Fiona Hick to chair CME

Woodside Petroleum executive Fiona Hick has today become the first woman to be appointed president of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.

Ms Hick has been with Woodside since 2001, working in a variety of strategy and operational roles before being promoted to executive vice-president operations in October 2019.

In that capacity, she is one of four women on Woodside’s seven-member executive committee.

Prior to joining Woodside, she spent several years with Rio Tinto.

At the CME, Ms Hick is succeeding Ivan Vella, who is moving to Canada to run Rio Tinto’s aluminium business.

Ms Hick said the CME had been operating for 120 years and had just been through one of its most difficult years, given the need to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions, health screening, staff roster changes and the like.

“One of the most challenging was last year with the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

“The sector didn’t just survive, it thrived.

“It achieved record sales, record royalties and a record number of jobs.

“My priority is to keep that going, from strength to strength.”

Ms Hick said she was very proud of the way the entire sector collaborated to operate safely and effectively through COVID.

She said with $140 billion in mining and energy projects in the pipeline, there were many more exciting opportunities set to be realised.

CME chief executive Paul Everingham said he had been lucky enough to get to know Ms Hick through her involvement as a vice-president and a member of the chamber’s executive committee.

“Fiona is an extremely experienced, passionate and skilled leader within our sector and I know these qualities will be vital in her new role as president,” he said.

Two vice-presidents were also appointed at today’s CME annual general meeting.

Felicity Hughes is regional chief financial officer at Newmont Australia and Bill Beament is in the process of moving from Northern Star Resources to copper play Venturex Resources.