New leaders for industry groups

Western Australia's two major industry lobbies, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, have witnessed changes at the top during the past year, with new leadership taking the reins.

John Langoulant resigned from his chief executive role at CCIWA in February, while policy director Deidre Wilmot is expected to leave shortly to move into politics.

After almost four years as one of WA business's most prominent figures, Mr Langoulant stepped off the public stage to join Kerry Stokes' Australian Capital Equity Pty Ltd, more than a year before his contract with CCI expired.

A former under-treasurer, Mr Langoulant, has been at the forefront of policy debate in the state, often chiding the government to the point of being considered a de facto opposition.

He was also the very visible chair of the taskforce guiding the state on a major sports stadium initiative.

Ms Wilmot, who was one of the WA delegates at the 2020 Summit in Canberra, has been endorsed as the Liberal Party candidate to succeed Colin Barnett in the safe Liberal seat of Cottesloe at the next state election, due to be held in early 2009.

Chevron executive James Pearson was appointed as the new CCIWA chief executive, but no appointment has been made to replace Ms Wilmot as yet.

The CME has also seen the departure of two of its top representative this year.

One of WA's longest serving resources sector representatives, David Parker, quit his role as a director of the CME earlier this month after six years with the group.

Mr Parker, who stood for election as a Liberal Party candidate earlier in his career, said he wouldn't rule out a career in politics but that it was not on his horizon in the medium term because he has a young family.

His departure follows the exit of chief executive Tim Shanahan in August last year to take on a newly created role at the University of Western Australia heading its thrust into resources-focused education.

Reg Howard-Smith was recruited internally to replace Mr Shanahan as chief executive.