Jim Williams was a founding member of Fortescue Metals Group where he went on to hold the position of head of mining. Mr Williams was chief mining engineer of Bechtel in Australasia, principal mining consultant of Minproc Engineers, and chief executive of Laverton Gold. He is a graduate of the Camborne School of Mines, is a Chartered Engineer, and a Fellow of the AusIMM where he served as chair of the Perth Branch.