Donald (Don) Voelte is the CEO of Seven Group Holdings, the biggest shareholder in Seven West Media which he previously headed, having initially been appointed to the board as a director of West Australian Newspapers Holdings (SWM's predecessor entity) in December 2008. He is also non-executive chairman of Melbourne-based Nexus Energy. Mr Voelte first moved to WA when he was appointed managing director of Woodside Petroleum in 2004, and moved back to the US upon his retirement in June 2011, before returning to WA to head SWM a year later. He has held a number of senior executive positions in the American oil & gas sector, including at Chroma Energy, Atlantic Richfield Company and Mobil Corporation. Mr Voelte is a vice-patron of GivingWest, a former UWA Business School board member and has contributed to the Art Gallery of WA's TomorrowFund. He is a trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation and was awarded the University of Nebraska Engineering Alumni of Year in 2002. The University of Nebraska has named its Nanotechnology & Metrology Research Centre for Mr Voelte and his wife Nancy. In 2012, Mr Voelte was appointed an honorary officer (AO) within the general division of the Order of Australia.
