This week's appointments include John Van Der Wielen, Tania Hudson, Krista Dunstan, Natalia Kacperek, Alex Walsh, Luis Schilling, and others.
Port Hedland Industries Council (PHIC) has announced Krista Dunstan as the new chief executive officer. Ms Dunstan brings more than 15 years’ leadership experience in advocacy, government relations, energy transition, First Nations policy, and international business and trade, working across complex regulatory environments. A Nyoongar woman from the South West, Ms Dunstan is the current expert director on Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation and chair of Blak & Bright, an organisation dedicated to showcasing and elevating First Nations literary voices.
The Committee for Perth has appointed Tania Hudson as interim chief executive officer, effective 1 January 2026. Ms Hudson brings extensive leadership experience to the role, having held senior positions with Lions Eye Institute, Minderoo Foundation, Rio Tinto and ANZ. She was most recently chief executive of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA. Her appointment will support the organisation to maintain the momentum of recent years, including its high-profile 2050 Summit.
Former HBF boss John Van Der Wielen has taken the helm of the Wyllie family office, succeeding the chair of the past four years, Neale Fong. Mr Van Der Wielen's appointment to the board of Wyllie Group adds to his chairmanships of the ASX-listed biotech Orthocell and the WA Government's Future Health and Research Fund.
Natalia Kacperek, a leader in the field of data sharing and artificial intelligence (AI) governance, has been appointed as the new Western Australian chief data officer. Ms Kacperek has held the position of acting chief data officer since October 2023, where she was responsible for establishing PeopleWA, which links data from multiple agencies to inform research and government decision making, and for driving the development of the AI Policy and Assurance Framework in WA.
Alex Walsh, the former head of BAE Systems’ nuclear construction, has been appointed ASC's acting chief executive, tasked with delivering Australia’s submarine program. Currently serving as ASC’s chief nuclear and capability officer and chief operating officer multi-class sustainment delivery, Mr Walsh brings global expertise through previous positions with BAE Systems and Sellafield Limited. He previously worked at ASC from February 2013 to October 2014, and then rejoined ASC in January 2022. Mr Walsh takes the role from Stuart Whiley, who has served at the helm of ASC since 2014, and spent more than 35 years with ASC.
Luis Schilling has been newly appointed as head of design WA for Plus Studio. From Rome, Italy, he brings over 15 years' experience spanning industrial design, interior architecture, architecture, and master planning. A surfer and lifelong sketcher, he began in industrial design before finding his place in architecture and in Perth.
Curtin University has appointed distinguished alumni Emma Garlett and Matt Mueller to its University Council. Ms Garlett, a Nyungar-Nyiyaparli-Yamatji woman and legal academic, is founder of Garlett Group and serves on several boards. Mr Mueller is managing director of Voleno, specialising in AI, technology and risk, and is a non-executive director at St John WA and Fremantle Press.
Marshall Allen is retiring from his executive role at investment group Viburnum Funds, a business he co-founded with Craig Coleman in 2007. Mr Allen will continue as a non-executive director. Outside Viburnum, Mr Allen has been a member of the UWA Business School Advisory Board and chairs the UWA Centre for Business Data Analytics Advisory Board.
The City of Perth has appointed Kelly Townson as its new general manager of engagement and activation. Ms Townson brings broad experience across tourism, hospitality, entertainment, international education and corporate philanthropy. In the role, she will lead economic development, events and activation, customer experience, marketing, digital and communications, and international relations.
JLL has announced a series of promotions across its Western Australian team as part of its H2 2025 cycle. Senior advancements include Andrew Buchanan to senior director, value and risk advisory, and Ian Harwood and Raymond Lampard to senior director roles in property management. Several team members have also progressed across director and associate director positions, including Arash Eshaghi, Hudson Wheeler, Toby Taylor and others, reflecting the firm’s ongoing investment in talent and leadership.
Sydney-based Pallas Capital has appointed Phil Anderton as director, origination WA, and Michael Glen as associate director, origination WA, as the private credit provider expands its presence in Western Australia’s commercial real estate market. The pair bring more than 30 years’ combined property finance experience and have collectively funded over $2 billion in transactions. Based in Perth, they will lead loan origination and provide construction and strategic investment finance solutions across land acquisition, pre-development, residual stock and asset repositioning.
WA Football has confirmed the appointment of Melanie Fisher as a commissioner for a three-year term, while Martina Crowley has been re-elected for a further three years. The outcome, endorsed by stakeholders this week, maintains gender parity on the eight-member board. Chair Ian Callahan welcomed Ms Fisher and acknowledged Ms Crowley’s continued contribution, while also thanking outgoing commissioner Amber Banfield, who steps down on December 31 after six years of service.
Not-for-profit employment services provider Workskil Australia has appointed Lauren Howson as its new Western Australia state manager. Ms Howson will oversee a 268-strong workforce across 21 WA sites, which deliver programs including Workforce Australia, Transition to Work, Career Transition Assistance and the Home2Work affordable rent accommodation pilot. She joins the organisation from Viva Energy, where she served as head of retail and state manager, leading more than 1,300 staff across 138 Coles Express and OTR locations. Her career also includes senior roles with Metcash, Winc Australia and Telstra. Workskil Australia also announced the promotion of Adelaide-based Keri-Ann Usher to chief operating officer, stepping up from her previous role as business performance manager.
