Board and Leadership Team

Dr Andrew Forrest AO

Executive Chairman

Dr Andrew Forrest AO is a global business and philanthropic leader dedicated to ending the use of fossil fuels, creating green energy solutions and tackling global challenges like climate change, conflict response, modern slavery and oceanic destruction through overfishing and plastic pollution.

In 2003, Dr Forrest founded Fortescue Metals Group in Western Australia. 21 years later, Fortescue is one of the world’s largest iron ore producers and a global green technology, energy and mining group with a laser focus on accelerating the commercial decarbonisation of industry.

Under Dr Forrest’s leadership, Fortescue has developed some of the world’s most efficient and lowest cost mining infrastructure, rolled out world-leading green mining equipment across its Pilbara operations and become the company globally with a plan to achieve Real Zero – elimination of fossil fuels and carbon offsets – on its Australian mine sites by 2030.

Through Tattarang, Dr Forrest owns Squadron Energy, Australia’s largest renewable energy developer, delivering 30 per cent of the Federal Government’s 2030 82 per cent renewables target. Squadron has five utility-scale wind farms in operation, delivering 1.1 gigawatts of green energy, 900 megawatts under construction and is working to build enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of six million Australian homes by the end of the decade.

Dr Forrest’s other commercial interests reflect his dedication to the economic livelihood of all Australians across sustainable agriculture and food production, critical minerals, health technology and manufacturing, including investing in iconic Australian brands, R.M.Williams and Akubra, to ensure they stay in Australian hands and grow their legacy of exceptional local craftsmanship.

Dr Forrest established Minderoo Foundation in 2001 and is a member of the Giving Pledge, committing to give away his wealth over his lifetime. With an endowment that now exceeds AU$9 billion, the Foundation focuses on global challenges, such as climate change, ending plastic pollution, urgent humanitarian responses, gender equality and returning our natural ecosystems to a healthy state.

Minderoo Foundation rapidly responds to both Australian and global crises including providing more than AU$70 million in the aftermath of the 2019/20 bushfires, AU$19 million to help get humanitarian aid to civilian populations in Gaza, and AU$20 million to assist the people of Ukraine, as well as a commitment to provide US$500 million in funding to kickstart post-war reconstruction.

Dr Forrest has a PhD in Marine Ecology, serves as an IUCN Patron of Nature and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to philanthropy, mining, employment, and sustainable foreign investment.

In 2013, Dr Forrest was appointed by Australia’s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to lead the country’s response to tackling Indigenous disparity. Dr Forrest is also Co-Chair of the Australia-China Senior Business Leaders’ Forum and a Board Member for the Boao Forum.

Mark Barnaba AM CitWA

Deputy Chairman, Non-Executive Director

Mr Barnaba is Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Audit, Finance and Risk Management Committee¹ and sits on the advisory board of Fortescue Capital (a third party Asset Manager) at Fortescue Ltd (ASX:FMG). He is Chairman of Greatland Gold PLC (LSE:GGP) and is also Chairman of Airtrunk (a cloud-based data centre company operating in Asia-Pacific and Japan). Mark chairs the Hospital Benefit Fund (HBF) Investment Committee and is a member of the Board of The Centre for Independent Studies.

Mr Barnaba brings a wealth of international experience as an entrepreneur, corporate advisor and independent director for organisations across the finance, technology, infrastructure, natural resources, sports administration and education sectors. He has extensive and particularly diverse experience at board level in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.

Mr Barnaba was previously on the Board of Australia’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), for two terms, and is a former Chairman of the Audit Committee of the RBA. He has previously chaired several publicly listed Australian companies within the mining and infrastructure sectors along with chairing non-profit organisations and was a former Chairman of the State Theatre Company of Western Australia, the West Coast Eagles (AFL team) and Williams Advanced Engineering (UK based offshoot of the Williams F1 team).

In 2009, Mr Barnaba was the recipient of the WA Citizen of the Year Award in Industry and Commerce and in 2015 was named a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the investment banking and financial sector, to business education and to sporting and cultural organisations.

In his executive career, Mr Barnaba founded, led and sold two companies – GEM Consulting and Azure Capital (both independent corporate advisory firms which provide financial, corporate and strategic advice to public and private organisations in the Asia Pacific region). He also held several senior executive roles at Macquarie Group (one being the Chairman and Global Head of the Natural Resources Group). He previously worked at McKinsey & Company in their London, Johannesburg and Sydney offices.

Mr Barnaba was the inaugural Chairman of the University of Western Australia Business School Board from 2002 to 2020 and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in Finance. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours and University Medal) from the University of Western Australia, an MBA from Harvard Business School (High Distinction; Baker Scholar) and has an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia. He has lived in Australia, the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom and South Africa and is married with two children.

Committee memberships:

Audit, Finance and Risk Management Committee (Chair), Safety and Sustainability Committee (Member)

Dr Larry Marshall

Lead Independent Director, Non-Executive Director

Dr Larry Marshall chairs AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce, sits on the boards of Nanosonics (ASX:NAN), Australian National University, Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and on the Australian Government’s Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group, and formerly on the Prime Ministers Science & Technology Council, and SITAG, the COVID Vaccines and Treatments Committee of the Federal Government.

He is the longest serving Chief Executive of CSIRO, and led a transformation which achieved the first growth in 30 years, doubled the value delivered to stakeholders, and made CSIRO the first Australian entity to reach the Thompson Reuters Global Top 20 Innovators List.

Dr Marshall has a PhD in Physics and has been honoured for both his business acumen as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also his Technology and Engineering acumen as a Federation Fellow, and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) and Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), and an inaugural Male Champion of Change STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). He is an ambassador of Advance representing the one million Australians living abroad, and has been listed as an Australian top 10 digital entrepreneur, and in Australia’s top 10 most influential people in tech.

He has co-founded and led six companies in Biotech, Telecom, Semi and Venture Capital. He has 100 publications and conference papers, holds 20 patents and has served on 20 boards of high-tech companies operating in the United States, Australia and China.

Dr Marshall is the author of the 2023 book, Invention to Innovation: How Scientists Can Drive Our Economy, which charts a course for Australian business to disrupt their market, defeat competition and accelerate economic growth by using science driven innovation.

Committee memberships:

Audit, Finance and Risk Management Committee (Member), People, Remuneration and Nomination Committee (Member), Safety and Sustainability Committee (Member)

Elizabeth Gaines

Executive Director and Global Ambassador Fortescue

Ms Gaines led Fortescue as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director from February 2018 to August 2022, after joining the Executive team as Chief Financial Officer in February 2017.

A highly experienced business leader, Ms Gaines has extensive international experience in all aspects of financial and commercial management. Ms Gaines has significant experience in the resources sector and exposure to the impact of the growth in Asian economies, particularly China, on the Australian business environment and economy as well as a deep understanding of all aspects of financial and commercial management at a senior executive level in both listed and private companies. Ms Gaines has extensive exposure to the drive to transition to green energy and has been a key driver of the goal to decarbonise Fortescue’s mining operations by 2030.

Ms Gaines is a part time Executive Director and Global Ambassador for Fortescue. She is a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of Greatland Gold PLC, a Non-Executive Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of the West Coast Eagles (AFL) Football Club.

In 2019 Ms Gaines was ranked second in Fortune Magazine’s Businessperson of the Year and in 2020 the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia awarded her the ‘Women in Resources Champion’ at the annual Women in Resources Awards. In 2020, Ms Gaines was awarded Joint Australian Business Person of the Year by the Australian Financial Review.

Ms Gaines is a former Chief Executive Officer of Helloworld Limited and Heytesbury Pty Limited and has previously held Non-Executive Director roles with Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited, NEXTDC Limited, Mantra Group Limited and ImpediMed Limited.

Ms Gaines holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University, a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Curtin University. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chief Executive Women.

Dr Jean Baderschneider

Non-Executive Director

A highly regarded leader in both business and civil society, Dr Baderschneider brings 35 years of extensive international experience in supply chain operations and procurement, strategic sourcing and logistics management, along with a deep understanding of high-risk operations and locations and complex partnerships. She also has global experience in safety, security and environmental operations and sustainability stewardship.

Dr Baderschneider retired from ExxonMobil in 2013 where she was Vice-President of Global Procurement. During her 30-year career, she was responsible for operations all over the world, including Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia.

A past member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Supply Management and the Executive Board of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Dr Baderschneider also served on the boards of The Center of Advanced Purchasing Studies and the Procurement Council of both The Conference Board and the Corporate Executive Board.

Dr Baderschneider is a member of the International Advisory Committee to the 2024 Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She is also the President of the Board of Trustees of The President Lincoln’s Cottage and a member of the Abraham Lincoln National Council of Ford Theatre. In addition, she is on the Board of Directors of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, the Board of Directors of the McCain Institute and is a Commissioner on the United Nations and Liechtenstein Financial Sector Commission on Modern Slavery. With over 17 years of experience working on anti human trafficking efforts globally, she served on the Board of Directors of Polaris, Made in a Free World and Verité and is a Founding Board member and Chair of the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery.

Dr Baderschneider was a Presidential appointee to the US Department of Commerce National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprises and is a past recipient of Cornell’s Jerome Alpern Award and Nomi Network Corporate Social Responsibility Award. She holds a Masters Degree from the University of Michigan and a PhD from Cornell University.

Committee memberships:

Audit, Finance and Risk Management Committee (Member),
People, Remuneration and Nomination Committee (Member)
Safety and Sustainability Committee (Chair)

Penny Bingham-Hall

Non-Executive Director

Ms Bingham-Hall has over 30 years’ experience in senior executive and non-executive roles in large ASX listed companies. She is Chair of Vocus Group and Co-Chair of Supply Nation and a Non-Executive Director of Fortescue. She is also the Deputy Chair of both the Advisory Council of the Climate Governance Initiative, Australia and the Salaam Foundation.

Ms Bingham-Hall has worked in the construction, infrastructure, mining and property industries across Australia and the Asian region. She has a particular interest in environmental sustainability, workplace safety and indigenous employment. Prior to becoming a company director, Ms Bingham Hall was Executive General Manager, Strategy at Leighton Holdings (now CIMIC) – Australia’s largest construction, mining services and property group. As part of the leadership team at Leighton she had responsibilities across the group’s Australian and Asian operations.

She recently retired from the Board of Dexus Property Group and is a former director of BlueScope Steel Limited, Australia Post, Port Authority of NSW and Macquarie Specialised Asset Management. Ms Bingham-Hall was also Chair of Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the NSW Freight and Logistics Advisory Council, the inaugural Chair of Advocacy Services Australia, Deputy Chair and Life Member of the Tourism & Transport Forum and a director of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, SCEGGS Darlinghurst Limited and the Global Foundation.

Ms Bingham-Hall has a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a member of Chief Executive Women and Corporate Women Directors.

Committee memberships:

People, Remuneration and Nomination Committee (Chair),
Audit, Finance and Risk Management Committee (Member),
Safety and Sustainability Committee (Member)

Lord Sebastian Coe CH, KBE

Non-Executive Director

Based in Monaco, Lord Coe is the Vice Chairman of Wasserman, formerly known as CSM Sport and Entertainment.

Lord Coe serves as Non-Executive Director of Allwyn Entertainment AG.

He was elected President of the International Association of Athletics Federations in 2015 (now World Athletics) where he is driving significant governance reforms through the organisation and its 214 Member Federations around the world. Coe is currently serving his third term as President. He was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee in 2020, and became a director of the British Olympic Association at that time, having previously served as Chairman of the British Olympic Association from 2012 to 2016.

Lord Coe previously served as Chairman of the Organising Committee for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. He was a member of the British athletics team at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games where he won two gold and two silver medals, as well as breaking 12 world records.

In 1992, Lord Coe became a Member of Parliament and during his political career served as a Government Whip and then Private Secretary to William Hague, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party. He was appointed to The House of Lords in 2000 having resigned in 2022.

In 2017, he became Chancellor of Loughborough University having previously served as Pro Chancellor of the University.

Committee memberships:

People, Remuneration and Nomination Committee (Member)

Yifei Li

Non-Executive Director

Ms Yifei Li is the President of the QiBin Foundation and currently serves on the board of BlackRock China.

Ms Li was a Global Trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation and was an Independent Board member of GAVI (The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) from 2012 to 2018 and was formerly the Country Chair for Man Group in China, one of the world’s largest hedge fund managers.

Before joining Man Group, Ms Li had over 18 years of senior management experience, having successfully led the expansion of several multinational companies in China, including Viacom, MTV networks and VivaKi of Publicis Group.

Ms Li has a Bachelor of Law from the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing and an MA in International Relations from Baylor University in the United States.

Committee memberships:

People, Remuneration and Nomination Committee (Member)

Noel Pearson

Non-Executive Director

Mr Pearson comes from the Guugu Yimithirr community of Hope Vale, on the south eastern Cape York Peninsula.

Mr Pearson is a prominent Australian Indigenous leader, social advocate and lawyer. For over 30 years Mr Pearson has pursued key agenda to achieve land rights and socioeconomic development outcomes for Cape York.

Mr Pearson co-founded the Cape York Land Council and negotiated with the Keating government to establish the Native Title Act 1993 after the High Court’s landmark Mabo decision rejected the fiction of terra nullius.

He is the Founder of the Cape York Partnership - a nonprofit Indigenous organisation working in the areas of policy, empowerment, health, language and culture; and the Good to Great Schools Australia program, which aims to lift education outcomes for all Australian Students.

Mr Pearson served as a member of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians and the Referendum Council and continues to advocate for structural reforms to empower Indigenous people.

Mr Pearson holds a degree in History and Law from Sydney University.

Committee memberships:

Safety and Sustainability Committee (Member)

Usha Rao-Monari

Non-Executive Director

Ms Rao-Monari is a senior infrastructure investment professional with over 25 years of experience leading investment platforms and departments within asset investment and management organisations.

She has held various leadership positions in the United Nations, Blackstone Group, Global Water Development Partners, and the International Finance Corporation.

Ms Rao-Monari currently serves as a Member of the Environmental Steering Committee for NEOM, Saudi Arabia; Member of the International Advisory Panel on Carbon Credits, Singapore; Commissioner of Global Commission on the Economics of Water, Netherlands, and Co-Chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative.

Ms Rao-Monari has also been involved in several global initiatives and partnerships on water resources, clean energy, resource efficiency and environmental issues such as the 2030 Water Resources Group, the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Councils and the CDP North America where she facilitated dialogue, innovation and solutions among public, private and civil society actors.

She has a Masters in International Affairs and Finance from Columbia University, a Masters in Management Studies from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management, and a BA Honours Economics from Delhi University, and has completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.

Committee memberships:

Audit, Finance and Risk Management Committee (Member),
Safety and Sustainability Committee (Member)

Dino Otranto

Chief Executive Officer, Fortescue Metals

Mr Otranto joined Fortescue in 2021 as Chief Operating Officer Iron Ore before becoming Fortescue Metal’s CEO in August 2023. With a career in the resources industry spanning 20 years and a range of commodities and operations across the globe, Mr Otranto brings significant operational, technical and financial expertise and a strong focus on safety, values and employee engagement.

Mr Otranto is leading Fortescue Metals through a period of rapid growth, including the implementation of large-scale decarbonisation technologies along with the development of a new mining operation in Gabon, Africa.

Prior to joining Fortescue, Mr Otranto held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Vale Base Metals, leading their North American, European and Asian nickel and copper businesses, which encompasses a global network of underground and open pit mines, smelters, refineries, power stations, port and rail infrastructure.

Mr Otranto holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) and a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) from Curtin University and a Graduate Diploma of Finance from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Mark Hutchinson

Chief Executive Officer, Fortescue Energy

Mr Hutchinson commenced with Fortescue in July 2022 as Director of Projects before being appointed Fortescue Energy CEO in August 2022.

Mr Hutchinson’s focus as CEO is to drive growth in Fortescue Energy which is building a global portfolio of renewable green hydrogen and green ammonia projects and developing green technology solutions. In 2024, the team is focused on accelerating projects in Morocco, Norway, the USA, Brazil and Australia.

Mr Hutchinson brings extensive business and leadership experience at a senior executive level, having held various roles at GE over a 25-year career, the two most recent as President and Chief Executive Officer China and Europe. In these roles Mr Hutchinson led the efforts to strengthen GE’s operations across China and Europe and developed and executed a shared growth strategy for all the GE businesses which helped to drive significant growth, year on year. Following its €12.35 billion acquisition, Mark led the integration of Alstom’s power and grid businesses into GE.

A highly experienced international business leader with a passion for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Mr Hutchinson has previously held a Board position at World Wide Generation Limited, and Non-Executive Director roles at Bluescope Steel Limited, Mission Australia and Allianz Australia Insurance Limited.

Mr Hutchinson holds an honorary Doctor of Business from the University of Queensland, where he is the primary sponsor of the Ethics Chair.

Apple Paget

Group Chief Financial Officer

Ms Paget joined the Company in January 2023 as Group Manager Finance & Tax. She was appointed Acting Chief Financial Officer of Fortescue Metals in August 2023 and Group Chief Financial Officer in July 2024.

Ms Paget is a finance executive with 25 years experience in the dynamic landscape of multinational resource companies spanning finance, tax, treasury, commercial, business evaluation, and acquisitions and divestments.

She has been involved in transformative offshore renewable wind and green hydrogen projects and has a strong interest in sustainability and forging pathways towards a greener, more resilient future.

Prior to joining Fortescue, Ms Paget was a key member of TotalEnergies Australia’s Leadership team and a senior finance member of ConocoPhillips Australia.

Ms Paget holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA), a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) with the Tax Institute.

Shelley Robertson

Chief Operating Officer

Ms Robertson joined Fortescue in October 2023. She is an experienced executive with a successful career spanning 30 years in oil and gas, mining and renewable energy.

Ms Robertson is known for delivering effective, inclusive leadership that drives results-oriented business transformation. Before joining Fortescue, Shelley was Executive General Manager – Energy at Mineral Resources, where she was responsible for the strategic oversight of the oil and gas exploration and development portfolio, and for providing oversight of energy solutions for existing mining operations and new projects. Prior to this, Shelley was Chief Executive Officer of Norwest Energy, an ASX-listed oil and gas exploration company.

Ms Robertson has a Bachelor of Science from Murdoch University, a postgraduate Diploma (Petroleum Engineering) from UNSW, a Master’s of Business Administration (Oil and Gas) from Curtin University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (with Order of Merit).