Business mourns key losses

Perth’s business community has experienced one of its most tragic months, with the entire board of iron ore developer Sundance Resources perishing in a plane crash in Africa and two other prominent business figures passing away.

Sundance’s board comprised some of Australia’s best known business figures, including the company’s chairman Geoff Wedlock and its non-executive director and Queensland coal magnate Ken Talbot.

Mr Wedlock was chairman of four listed companies: Sundance, which is seeking to develop an iron ore project in Cameroon; Gindalbie Metals, which is developing the Karara iron ore project in the Mid West; Jupiter Mines, which this week appointed Brian Gilbertson as acting chairman; and Gladiator Resources.

Gindalbie said Mr Wedlock was a highly respected member of the Australian mining industry who made an enormous contribution to the development and growth of the company.

Richard Clark, who succeeded Mr Wedlock as managing director of Grange Resources, said the deaths would have a huge impact on the WA business community.

‘‘There was a phenomenal amount of talent on that aeroplane,’’ he said.

Sundance’s managing director Don Lewis, company secretary John Carr-Gregg and non-executive directors John Jones and Craig Oliver were also on the ill-fated flight to the Mbalam mine site.

Mr Oliver was also finance director of Western Areas, whose managing director Julian Hanna said ‘‘Craig was such a core for Western Areas and he's certainly going to be sadly missed.”

They were among a total of 11 people on the flight.

Their deaths represent the biggest tragedy to hit the industry since 1988, when the board of Independence Resources died in a plane crash near Leonora.

Sundance broke its normal rules when all of its directors boarded the flight, but had no alternatives and had undertaken a detailed risk assessment.

The company’s former chairman George Jones has taken the reins at Sundance, after being one of three people appointed as strategic advisers. The others taking that role were company lawyer Michael Blakiston and investment banker Adam Rankine-Wilson, who have both had a close involvement with the company.

Meanwhile, two other prominent Perth business executives have passed away this month.

Former Dampier Bunbury Pipeline executive chairman Stuart Hohnen passed away at his home on Sunday after a lengthy illness.

Mr Hohnen, who previously worked for the state government and Alinta Gas, moved to a non-executive role at DBP in April.

Earlier this month, company director Frank Carr passed away after a short illness. Mr Carr was chairman of three listed companies: Carrick Gold and Condor Nickel, which this week appointed Ian Burston as new chairman, and Telezon.

Mr Carr was a company director for over 30 years and in 1985 was joint founder and director of Mini Skips.