Diane Smith-Gander

SPECIAL REPORT: A small group of ministers and backroom advisers close to Mark McGowan will set the agenda for the new state government.

Local business chiefs are positive about the state’s economy in the year ahead, according to the recent Business News CEO Survey.

A forum of business leaders and academics has suggested a series of childcare and education reforms as one pathway to closing the gender pay gap.

A not-for-profit group established and chaired by retiring Governor Kerry Sanderson has attracted strong corporate support in its mission to improve our state’s parks.

More women than men are being appointed to the boards of Australia's top 200 companies for the first time on record.

The panel tasked with reviewing the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority will be led by former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Graeme Samuel and includes Wesfarmers non-executive director Diane Smith-Gander.

Nicola Forrest, Sue Murphy, Neville Owen, and Diane Smith-Gander have been recognised for their service at this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, along with business executives including Anthony Kiernan, Greg Wall and Graeme Wallis.

The Committee for Economic Development of Australia has announced the appointment of Diane Smith-Gander as its new chairperson, alongside two other board appointments.Ms Smith-Gander will take over from current chair Paul McLintock in November.

Kalgoorlie-based contractor MLG has recruited a high-profile finance executive as it moves closer to joining fellow mining services companies Mader Group and DDH1 Drilling in a stockmarket listing.

This year’s Most Influential feature has been narrowed down to the 50 people in WA making the biggest impact in business and politics.

SPECIAL REPORT: WA companies are making workplaces more equitable but more change needs to come from those at the top.

Local drilling business DDH1 is scheduled to list on the stock exchange next week after raising $150 million through its initial public offering.

More than 10,000 childcare centres across Australia and New Zealand will allow parents to use ‘buy now, pay later’ software to cover fees through a deal struck between Zip Co and Xplor Technologies.

Future Perth is a six-part podcast series that will examine the major issues facing this vibrant metropolis as it looks to grow in both size and stature over the next 20 years.

Episode 3 of the Business News Future Perth podcast is now available, focusing on the struggle to bring more women into leadership roles in business and government.

Diane Smith-Gander is set to chair HBF with the incumbent, Tony Crawford, signalling he will retire from the board in May.

The newly appointed chair of Iluka Resources details how he handles his busy board portfolio. This feature includes our listing of Perth's busiest company directors.

John Van Der Wielen is leaving HBF after five years as managing director.

Opposition leader Mia Davies said there had been a clear statement from the Australian public following the federal election where a record number of women were elected to parliament.

AGL Energy is abandoning plans to split into two separate entities, while flagging the departure of chair Peter Botten and chief executive Graeme Hunt.

Lachlan Henderson will return to WA after five years in Victoria to lead one of the state's biggest health insurers.

HBF has acquired its second Queensland-based business in 18 months with the purchase of QCHF.

Sharon Warburton epitomises the rise of female company directors but the number of women chairing major WA companies remains very small.

Established WA contractor Perenti Group plans to acquire smaller counterpart DDH1 in a deal that prices the growing Canning Vale-based business at more than $400 million.

Mining services contractor Perenti has recruited Diane Smith-Gander and Andrea Sutton as non-executive directors following its acquisition of local competitor DDH1.

As the female chairman of a major WA company, Kathleen Conlon has joined a very select group.

Mining services contractor Perenti has a new chair after Rob Cole resigned in order to join the board of national waste management company Cleanaway.

Perenti chair Diane Smith-Gander will replace former High Court chief justice Robert French as chancellor at the University of Western Australia.

Diane Smith-Gander will join an elite cohort from next year.

The board of mining services firm Perenti has avoided a second shareholder strike against its executive remuneration report, after tightening its payment policies relating to safety.

Industry leaders insist there’s more to be done to promote gender diversity across the board.