Resources and Energy Corporate Affairs Summit

Partner at Mallesons

Sally is a partner at Mallesons, with over 25 years experience as a commercial projects lawyer managing native title, heritage, land tenure, regulatory and environmental aspects of project development, implementation and closure.

Sally works to achieve native title and heritage agreements, environment and project approvals that enable projects to proceed and succeed in the long term.

Director at RedBridge

Tony has 30 years of campaign, communications, government experience and risk management experience, working across regulatory affairs, financial services, superannuation, transport and health.

He’s worked on over 50 political and corporate campaigns including qualitative and quantitative polling to shift public opinion through the identification, persuasion and mobilisation of target audiences.

Tony is a regular media commentator for election telecasts and co-hosts the popular ‘Back to Back Barries’ weekly podcast with Barrie Cassidy.

Chief Executive Officer of Minerals Council

Tania joined the Minerals Council of Australia in 2018, bringing extensive experience across the resources, energy and public policy sectors. She previously served as CEO of CO2CRC, a leading research organisation advancing carbon capture and storage technologies and as Chief Adviser in Treasury’s Personal and Retirement Income Division.

Her senior Australian Government roles also included advising the Industry Minister on oil and gas regulation, exploration, development and sustainable mining, and serving as Australian Joint Commissioner and Sunrise Commissioner for Australia and Timor-Leste. She was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2014.

Director, Government Affairs, Alcoa Australia

John leads Alcoa’s government relations, regulatory affairs and policy and advocacy across the company’s Australian operations.

 Having worked in senior Government and External relations roles in the resources sector for 20 years, his experience includes supporting the development and execution of some of Australia’s largest projects, operational leadership, and country lead roles in issues / crisis management and policy. 

 With significant experience in business and government engagement, John has provided corporate affairs advice on some of the key policy issues, political developments, and M&A transactions in the Australian resources sector.

 Prior to joining the private sector, John was a long-term political adviser, gaining extensive campaign experience, and working as a staffer in Government and Opposition.

Vice President, Government Relations at Woodside Energy

Andrew leads Woodsides engagement with Australian Federal Government stakeholders, parliamentarians, the diplomatic community and a broad range of influential policy and industry stakeholders. He is a member of Woodside’s Sustainability, Policy & External Affairs Leadership Team and brings more than 15 years of experience spanning government relations, corporate affairs, policy, communications and regulatory approvals. Since joining Woodside in 2010, Andrew has held a range of leadership roles supporting major energy developments and transactions. His career has included work across Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe, advancing complex energy projects in diverse policy and regulatory environments.

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, ASC

Bev joined ASC in October 2025 as its inaugural Chief Corporate Affairs Officer.

She leads the organisation’s external engagement activities that enhance ASC’s reputation and social licence, including media, events and branding, government relations, community and First Nations engagement, and sponsorships.

Prior to ASC, Bev served as Country Manager and Vice President, External Affairs at Albemarle Lithium Australia. She has also held senior leadership roles at Santos, Woodside Energy and St John of God Health Care, and advisory positions within both the Western Australian and Australian Governments.

Bev brings significant non‑executive experience, having served as Chair and Deputy Chair of several not‑for‑profit organisations, including the Barking Gecko Theatre Company and Volunteering WA.

Chief Executive Officer of the Perth USAsia Centre at The University of Western Australia.

Having spent 25 years in US foreign policy in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, and 10 years in Australia’s Indian Ocean capital, Professor Flake is one of the world’s leading authorities on Indo-Pacific strategic developments.

Since establishing the USAsia Centre in 2014, Professor Flake has strengthened international relationships between Australia, the US and the Indo-Pacific, establishing high-level diplomatic and policy dialogues, and authored scholarly and policy studies on security developments in the region.

A sought-after media commentator on US politics and foreign politics, Professor Flake is also a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) and serves on the boards of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and the Australia Korea Foundation.

Director of Global Sustainability and External Affairs Fortescue

As Director of Global Sustainability and External Affairs at Fortescue since 2024, Bronwyn leads a consolidated approach to sustainability across the Fortescue Group and manages all aspects of external affairs, green shipping and global policy.  

Before Fortescue, Bronwyn held senior executive positions in the mining and government. She spent much of her career working for the World Bank across West Africa and Asia, managing strategic investment and advisory programs, as well as large-scale international development projects. Bronwyn is a member of Chief Executive Women and a Board member at Western Power.

Head of Policy & Social Value at Synergy

Annabel leads policy, government relations, energy market advocacy at Synergy, WA’s largest electricity generator and retailer.

Over the past 15 years she has held senior roles across energy policy, infrastructure investment and corporate strategy both within and alongside the WA public sector. With extensive experience navigating the intersection of politics and policy in organisations such as Western Power, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the Ministerial Offices, Annabel has had a front-line role in Western Australia’s energy transition, and what it takes for government, industry and communities to deliver tangible outcomes.

Senior Business Development Manager at EDL

Peter Kerr has spent 30 years working at the intersection of complex ideas, competing interests and important decisions. His career spans senior leadership in remote energy, growth and innovation, government relations, economics and business journalism. Peter is now Senior Business Development Manager at EDL Energy, following executive roles at Western Power and earlier careers with the Reserve Bank of Australia, the IMF and the Australian Financial Review. 

Aaron Morey, Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA

Aaron became CEO of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) in 2025, now in its 125th year of championing WA's mining and resources sector. 

Previously, Aaron held roles with WA’s peak business body, CCIWA, and the Australian Productivity Commission. He also served as Principal Economics and Commercial Adviser to former Treasurer Ben Wyatt, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Treasurer.

Having managed significant projects including GST reform, major asset sales, the Bell Group negotiations, and the State’s relationship with China, Aaron is deeply passionate about the development of the WA economy and its world-class mining sector.

Deputy Director General, WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

With more than 25 years’ experience in commercial and corporate development, operations, strategy and stakeholder engagement, Sasha is Deputy Director General at the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Previously, she was an executive with the Fortescue Group, Chief Executive Officer at Early Start Australia and has also held executive roles at Woodside Energy, Synergy and HBF.

Sasha has more than a decade in experience in non-executive roles, including as Fremantle Football Club Director and Lifeline WA Chair. Sasha is Chair of the inaugural AFL Women’s Committee at Fremantle Football Club, focused on accelerating the professionalisation of the women’s game.

Director at RedBridge

Kos specialises in compiling and interpreting research, statistical data and polling to provide a unique insight into the cause and effects of social and political issues impacting communities across Australia.

Often sought for expert commentary on polling data and its impact on all levels of politics, Kos’s keen understanding of the nature of political parties and government decision-making (drawn from more than 25 years of political experience with Victorian Labor) allows him to deliver effective solutions for a broad range of clients.

Head of Consulting, CRU

Alex has over 20 years of experience in the global metals & mining industries. He established CRU’s offices in Australia over a decade ago, leading the development of CRU’s coal market team, products, models and market services. Alex now heads  up the CRU consulting practice across APAC.

Prior to CRU, Alex led the coal market analysis group at Xstrata Coal, where responsibilities included the formulation of the company’s coal sales and marketing plans, business strategy, and work on business development and M&A processes. He also spent more than a decade as a bulk commodities analyst at several major banks including Citigroup and BAML, researching base metal and bulk commodities markets.

Chief of Staff at Business News

As Chief of Staff, Isabel directs daily news coverage across a team of more than a dozen business reporters. She reports on critical minerals, insolvencies and restructuring, and corporate finance.

Isabel is also the editor of Business News’ Power 500 publication, which depicts the state’s most influential leaders by sector.

As well as being a committee member of Women in Media WA, Isabel previously worked in the Great Southern, first at the Great Southern Weekender and then at the Albany Advertiser and Narrogin Observer newspapers. 

Former WA Treasurer and Corporate Advisor

A respected leader known for his sharp insights into the political and economic forces shaping Australia’s mining and resources industries.

Ben is a highly experienced executive, with current roles including Non-Executive Director at Rio Tinto, Non-Director at Woodside, and Chairperson at Crown Resorts and Perth Festival. Ben was also previously the Treasurer of WA.

He is also a director of his consulting firm Wyatt Martin, providing support to organisations on public affairs issues.

President, Horizon Engage

Alexander leads Horizon Engage's global research agenda and advises Fortune 500 clients on the political and commercial dynamics shaping the international energy market.

He leverages more than two decades experience on energy politics focusing on Russia, the Caspian and Central Asia, with a robust senior government and industry network. His counsel spans state-owned energy companies, sanctions and counter-sanctions regime and regulatory framework, governing upstream and transportation projects.

Prior to Horizon Engage, Alexander served as Head of Research at Eurasia Group in New York, and in corporate finance at SBC Warburg in London.

Alexander is the author of Power, Personalities and Political Risk: Inside Russia’s Oil and Gas Industry.

Director at Corporate Affairs Australia

Sharon is a highly experienced Indigenous Affairs professional with more than 25 years’ experience advising the resources sector, government and Traditional Owners on Indigenous relationships, Native Title, cultural heritage, land access and engagement. She is recognised for her leadership in navigating complex social, cultural and regulatory environments and delivering enduring outcomes for Indigenous communities and project proponents.

A proud descendant and member of Esperance Tjaltjraak, Sharon is one of the few senior Aboriginal women to have held executive leadership roles in Australia’s resources sector. She brings deep knowledge of Pilbara, West Kimberley and Goldfields Aboriginal communities, Traditional Owners and regional benefit agreements.

Chief of People and Sustainability Officer, PLS

Sandra is a corporate affairs and sustainability executive who leads corporate strategy and stakeholder relationship management in the resources sector, to maintain company reputation and drive improvements in sustainability and social performance.

She has deep leadership experience in building teams and people capability and creating a more inclusive work environment.

Prior to joining PLS, Sandra was Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Woodside.

Sandra also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Lithium Association (ILiA) and the Executive Council of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME). She previously served as a Board Member of the Construction Training Fund, contributing to workforce development in Western Australia's construction industry.