PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Oil and gas major Woodside has appointed Ben Wyatt as a nonexecutive director, effective immediately.
Wyatt is the former Western Australian Treasurer and has had ministerial responsibility for Finance, Energy, Aboriginal Affairs and Lands.
He was the first Indigenous treasurer of any Australian Parliament, and has held various shadow cabinet portfolios including responsibility for Native Title and the Pilbara. He retired from the Western Australian Parliament in March 2021.
Woodside told shareholders that Wyatt’s extensive parliamentary and professional experience provided him with a detailed understanding of the broad range of stakeholder issues relevant to Woodside’s activities.
He holds a Masters degree with Distinction from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia.
Woodside chairperson Richard Goyder said that Wyatt’s background in treasury, finance and Indigenous affairs brings a unique dynamic to the Woodside board.
“Wyatt’s proven strategic leadership, demonstrated across his diverse ministerial portfolio, will be an important contributor to the Woodside board as we execute our growth priorities and pursue the energy transition,” Goyder said.
Wyatt will join Woodside as an independent director and will be a member of the human resources & compensation committee, sustainability committee and nominations & governance committee. He will be considered for election as a nonexecutive director at Woodside’s annual general meeting 2022.