Investors
Board of Directors
John Rothwell AO
Non Executive ChairmanWith in excess of 30 years experience in boat and shipbuilding, John Rothwell has played a major role in the development of the Australian aluminium shipbuilding industry and is a Founding Director of Austal.
In June 2004, John was appointed a Council member of the Australian National Maritime Museum and became Chairman of the Capital Works Committee of that organisation in November 2005.
In January 2004, John Rothwell was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to the Australian shipbuilding industry through the development of trade links and for significant contributions to vocational education and training. In October 2002, John Rothwell was named the Ernst & Young “Australian Entrepreneur of the Year”.
John stepped down as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on 22 August to continue as Non-Executive Chairman.
Michael Atkinson CA
(Zim) CA (SA)Executive Director, Finance & Company Secretary
Michael Atkinson joined Austal in 1990 as Financial Controller and was appointed to the Board in 1994. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with 10 years experience in the accounting profession. On leaving the profession, he entered the railway and construction industry where he served in a senior financial capacity and as a Board member.
Christopher Norman
(B.Eng Hons)
Non Executive Director
Chris Norman is one of the Founding Directors of Austal. He graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1986 with first class honours in Naval Architecture and has previously been Austal’s Technical Director. Mr Norman has been a driving force in the technical and marketing success of the company and, with extensive experience in international marketing and sales, held the position of Sales Director between 1993 and 2002.
In May 2000, Chris was awarded the prestigious A.G.M. Michell Award in recognition of outstanding service in the profession of Mechanical Engineering. He is a member of both the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and the Germanischer Lloyd Asean Committee.
John Poynton
B.Com, FSIA, FAIM, FAICDINDEPENDENT Director - Non Executive
John is a co-founder and executive Chairman of Azure Capital.
John is a Non-Executive Director of Burswood Ltd, Multiplex Ltd and is a member of the Payments System Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia. He is Chairman of the West Australian Museum Foundation and a member of the Board of the Business School at the University of Western Australia, where he also serves as Adjunct Professor of Financial Services. He has previously served as a Chairman of the ASX and Alinta. He is a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
In June 2006 he was awarded with Citizen of the Year in the Industry and Commerce category.In June 2006 he was awarded with Citizen of the Year in the Industry and Commerce category.
Robert Browning
MSc, MBA, FAIMManaging Director and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Browning was Chief Executive Officer of Alinta Limited from March 2001 to 8 April 2007.
Mr Browning holds a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University, an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management.
Mr Browning held the position of Independent Director from 2 September 2003 until his resignation on 31 July 2007 to take up the position of Chief Executive Officer with Austal USA LLC. On 22 August 2008, Mr Browning rejoined the Board and was appointed to the position of Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer.
Dario Amara
BE (Distn) FIEAust CPEngINDEPENDENT Director - Non Executive
Dario Amara is co founder and Chief Executive of Emerson Stewart Limited, a project delivery, mining services and technologies group based in Perth.
He has 28 years of Australian and International experience covering both the engineering and construction sectors, and has been involved in a number of senior leadership roles. Most recently, he successfully led a major Australian engineering group as Chief Executive Officer. He has a record of accomplishment in rejuvenating and growing businesses in new markets. He is a graduate from the Curtin University of Technology.
He is currently Non Executive Chairman of Mission Biofuels Limited, Chairman of the City of Perth Heritage Appeal and a board member of the Perth International Art Festival. He has also served as Chairman of the West Australian Opera Company and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Ian Campbell
INDEPENDENT Director - Non Executive
Mr Campbell had a distinguished 17 year career as a Senator for Western Australia in the Australian Federal Parliament.
As Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer for 4 years, Mr Campbell initiated the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program including legislating to move Australia to International Financial Reporting Standards and reform of Accounting and Audit oversight institutional arrangements.
He is a former Member of Federal Cabinet where he held the portfolios of Environment and Heritage and Human Services. As a Federal Minister he also served as Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads.
Ian is a Non-Executive Director of Solco Ltd, ASG Group Ltd and Proto Resources and Investments Ltd.
