Mark Beyer

John Akehurst may not have rated a mention in WA Business News’ annual ranking of WA's most influential people a year ago, but during the past six months he has played a central role in deciding the fate of Alinta.

Perth is home to some of Australia’s biggest private fortunes, but having a lot of money does not always equate to having influence.

Western Australia’s main public universities have some of the state’s most influential people serving on their governing councils and among their senior staff.

Rival iron ore miners in the Mid West region have formed up in two competing camps, with Murchison Metals Ltd today signing a deal with Japan's Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd to develop mining and infrastructure businesses at a cost of up to $3 billion.

The State Government has delayed making a decision on the expansion of the Ord River irrigation area, despite calls for a quick decision to help avert the collapse of the region's sugar industry.

The Auditor General has delivered a highly critical assessment of the state government's shared services project, which has experienced major cost blow-outs and failed to lift the efficiency of back-office services.

The former Western Power, long derided as a tired government monopoly in need of a shake-up, has emerged as the preferred training ground for directors and executives at many of Western Australia’s new energy companies after the group’s break up.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd is fast approaching decision time on its giant Pluto gas project, which, if it proceeds, will be the single largest investment in a resource project in Australia’s history.

The state government has questioned the validity of a 34-year old state agreement that Midwest Corporation Ltd and Yilgarn Infrastructure Ltd are relying on for a $2 billion railway and port project in the Mid West region.