Two WA business reps at jobs summit

Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott and Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest are likely to be the only Perth-based business leaders at next week’s Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra.

Woodside Energy chief executive Meg O'Neill is a conspicuous absentee from the event, which will have 100 attendees from business, unions and community groups.

Premier Mark McGowan will attend, along with his counterparts from other states and territories.

The Jobs and Skills Summit will be hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers and is designed to help frame policy formation.

The federal government has not released a list of attendees but details on some of the business representatives, numbering 30 in total, have slowly emerged.

Business News has confirmed that Mr Scott and Mr Forrest have been invited and will attend.

Mr Scott's company, Wesfarmers, is one of Australia's biggest private sector employers, with operations that include Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks.

Mr Forrest is chairman of iron ore miner and aspiring green energy producer Fortescue Metals Group and heads one of the country's largest private companies (Tattarang) and largest philanthropic foundations (Minderoo).

Mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto, which are two of the largest employers in Western Australia, will be represented by Melbourne-based executives: chief executive Mike Henry and chief executive Australia Kellie Parker, respectively.

Other business leaders expected to attend include Qantas boss Alan Joyce, Coles’ Steven Cain, Woolworths’ Brad Banducci, Atlassian’s Scott Farquhar and Toll Global Express boss Christine Holgate.

The list of absentees has sparked considerable debate, with the fossil fuels sector having little representation.

Business News has confirmed that Ms O'Neill will not be at the summit, despite leading Australia’s largest oil and gas producer.

It has been reported elsewhere that Origin Energy and Santos were also excluded.

It is unclear if the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association will attend.

The chief executives of Australia’s big four banks–ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB and Westpac–have not been invited.

They will be represented by Australian Banking Association chief Anna Bligh, who was previously Labor premier of Queensland.

Other peak lobby groups expected to attend include the Minerals Council of Australia, the Master Builders Association and the Australian Constructors Association   

KPMG chair Alison Kitchen and PwC chief executive Tom Seymour are reportedly attending.

The big industry superannuation funds, including AustralianSuper and HESTA, will also be in attendance.