Infrastructure WA board selected

The state government has appointed 10 members to the board of its peak infrastructure advisory body, including six directors from the private sector led by chairman John Langoulant.

Infrastructure WA's deputy chair will be consultant Nicole Lockwood, who is already heavily involved in advising the state government as chair of its Westport Taskforce Steering Committee and the Freight and Logistics Council, and as a director of the Water Corporation.

Other board members include recently retired RAC chief executive Terry Agnew, and Microsoft executive Kerryl Bradshaw.

The board also includes Deutsche Bank’s Perth representative, Wayne Zekulich, and former Rio Tinto executive Andrea Sutton.

They will be joined by four board members representing the government - the directors general of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage and the Department of Transport along with the under-treasurer.

This structure is similar to the peak infrastructure advisory bodies in other states.

Today’s announcement comes six months after Mr Langoulant was appointed chair-designate for the new body.

Mr Langoulant holds multiple board roles, including being chairman of privately-owned Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, which owns the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline.

His past experience includes being chief executive of Oakajee Port & Rail and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA and Under Treasurer.

The role of Infrastructure WA is to provide expert independent advice to the government and identify future infrastructure needs and priorities for Western Australia, but not to make policy decisions.

The recent expression of interest process for board members received more than 150 nominations from across the country.

Premier Mark McGowan said the creation of Infrastructure WA was an important election commitment.

“The composition of the board represents the right combination of expertise and experience to achieve the functions set out in the Infrastructure Western Australia Act 2019,” Mr McGowan said in a statement.

“I look forward to Infrastructure WA’s engagement with government, the community and industry as they work to develop a 20-year state infrastructure strategy to identify needs and opportunities for the state.

“I am confident that this board will provide the necessary leadership to pave the way for the successful establishment and operation of Infrastructure WA.”