Roger Hussey has been appointed as inaugural chair of the board for the soon-to-be established Southern Ports Authority, along with Neema Premji who will serve as deputy chair.
Ms Premji was previously the interim chair-elect.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the decision was based on both the best interests of each of the Bunbury, Albany and Esperance ports, as well as the amalgamation of the three ports’ individual authorities to form the new regionally based Southern Ports Authority.
“It had been expressed, at a local community and stakeholder level, that the Southern Ports Authority had been perceived as a takeover rather than a true amalgamation of the three ports – which was never the intent,” he said.
“To overcome this local perception, the interim chair-elect and I have agreed for her to sit as the new board’s deputy chair in conjunction with an independent chair, who has the advantage of not being identified particularly with any of the existing port authorities.”
In June, Mr Nalder announced that the establishment of the Southern Ports Authority had been postponed, trailing behind the Kimberley, Pilbara and Mid-West ports authorities, which commenced operations from July 1.
“I am confident that the new chair and deputy chair will provide the strong leadership required to implement the Southern Ports Authority and develop it into the strong and cohesive organisation required to drive a strategic direction for the region’s ports into the future,” Mr Nalder said.
The Southern Ports Authority is now scheduled to commence operations on October 1.