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Former federal minister for resources and energy Martin Ferguson has joined The University of Western Australia's Energy and Minerals Institute.

Mr Ferguson has been appointed to the Institute's Board of Trustees along with Andrew Harding, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto's Iron Ore product group; Terry Freckelton, General Manager of Development (Australia/New Zealand) for Shell Australia; and BHP Billiton's Head of Group Project Management, Phil Montgomery.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson said the incoming board members were a trusted group of industry and government representatives who had worked with UWA for many years, and shared the University's vision of WA as an international centre of excellence in resources and energy research.

"It is a privilege to have Martin Ferguson share his many years of parliamentary expertise with our Board and I look forward to developing our relationship further as we guide the Energy and Minerals Institute to achieve our objectives of leading research, contributing to global knowledge and meeting the needs of local, national and international communities," Professor Johnson said.

EMI Board of Trustees Chairman Greig Gailey said the board's expertise would help EMI achieve successful world-leading outcomes.

"We are operating in a dynamic, challenging and changing global environment, so leadership from top global industry, government and research representatives is vital for EMI to achieve its vision of advancing knowledge and creating solutions for the world from its energy and mineral resources," Mr Gailey said.

"EMI initiatives include the International Mining for Development Centre, which is helping to improve the quality of life in developing nations through a more sustainable use of mineral and energy resources and In The Zone , a global conference series that stimulates internationally significant policy debate led by Western Australian leaders."

Incoming members will join existing members Alex Wonhas, who leads CSIRO's Energy Transformed National Research Flagship; Dr Richard Smith who served as a diplomat in Indo-Pacific capitals including Beijing and Jakarta; UWA's Vice-Chancellor Professor Johnson; UWA Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Robyn Owens; and Tim Shanahan, Director of the Energy and Minerals Institute.

Mr Gailey and Professor Johnson acknowledged outgoing Board members Ann Pickard, Greg Lilleyman and Glenn Kellow, thanking them for their contributions.

Photo:  (l-r)  Attending the recent EMI Board Meeting were Mr Martin Ferguson AM, CSIRO's Dr Alex Wonhas, EMI Board Chairman Greig Gailey, Dr Richard Smith, UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson, BHP Billiton's Phil Montgomery, Shell's Terry Freckelton, and EMI Director Tim Shanahan.

Media references

Nicola Holman (EMI Communications)  (+61 8)  6488 7586  /  (+61 4) 19 716 311
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783