The Hon. Mark Vaile AO — Chairman
Independent Non-Executive Director
As leader of the National Party from 2005 to 2007, Mark established an extensive network of contacts throughout regional Australia, particularly in Northern New South Wales. Mark led negotiations for Australia's Free Trade Agreements with the United States, Singapore and Thailand and helped to launch negotiations with China, Japan and ASEAN. Importantly, Mark also acted as Minister for Transport and Regional Services and was instrumental in the establishment of the ARTC as operator of the Hunter Valley Rail Network. Mark was formerly the chairman of Aston Resources Limited. Mark brings significant experience as a company director and as a former senior government leader, including as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade in the Federal Government. Mark is the Chairman of CBD Energy and an independent director of Servcorp Limited and Virgin Australia Holdings Limited, all of which are listed on the ASX. Mark is also a director of Stamford Land Corporation, which is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, and a non-executive director of HOST-PLUS Pty Ltd.
John C Conde AO — Deputy Chairman
Independent Non-Executive Director
John has over 30 years of broad based commercial experience across a number of industries, including the energy sector and was chairman of the company prior to the merger with Aston Resources. John is chairman of Bupa Australia, Destination NSW and the Sydney Symphony. He is also president of the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal and a non-executive director of the Dexus Property Group and The McGrath Foundation. He retired as chairman of Ausgrid (formerly Energy Australia) in June 2012. He was formerly chairman and managing director of Broadcast Investment Holdings, as well as being a former non-executive director of BHP Billiton Limited and Excel Coal Limited.
Paul Flynn — Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Paul has extensive experience in the mining, infrastructure, construction and energy sectors gained through 20 years as a professional advisor at Ernst & Young. Paul was formerly Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Tinkler Group. Prior to joining the Tinkler Group Paul was the managing partner of Ernst & Young's Sydney office and a member of its Oceania executive team. As a partner for over eight years, Paul managed many of the firm's largest mining and energy clients across Australia, Asia, South and North America. Paul was appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in March 2013.
Philip Christensen — Non-Executive Director
Philip has extensive experience in the mining and energy sector. Philip has 30 years' experience with leading law firm Freehills, where his clients included Australian and international coal mining companies. Philip was formerly a director of Aston Resources Limited and Boardwalk Resources Limited.
Rick Gazzard — Independent Non-Executive Director
Rick is a mining engineer with more than 30 years' experience in the coal mining industry and a further 10 years' experience in the iron ore, base metals and gold mining industries. He holds certificates of competency as a mine manager for both the coal and metalliferous mining industries. Rick has previously held senior management positions as President of BHP Qld Coal and as General Manager of Camberwell Coal Pty Ltd and prior to those appointments had more than 10 years' experience as a mine manager/operations manager/chief mining engineer with CSR Limited and BHP. He is a former non-executive director of ASX Listed Carabella Resources, Eastern Corporation and Aston Resources Limited. Since January 2007, Rick has been an independent director of Stracon Holdings Ltd, a privately owned company with contract mining and civil construction operations in Peru and New Zealand.
Tony Haggarty — Non-Executive Director
Tony has over 30 years' experience in the development, management and financing of mining companies, and was co-founder and Managing Director of Excel Coal Limited from 1993 to 2006. Prior to this, Tony worked for BP Coal and BP Finance in Sydney and London, and for Agipcoal as the Managing Director of its Australian subsidiary. Tony was appointed to the Board of Whitehaven on 3 May 2007 and was appointed Managing Director on 17 October 2008. He returned to a Non-Executive Director role in March 2013. He is also non-executive chairman of King Island Scheelite Limited.
Christine McLoughlin — Independent Non-Executive Director
Christine is an experienced business executive with more than 25 years' experience working in diverse and highly regulated sectors in Australia, UK and South East Asian markets. Christine has expertise in strategy, risk and governance, stakeholder engagement and human resources across a range of industries including financial services, telecommunications, health and nuclear science. Christine is currently a non-executive Director of nib Holdings Ltd, Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Westpac's insurance companies in Australia and New Zealand.