Here are just some of the powerful players behind the scenes.
In Scott Morrison’s office:
John Kunkel
Chief of Staff
John Kunkel is the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, but before that was the deputy CEO of the Minerals Council from 2010-2016, and the Chief Advisor, Government Relations at Rio Tinto from 2016-2018.
John Kunkel
Chief of Staff
Office of the Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia Chief Of Staff August 2018 – Present (1 year 9 months)
The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia Chief Of Staff June 2018 – August 2018 (3 months) Parliament House, Australian Capital Territory,
Rio Tinto Chief Adviser, Government Relations May 2016 – April 2018 (2 years) Canberra, Australia
Minerals Council of Australia Deputy Chief Executive Officer February 2010 – May 2016 (6 years 4 months)
Concept Economics Senior Consultant January 2007 – July 2009 (2 years 7 months)
Office of the Hon John Howard Senior Adviser, Cabinet Policy Unit January 2004 – November 2007 (3 years 11 months) Parliament House, Canberra
Speech writer, Office of the Hon Mark Vaile Adviser July 1999 – May 2001 (1 year 11 months) Parliament House,
Canberra Trade Adviser Office of the Hon Tim Fischer Trade Adviser November 1998 – May 1999 (7 months) Parliament House, Canberra
Brendan Pearson
Senior Advisor
Brendan Pearson is Senior Adviser at the Office of the Prime Minister. Before that he was the CEO of the Minerals Council from 2014 to 2017.
Brendan Pearson
Senior Advisor
Office of the Prime Minister Senior Adviser (International – Trade and Investment) June 2019 – Present (11 months) Parliament House, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Minister for Finance and Leader of the Government in the Senate Senior Advisor September 2018 – June 2019 (10 months) Parliament House, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Senior Advisor April 2018 – September 2018 (6 months) Canberra, Australia
Department of Politics and International Studies Visiting Scholar November 2017 – February 2018 (4 months) University of Cambridge
Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive January 2014 – October 2017 (3 years 10 months) Canberra, Australia
Peabody Energy Vice President, Government Relations February 2012 – December 2013 (1 year 11 months)
Minerals Council of Australia Deputy Chief Executive October 2007 – January 2012 (4 years 4 months) Canberra
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Assistant Secretary January 2006 – November 2007 (1 year 11 months)
Australian Financial Review Japan and Korea Correspondent January 2002 – July 2004 (2 years 7 months)
Current Minerals Council of Australia staff and directors:
Helen Coonan
Chair of the Minerals Council
Helen Coonan is the current Chair of the Minerals Council. Before that, she was a Cabinet Minister during the Howard Government from 2004-2007.
Helen Coonan
Chair of the Minerals Council
Minerals Council of Australia, Chair, May 2019 – Present
Place Management NSW (formerly Sydney Harbour Foreshore
Authority) Chair, June 2015 – Present
Crown Resorts Limited, Director, February 2012 – Present
Snowy Hydro Limited, Non-Executive Director, January 2014 – Present
Parliament of Australia, Senator for New South Wales, 1996 – 2011 (15 years). Canberra, Australia
Australian Government, Deputy Leader for the Government in the Senate
2005 – 2007, Canberra, Australia
Cabinet Minister – Communications, Information, Technology and the
Arts, 2004 – 2007
Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer
2001 – 2004
Tania Constable
CEO of the Minerals Council
Tania Constable is the current CEO of the Minerals Council, and has held a number of senior roles in Government, including being the Sunrise Commissioner for Australia and Timor Leste during the controversial development of the Joint Petroleum Development Area and Greater Sunrise Project.
Tania Constable
CEO of the Minerals Council
Tania Constable PSM, joined the Minerals Council of Australia in July 2018 where she is proud to promote and advocate for a strong, vibrant and innovative minerals industry in Australia.
Prior to this, Tania was Chief Executive Officer of the CO2CRC (Collaborative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies) a leading global research organisation testing carbon capture and storage low emission technologies in Australia.
Tania previously worked as chief adviser in the Personal and Retirement Income Division of Treasury, working on tax-related matters and has had a long association with resources and energy, holding various senior executive roles in the Australian Government. Tania had responsibility for policy advice to the Minister for Industry on oil and gas regulation, exploration and development, and sustainable mining activities.
During this time Ms Constable also had the privilege of being the Australian Joint Commissioner and Sunrise Commissioner for Australia and Timor Leste leading joint activities on the development of the Joint Petroleum Development Area and Greater Sunrise Project.
Sid Marris
General Manager
Sid Marris is currently the Minerals Council’s General Manager – Strategy, State & Territory Relationships. Previously he spent almost 9 years at the Minerals Council before becoming Senior Advisor – Energy, Climate Change, Resources and Northern Australia for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Sid Marris had also been the Canberra bureau chief for The Australian before moving to the Minerals Council.
Sid Marris
General Manager
Minerals Council of Australia
General Manager – Strategy, State & Territory Relationships, January 2020 – Present, Canberra, Australia
General Manager – Strategy and Innovation, June 2019 – December 2019 (7 months)
Principal Adviser – Future Workforce, December 2018 – June 2019 (7 months)
The Office of the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Malcolm
Turnbull, Senior Advisor – Energy, Climate Change, Resources and Northern, Australia, February 2017 – August 2018 (1 year 7 months), Canberra
Minerals Council of Australia, 8 years 10 months
Director – Environment, Climate Change and Communities, November 2015 – February 2017 (1 year 4 months), Canberra, Australia
Director – Industry Policy, January 2011 – October 2015 (4 years 10 months), Assistant Director – Corporate Affairs, May 2008 – December 2010 (2 years 8 months)
The Australian
Canberra bureau chief, online political editor, economic correspondent
1991 – 2007 (16 years)
Matthew Steen
Director – Economics & Industry Policy
Matthew Steen was an adviser to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott before joining the Australian Coal Association in 2013, which was then subsumed by the Minerals Council. Matthew is now the Director – Economics & Industry Policy at the Minerals Council.
Matthew Steen
Director – Economics & Industry Policy
Minerals Council of Australia
6 years 4 months
Director – Economics & Industry Policy
October 2015 – Present
Canberra
Assistant Director – Economics & Industry Policy
October 2013 – October 2015 (2 years 1 month)
Forrest, ACT
Australian Coal Association
Manager Research and Policy
March 2012 – September 2013 (1 year 7 months)
The Hon Tony Abbott MHR
Senior Policy Adviser
March 2011 – October 2011 (8 months)
Sydney and Canberra
Industry Super Network
Economist
September 2009 – March 2011 (1 year 7 months)
Sydney CBD
NSW Business Chamber
Policy Adviser – Tax & Competitiveness
2007 – 2009 (2 years)
North Sydney
Australian Business Foundation
Research Analyst
2005 – 2007 (2 years)
Leanne Fry
Manager, Creative and Design
Leanne Fry worked for the Liberal Party before joining the Minerals Council of Australia as Manager, Creative and Design 4 years ago.
Leanne Fry
Manager, Creative and Design
Minerals Council of Australia
Manager – Creative and Design
April 2015 – Present
Coalition Advisory Service
Senior Creative
January 2014 – March 2015 (1 year 3 months)
Canberra
Liberal Party of Australia
Senior Creative
January 2013 – December 2013 (1 year)
Melbourne, Canberra
Liberal Party of Australia (Vic Division)
Editor, Liberal magazine
June 2011 – December 2012 (1 year 7 months)
Melbourne
Liberal Party of Australia (Vic Division)
Graphic Designer
August 2005 – December 2012 (7 years 5 months)
The Hon Fran Bailey MP, Member for McEwen
Media Officer
January 2002 – August 2005 (3 years 8 months)
Healesville, Canberra
Hepburn Shire Advocate, Robinson Grant Newspapers
Journalist
August 1998 – December 2001 (3 years 5 months)
Daylesford
Midland Express, Elliott Midland Newspapers
Journalist
March 1998 – July 1998 (5 months)
Kyneton
Simon Troeth
General Manager, Industry Positioning and Engagement
Simon Troeth is the General Manager, Industry Positioning and Engagement at the Minerals Council. He previously worked in John Howard’s office and the Premier of Victoria’s, amongst many roles in government for the Liberal Party, before joining the Minerals Council in 2017.
Simon Troeth
General Manager, Industry Positioning and Engagement
Minerals Council of Australia
General Manager – Industry Positioning and Engagement
January 2019 – Present
Canberra, Australia
Minerals Council of Australia
Director – Media
December 2017 – December 2018 (1 year 1 month)
Canberra, Australia
Media liaison, digital, campaign and advocacy support for the MCA.
Newgate Communications – Australia
Associate Partner and Head of Canberra Office
June 2014 – November 2017 (3 years 6 months)
Office of the Premier of Victoria
Principal Media Adviser
January 2011 – January 2012 (1 year 1 month)
Office of the Leader of the Opposition
Senior Media Adviser
January 2008 – November 2010 (2 years 11 months)
Mark McCallum
CEO, COAL21
Mark McCallum is the CEO of Coal21 and was the General Manager – Climate and Energy for the Minerals Council from 2018 to 2020. He is also Chair and Co-Founder of Harry Communications, which has worked on projects with the Prime Minister. He has also held various oil and gas lobbyist roles.
Mark McCallum
CEO, COAL21
COAL21
Chief Executive Officer
December 2018 – Present (1 year 5 months)
Canberra, Australia
Harry Communications (Government Relations)
Chair and Co-Founder
February 2018 – Present (2 years 3 months)
Minerals Council of Australia
General Manager – Climate and Energy
December 2018 – January 2020 (1 year 2 months)
Canberra, Australia
Shell
Government Relations Manager
February 2012 – February 2018 (6 years 1 month)
Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)
Deputy Chief Executive
January 2002 – January 2012 (10 years 1 month)
Minerals Council of Australia
Senior Policy Adviser – Environment
January 2001 – February 2002 (1 year 2 months)
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
Assistant Director – Environment
February 1998 – January 2001 (3 years)
James Sorahan
Director, Taxation
James Sorahan was a policy adviser to the former Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson, and before that Minister Chris Bowen. He is currently the Director, Taxation for the Minerals Council of Australia and the Executive Director of the Minerals Council of Australia – Victoria Division.
James Sorahan
Director, Taxation
Minerals Council of Australia
Executive Director, Victoria Branch
March 2019 – Present
Minerals Council of Australia
Director – Taxation
March 2013 – Present
Federal Minister for Resources, Energy & Tourism, the Hon Martin
Ferguson AO MP
Policy Adviser
September 2010 – March 2013 (2 years 7 months)
Office of the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for
Financial Services
Policy Adviser
2007 – 2010 (3 years)
Australian Treasury
Policy Analyst
2005 – 2007 (2 years)
Department of The House of Representatives
Messengerial Attendant
February 2003 – November 2004 (1 year 10 months)
Patrick Gibbons
Director – Climate Change, Environment and Energy.
Patrick Gibbons is the Minerals Council’s Director – Climate Change, Environment and Energy. Patrick has previously worked for former Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, as an adviser for many years and in adviser roles in other Liberal governments at state and federal level.
Patrick Gibbons
Director – Climate Change, Environment and Energy.
Minerals Council of Australia
Director Climate Change, Environment and Energy
March 2017 – Present
Melbourne, Australia
Minister for Industry, Innovation & Science and previously the
Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP
Principal Adviser
December 2013 – March 2017 (3 years 4 months)
Canberra
Office of the Premier of Victoria
Senior Adviser – Energy and Resources
May 2011 – December 2013 (2 years 8 months)
IPR-GDF SUEZ Australia
Principal Advisor Public Policy
August 2007 – May 2011 (3 years 10 months)
Alcoa, Manager Corporate Affairs
March 2006 – June 2007 (1 year 4 months)
Energy Retailers Association of Australia
Executive Director
July 2005 – March 2006 (9 months)
Minister for Energy Industries & Resources
Senior Adviser
November 2003 – July 2005 (1 year 9 months)
Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet
Adviser – International Trade
January 2001 – July 2001 (7 months)
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Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Diplomat
February 1993 – January 2001 (8 years)
Ben Dillaway
Senior Manager – Media
Ben Dillaway is the Senior Manager – Media to the Minerals Council of Australia. Previously he was the Deputy Chief of Staff and former media adviser to the Hon. Steve Ciobo while Ciobo was a senior Government Minister.
Ben Dillaway
Senior Manager – Media
Minerals Council of Australia
Senior Manager – Media
August 2019 – Present
Canberra, Australia
Australian Government
Deputy Chief of Staff / Senior Media Adviser
February 2011 – August 2019 (8 years 7 months)
Gold Coast, Australia
Morrison Media
Contributing Editor
2006 – 2011 (5 years)
Gold Coast
News Corp
Senior Journalist
2003 – 2011 (8 years)
Gold Coast, Queensland
Demus King
General Manager of Trade, Investment and Investor Relations
Demus King is the General Manager of Trade, Investment and Investor Relations at the Minerals Council. He has previously held a range of senior roles in Government departments including the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism including oversight of NOPSEMA, and worked as the Manager of Government Relations at BHP from 2017 – 2018.
Demus King
General Manager of Trade, Investment and Investor Relations
Minerals Council of Australia
General Manager Trade, Investment and Investor Relations
November 2018 – Present
Canberra, Australia
Consilium Consulting, Inc.
Principal
February 2016 – November 2018 (2 years 10 months)
BHP Billiton
Manager Government Relations
March 2017 – April 2018 (1 year 2 months)
Brisbane, Australia
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
General Manager Offshore Resources
April 2013 – January 2016 (2 years 10 months)
Department of Industry
Chair – Streamlining Offshore Environmental Approvals Taskforce
October 2013 – February 2014 (5 months)
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
General Manager International
November 2009 – April 2013 (3 years 6 months)
Department of Resources, Energy & Tourism
Manager then General Manager Resources and Energy Policy
November 2008 – November 2009 (1 year 1 month)
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Manager Energy Markets Reform
December 2000 – January 2007 (6 years 2 months)
Mark Bonner
Principal Adviser, Climate Change
Mark Bonner is Principal Adviser, Climate Change at the Minerals Council of Australia. He has held several senior roles in Federal and Queensland government departments.
Mark Bonner
Principal Adviser, Climate Change
Minerals Council of Australia
Principal Adviser, Climate Change
December 2018 – Present
Brisbane, Australia
The University of Queensland
Casual Academic – Clean Energy
January 2016 – January 2019 (3 years 1 month)
CO2CRC Limited
Review Lead (contract)
March 2018 – October 2018 (8 months)
Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (Queensland)
Chief Economist (contract)
November 2017 – April 2018 (6 months)
Brisbane, Australia
Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute
Global Lead – International Climate Change
August 2010 – November 2017 (7 years 4 months)
Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Queensland)
Director, Economic Policy
November 2007 – March 2010 (2 years 5 months)
Department of the Environment and Energy
Director, Clean Energy and Emissions Trading (Australian Greenhouse
Office)
August 1997 – October 2007 (10 years 3 months)
Megan Davison
Executive Director – Members (Eastern Australia Regions)
Megan Davison has been at the Minerals Council of Australia since 2007. Before this she worked for the Australian Greenhouse Office, the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
Megan Davison
Executive Director – Members (Eastern Australia Regions)
Minerals Council of Australia
Executive Director – Members (Eastern Australia Regions)
March 2019 – Present
Minerals Council of Australia
Executive Director, Victorian Division
January 2012 – March 2019 (7 years 3 months)
Victorian Department of Primary Industries
Stakeholder Engagement Team Leader/Senior Legal Policy Officer,
Minerals and Petroleum Division
July 2005 – January 2007 (1 year 7 months)
Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
Assistant Manager, Coal Industry Section, Resources Division
August 2004 – July 2005 (1 year)
Canberra, Australia
Australian Greenhouse Office
Senior Industry Adviser, Industry Policy Branch, Industry and Markets
Division
April 2002 – August 2004 (2 years 5 months)
Canberra, Australia
Australian Industry Greenhouse Network
Research and Policy Officer
July 1998 – April 2002 (3 years 10 months)
Ellen Butler
Manager of Engagement
Ellen Butler is the Manager of Engagement for the Minerals Council of Australia, and held various roles in Government departments from 2005 – 2012. She also worked as a Government Relations adviser for Shell from 2012 – 2015.
Ellen Butler
Manager of Engagement
Minerals Council of Australia
Manager Engagement
January 2019 – Present
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Partnership Manager
February 2017 – January 2019 (2 years)
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Manager, Stakeholder and Government Relations
July 2015 – November 2016 (1 year 5 months)
Shell
Government Relations Adviser
February 2012 – July 2015 (3 years 6 months)
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
3 years 10 months
Assistant Manager, International Strategy and Tax Analysis Branch
January 2011 – February 2012 (1 year 2 months)
Policy Officer, Minerals Development Branch
May 2008 – January 2011 (2 years 9 months)
Department of Defence of Australia
Various roles
February 2005 – May 2008 (3 years 4 months)
Josh Cosgrave
Director – Low Emissions Technology
Josh Cosgrave is the Director – Low Emissions Technology at Minerals Council of Australia. He previously has held roles in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and Resources, Energy and Tourism.
Josh Cosgrave
Director – Low Emissions Technology
Minerals Council of Australia
Director – Low Emissions Technology
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Director
August 2018 – Present (1 year 9 months)
Canberra, Australia
Acting General Manager – Onshore Minerals Branch
August 2016 – July 2018 (2 years)
Canberra, Australia
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Manager – Low Emissions Technology
February 2015 – December 2015 (11 months)
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
9 years 5 months
Manager – Australian Energy Security
May 2008 – January 2015 (6 years 9 months)
Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
Senior Policy Analyst
September 2003 – July 2005 (1 year 11 months)
