Special Report - Top 10 a mix of business, politics

This is the fourth year in succession WA Business News has profiled the most influential people in politics, government, business and the community in Western Australia.

This year we have set ourselves a new target – naming the top 10 most influential people in the state.

We don’t presume our lists are definitive but we do believe they provide a useful and insightful guide to people who make the big decisions, marshal resources and shape policy and opinion.

At the head of our top 10 list sits the premier, Dr Geoff Gallop.

Having won re-election in February for another four-year term, and with the Opposition struggling, Dr Gallop is arguably in his strongest-ever position.

Running second is Jim McGinty, Health Minister, Attorney-General, Electoral Affairs Minister and, just as importantly, leader of the dominant ‘left’ faction in the Labor Party in WA.

A third minister on the list is Alan Carpenter, who was given the crucial portfolios of state development and energy after the February election.

Both portfolios could have a big impact on WA’s future economic growth and Mr Carpenter’s performance could dictate his prospects of becoming the state’s next Labor premier.

The four business executives on the top 10 list are headed by Michael Chaney.

Even though Mr Chaney will be retiring next month as managing director of the state’s biggest industrial company, Wesfarmers, he will remain influential.

He will soon take over as chairman of National Australia Bank, one of Australia’s biggest banks, he will continue as a director of BHP Billiton, one of the world’s biggest resource companies, with massive and growing operations in WA, and more generally he is regarded among the country’s most astute and respected business leaders.

He is followed by Don Voelte, who was recruited last year to run Woodside Petroleum, which is ranked by market capitalisation as the biggest company in Perth.

Woodside operates the North West Shelf LNG project, the state’s single largest resource project, and is developing a range of other oil and gas projects in WA and internationally.

Another highly influential business executive is Bob Browning, managing director of energy company Alinta.

Mr Browning rates so highly because of Alinta’s track record of profitable, national growth, which stands in marked contrast to other prominent WA companies that have either been acquired or, worse, done virtually nothing.

The fourth business executive on the top 10 list has zero public profile.

Sam Walsh is chief executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, which puts him in charge of one of the state’s most valuable businesses.

In addition, Mr Walsh is a member of Rio Tinto’s 10-person executive committee, reporting direct to group chief executive Leigh Clifford in London, which gives him a say in Rio’s many other interests in the region.

As chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA and a respected former under treasurer, John Langoulant is one of the most influential opinion leaders in WA.

Neale Fong makes the top 10 for two reasons: he was recruited by the State Government to manage the biggest public sector project currently under way – the far-reaching reform of WA’s health system – and he is also highly influential in sport, through his role as chairman of the WA Football Commission.

The final person has a low public profile, and likes to keep it that way.

Sean Walsh is the premier’s chief of staff and by all accounts the most influential adviser to the most influential person in the state.

WA's Top 10

• Geoff Gallop
• Jim McGinty
• Alan Carpenter
• Don Voelte
• Michael Chaney
• Bob Browning
• Sam Walsh
• John Langoulant
• Neale Fong
• Sean Walsh