New chair in place at Southern Ports

Veteran engineering executive Ian Shepherd has come out of retirement to serve as the chairman of the Southern Ports Authority.

Mr Shepherd, who was the chief executive of multinational consultancy firm GHD from 2008 to 2016, will start in the role tomorrow.

He is replacing Rob Cole, who has served as chairman since 2016.

Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the appointment was aimed at driving development in Albany, Bunbury and Esperance.

“The ports of Bunbury, Albany and Esperance are absolutely critical to the ongoing economic success of regional WA,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“We need to develop a strong infrastructure plan for the region and its interface with other ports.

“Ian Shepherd brings deep engineering, infrastructure and logistics experience to the role of Southern Ports chairperson, and will help to drive continued economic development and jobs across the regions.”

“We are deeply appreciative of Rob Cole's leadership of the Southern Ports Authority as chairperson from 2016.

“He entrenched robust governance frameworks in the Authority as it transitioned from three businesses into one, and oversaw trade and financial performance that place the Authority in good stead.”

Former Woodside Energy Natural Gas president Jane Cutler, the former chief executive of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, has been appointed to the Southern Ports board.

Ms Cutler has previously worked as Woodside Energy’s Natural Gas president.

“Jane Cutler brings experience in the resources industry to the Southern Ports Authority Board and will be an important part of the ongoing success of the ports,” Ms MacTiernan said.