The Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA) is pleased to announce Chris Welberry, Head of External Relations Australia at Newmont Corporation, has joined its Board of Directors.
Mr Welberry has extensive international experience as a public and government affairs leader.
His strong people management skills have accrued across almost 30 years in the resources and energy sector, including more than two decades with oil and gas major ExxonMobil.
Mr Welberry began with ExxonMobil in 2000 as a Melbourne-based government relations adviser, rising to Global Head of Strategy and Planning (public and government affairs) at the company’s Texas headquarters.
In 2021 he joined Newcrest Mining, which was acquired by Newmont Corporation – the world’s leading gold miner – last November.
AREEA Chief Executive Steve Knott AM said Mr Welberry would bring timely expertise to the national employer group’s Board of Directors.
“The resources and energy sector faces an array of workforce and workplace relations challenges. This includes persistent skills shortages and complex new industrial relations laws including around the supply of labour between businesses,” Mr Knott said.
“While AREEA was able to ameliorate some of its biggest concerns with last year’s Closing Loopholes legislation through tough negotiations with the federal government – including a carve-out of the industry’s critical service contractor stream from ‘same job, same pay’ orders – our members nonetheless enter the new year dealing with new regulatory risks and uncertainties.
“At the same time, the sector continues its crucial campaigns to attract new generations of talent, with AREEA’s Bright Future STEM program reaching a record 10,000 students last year alongside a focus on driving improvements to workplace culture, inclusivity, mental health and overall wellbeing.
“Chris’s government and corporate affairs experience will be invaluable at a time when AREEA’s influence on the IR, workforce and skills landscape is more important than ever.”
About AREEA’s Board
AREEA is the largest and most diverse national employer group for the Australian resources and energy industry. Its members include employers in hard rock and critical minerals mining, oil and gas, coal, smelting, refining, transport, logistics, engineering and all other supply and servicing sectors.
As of January 2024, the AREEA Board comprises:
- Tom Quinn (AREEA President)
- Julie Fallon (AREEA Vice President), Executive Vice President Corporate Services, Woodside Energy Limited
- Stuart Mathews (AREEA Vice President), Executive Vice President Australasia – Gold Fields Australasia
- Johnpaul Dimech, Zone President APMEA, Brazil and LatAm; Region CEO, APMEA, Sodexo
- Jo Taylor, Managing Director, Compass Group Australia
- Bill Townsend, Senior Vice President Corporate, INPEX
- Chris Welberry, Head of External Relations Australia, Newmont Corporation
- Ulysses Yiannis, Human Resources Manager Asia-Pacific, ExxonMobil Australia
