Our weekly appointments wrap includes Mark Norwell, Bill O’Keeffe, Derek Hays, Brook McGowan, Michael Barnes, Tim Ungar, Charlie Gunningham, and Nathan Drudi.
Perenti managing director and chief executive Mark Norwell has joined the board of directors at the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association. Mr Norwell has more than 25 years of experience in the mining industry, having worked in Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Americas. He has been leading global mining services Perenti since 2018. Mr Norwell previously held executive roles at Thiess and Leighton Contractors.
Gnowangerup sheep farmer Bill O’Keeffe has been named WA Meat Marketing Co-operative’s (WAMMCO) new chairman. Mr O’Keeffe replaces Craig Heggaton, who died in July. Mr O’Keeffe and his family have sheep and grain farming interests in the Gnowangerup region. He was previously chair of the Gnowangerup training centre board and the Gnowangerup District High School.
Hames Sharley WA director Derek Hays has been appointed as the architecture firm’s studio leader. Mr Hays replaces Brook McGowan, who has been promoted to Head of Studios. Mr McGowan’s new role is a national position, while Mr Hays will become head of the WA studio on top of his director role.
Long-serving state government under-treasurer Michael Barnes will lead the state’s response to the upcoming Productivity Commission review of 2018’s GST reforms. Mr Barnes will leave the under-treasurer role after 11 years in April next year. Mr Barnes has been credited as a key figure in securing the price floor in 2018 and restoring the state’s triple-A credit rating from major agencies S&P Global and Moody’s. Mr Barnes has worked in the Department of Treasury for 27 years.
TSA Group chairman Tim Ungar has joined the board of the Foundation for the WA Museum. Mr Ungar has had a longstanding involvement in the state’s arts sector, having been chair of the board of trustees at the Western Australian Museum from 2004 to 2011. He is the director of charitable trust the Ungar Family Foundation, which was started by him and his wife Christine.
Former Business News chief executive Charlie Gunningham has been appointed to chair of the StartupWA board, bringing more than 25 years of experience to the think tank. Mr Gunningham joins four new directors, Hayley Boneham, Matthew Larner, Paul Robinson and Kate Spenser on the board. Mr Gunningham has more than 20 years of experience in the WA tech sector. He recently stepped down as director of innovation at the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Nathan Drudi has started as senior communications advisor at Mineral Resources, having been promoted this month. He joined MinRes as an international communications specialist in May 2023. Mr Drudi is also a consultant at strategic communication firm The Decisive Point, having joined the company in 2020. He was previously known as a partnerships manager at Netball WA, where he was at for about seven years.
