Seven West Media brings together resources leaders at exclusive industry dinner

The titans of Australia’s mining and energy sector gathered in Perth on Monday night to hear Seven West Media Chairman Kerry Stokes AC deliver a keynote address on the future of the resources industry.

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King joined Premier Roger Cook, WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti, Mines Minister David Michael, and Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson at the exclusive dinner at Crown’s Crystal Club.

Former premiers the Honourable Richard Court AC and the Honourable Mark McGowan AC were also in attendance, as Mr Cook revealed plans for the State Government’s first-ever productivity commission to help define the future of the industry.

Mr Stokes delivered a forthright address, putting the multi-billion-dollar sector in historical context and warning that state and federal governments should not take its success for granted.

The dinner marked the formal launch of the 2025 Resources and Technology Showcase. More than 20,000 people, including thousands of WA school students, have visited the expo since it was opened by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday.

The showcase features cutting-edge technologies used by the industry, with stalls and displays including robotics and machinery for extracting critical minerals.

Mr Albanese thanked Mr Stokes and Seven West Media for running the showcase, which is supported by both the federal and state governments as well as the industry’s major players.

Alongside government leaders prominent figures at the dinner were former federal Treasurer the Honourable Joe Hockey, former Ambassador to the United States, Tim Day, Asset President WA Iron Ore, BHP; Gerhard Veldsman, Chief Executive Officer, Hancock Iron Ore and Matt Holcz, Managing Director of Pilbara Mines at Rio Tinto.

The architect of the event, Seven West Media WA Chief Executive Officer, Maryna Fewster, said: “The Resources Technology Showcase is an exceptional collaboration between Western Australians and the State’s resources, energy and mining industry.

“The showcase brings West Australian families together with the engine room of the economy, it’s a special event.

“And the dinner only reinforces how important it is to bring the titans of industry and government together to map out and talk about the future opportunities and challenges facing Western Australia and the country.”

Both Mr Albanese and Mr Cook thanked Seven West Media for the unique role it plays in running the showcase and bringing the industry together.

Pictured top: Seven West Media Chairman, Kerry Stokes AC.

Photo credit: Alan Chau/The West Australian

Full list of attendees:
Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA – Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation Hon David Michael MLA – Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Hon Joe Hockey – Former US Ambassador Principal, Bondi Partners
Hon Madeleine King MP – Federal Minister for Resources
Hon Mark McGowan AC – Former Premier, BHP
Hon Richard Court AC – Former Premier, ACE
Hon Rita Saffioti MLA – Deputy Premier, State Government
Hon Roger Cook MLA – Premier, State Government
Andy Drummond – EVP Strategy and Sustainability, Woodside
Balaji Krishnamurthy – Managing Director & President, Chevron
Ben Pieyre – CEO, Boom Logistics
Brendan Harris – CEO, Sandfire
Brian O’Donnell – Finance and Investments Director, ACE
Brian Pereira – CEO, Crown
Christine Simpson Stokes AM – Director, ACE
Corey Wurtzbacher – Vice President, Technology and Global Sales, Caterpillar Dale Henderson – CEO, PLS
Daniel Smith – Chief of Staff, DPC
David Boshoff – CEO, BCI Minerals
David Rea – Head of Resource Industries, Caterpillar
Elsabe Muller – President and VP of Operations, Alcoa Australia
Gerhard Veldsman – CEO, Hancock Iron Ore
Grant Davey – CEO, Matador Capital
Jarvas Croome – CEO, WesTrac
Jules Pemberton – CEO, NRW
Kerry Stokes AC – Chairman, Seven West Media
Matt Holcz – Managing Director, Pilbara Mines, Rio Tinto
Melissa Karlson – CEO, Wyllie Group
Michelle Reynolds – CEO, City of Perth
Rebecca Tomkinson – CEO, Chamber of Minerals and Energy
Richard Goyder AO – Chairman, Woodside, AFL, Perron Group, Telethon Sanjiv Manchanda – CEO Projects, Hanroy
Steve Fewster – CFO, BCI Minerals
Takuya Sugawara – Vice President, Strategic Planning and Managing Director, INPEX Tim Day – Asset President, WA Iron Ore, BHP
Vikas Rambal – Executive Chairman, Perdaman

Resources Minister, Hon. Madeleine King, MP and WA Premier Hon. Roger Cook MLA.

Former Premier Hon. Richard Court AC, Seven West Media Chairman, Kerry Stokes AC and Woodside, AFL, Perron Group & Telethon Chair, Richard Goyder AO.

Boom Logistics CEO, Ben Pieyre and BHP Asset President, Iron Ore, Tim Day.

Caterpillar VP Technology & Global Sales, Corey Wurtzbacher and Alcoa CEO, Elsabe Muller.

BCI Minerals CEO, David Boshoff, Sandfire CEO, Brendan Harris, City of Perth CEO, Michelle Reynolds and BCI Minerals CFO, Steve Fewster.

Hancock Iron Ore CEO, Gerhard Veldsman and Former Premier Hon. Mark McGowan AC.

Wyllie Group CEO, Melissa Karlson and Seven West Media Editor-In-Chief, Christopher Dore.

Seven West Media Chairman, Kerry Stokes AC and Deputy Premier and Treasurer Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA.

Crown CEO Brian Pereira and Matador Capital CEO, Grant Davey.

Rio Tinto Pilbara Mines Managing Director, Matt Holcz and PLS CEO, Dale Henderson.

7NEWS Director of News and Current Affairs, Ray Kuka, Minister for Energy & Decarbonisation, Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA and Inpex VP Strategic Planning & Managing Director Takuya Sugawara.

Principal Bondi Partners and Former US Ambassador, Hon. Joe Hockey and Chevron CEO, Balaji Krishnamurthy.

NRW CEO Jules Pemberton and Woodside EVP Strategy & Sustainability Andy Drummond.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy CEO Rebecca Tomkinson and Premier’s Chief of Staff Daniel Smith.

Hanroy CEO Projects, Sanjiv Manchanda and Perdaman Executive Chairman Vikas Rambal.

WA Premier Hon. Roger Cook MLA and Seven West Media Chairman, Kerry Stokes AC.

ACE Director, Christine Simpson Stokes AM and Seven West Media Chairman, Kerry Stokes AC.

WesTrac CEO, Jarvas Croome.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy CEO, Rebecca Tomkinson.

Principal Bondi Partners and Former US Ambassador Hon. Joe Hockey and Editor of The West Australian and The Nightly, Sarah-Jane Tasker.