Blue chip UWA school

The University of Western Australia’s Business School board ranks as the bluest of blue chip boards in Perth.

Two recent additions, in the form of Woodside Petroleum managing director Don Voelte and Alinta managing director Bob Browning, added substantially to its stature.

The business school is chaired by Azure Capital managing director Mark Barnaba.

His co-directors are Tony Howarth, John Poynton, Richard Goyder, Fiona Wood, John Akehurst, Andrew Roberts and business school dean Tracey Horton.

Most of the directors have links outside the business school, illustrating the small size of Perth’s business community.

For instance, Mr Barnaba’s co-founder at Azure Capital was Mr Poynton, and one of the directors at their previous firm, Poynton & Partners, was Ms Horton.

Mr Barnaba also sits on the board of Clinical Cell Culture with Professor Wood.

The business school directors have a strong Alinta connection.

Alinta’s chairman until recently was Mr Howarth, his successor was Mr Poynton, its managing director is Mr Browning and its newest director is Mr Akehurst, who was previously managing director of Woodside.

Extending the links a step further, Mr Barnaba is chairman of Alinta spin-off Alinta Infrastructure Holdings.

Returning to Mr Poynton, he is a director of Multiplex, whose managing director is London-based Andrew Roberts. In addition, Mr Poynton is deputy chairman of boat builder Austal, which has Mr Browning on its board.

Last but not least, Azure Capital is managing the float of oil and gas company Coogee Resources, which recently appointed Mr Akehurst as deputy chairman.