RFDS lands Walsh as new chair

The Royal Flying Doctor Service WA has today announced former Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh as the successor of chair Neville Bassett.

After 27 years as a board member with RFDS, Mr Bassett will retire in October, having been at the helm of a period of transformation of the organisation, actively supporting the culture of innovation to build long term sustainability.

Mr Bassett said he had advocated for his successor to be someone of commercial calibre with demonstrated commitment to WA community involvement.

“The board was unanimous in their view that Sam was a natural choice as my successor,” Mr Bassett said.

“He has the perfect combination of executive level management experience and a real passion for the future growth and development of WA.”

Mr Walsh, who is an Order of Australia recipient, will take over as RFDS board chair at its annual general meeting in October, bringing expertise from past senior management and board positions across a multitude of organisations and sectors.

The new role is one of many high-profile board positions Mr Walsh currently holds. He is the chair of both the Art Gallery of WA and the Perth Diocesan Trust, and a board member of national arts funding body the Australia Council for the Arts.

Mr Walsh is also a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and was previously a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals.