year, with net profit rising slightly to nearly $18 million.
Perth-based shipbuilder Austal Ltd was warned of a challenging business environment for fiscal 2009 as it posts a record net profit of $52 million for the 2008 financial year.
Deterioration of market conditions has forced Osborne Park-based Anvil Mining Ltd to lower the price of its share placement to Israeli mining investor Dan Gertler by nearly 20 per cent.
