Independent Non-Executive Chair
Denise is a pyro-metallurgist by training, commencing her career with BHP Steel, then various roles across the mining industry (iron ore and industrial minerals) and innovation sectors. As Director Major Projects for RTIO from 2001 – 2003, Denise had oversight of exploration, feasibility and construction activities for mines, rail, port and power infrastructure.
In addition to oversight of the completion of the initial West Angelas and Cape Lambert construction programs acquired through the Robe River acquisition, the construction program consisted of a US$4 billion dollar program with a construction workforce in excess of 3000 people. This program included construction of the Eastern Ranges and Nammuldi mines, as well as expansion of the Yandicoogina mine, upgrade of Dampier Port A (Parker Point, approximately doubling the capacity of the Port), duplication of large sections of rail as well as construction of the Tom Price – Yandicoogina transmission line.
Feasibility studies included Paraburdoo gas-fired power plant, rail expansions, Western Ranges and Brockman 4 mines and further expansion of Yandicoogina. Later as Managing Director of Dampier Salt (Rio Tinto subsidiary) she is credited with expanding and invigorating the performance across the three mines, processing facilities and three port-based supply chains. As Managing Director of HIsmelt (Rio Tinto JV) she managed the process to sell the technology and the Kwinana plant, which had been placed on care and maintenance, to a Chinese consortium, where the technology has been successfully operated.
Denise is an experienced non-executive director and experienced Chair. Since leaving executive management roles Denise has devoted herself to lending her expertise, experience and energy to many company and charitable boards she helps steward. Her current NED roles include Chair of Western Power and Independent Director of Leichhardt Industrials. Previous roles include Chancellor of ECU, as well as Chair of ChemCentre, non-executive director of ASC, Export Finance Australia and Aquila. Her innovation based advisory board work includes Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre Advisory Committee (Federal) and member of the Commercialisation Advisory and Trailblazer Advisory Boards for Curtin University.
She is Chair of the Navy Clearance Diver Trust, a charity which helps support veterans in the event of hardship as well as running programs to prevent hardship. The highest risk periods are during the transition to civilian life, and recovery and learning to live with injury. Support is also provided to clearance divers’ families.
Denise is well known as a master of constructive questioning that has delivered a track record of driving rapid, yet sustainable step change in business performance, ranging from cash/earnings and safety, to productivity and product quality through a complementary combination of cultural, systems and technology changes. Externally recognised as a high-quality director utilising expertise in business engagement and system design to achieve reliable outcomes.
Denise has been an Advisory mentor to the Founding Directors of Gascoyne Gateway Limited for many years, became a director within a month of incorporation and is a shareholder of the Company who provided early and essential working capital. On the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Denise was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia.