Who we are
Our board of directors

Diane Smith-Gander AO
BEc, MBA, FAICD, FGIA, Hon.Dec, FAIM, GAICD
Non-Executive Director and Chair
Diane joined the Perenti Board on 16 October 2023 following the implementation of the DDH1 scheme of arrangement on 6 October 2023. Prior to becoming a full-time company director in 2009, Diane enjoyed a successful executive career with Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX:WBC), primarily in banking operations, technology solutions and change management roles. Diane was also a Partner of McKinsey & Company.
Full profile
Diane has extensive Australian and international experience in banking and finance, technology, and strategic and management consulting. Diane is also the Chair of Zip Co Limited (ASX:ZIP), the Committee for Economic Development of Australia and HBF Health Limited.
Diane chaired previously listed contractor Broadspectrum and served on the Wesfarmers board for more than a decade. She is also a past director of cooperative CBH and privately held North Queensland Airports.
Diane was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to business, women’s engagement in executive roles, gender equality and the community in 2019. In January 2025, she was
also appointed as Chancellor of the University of Western
Australia (UWA).
She is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia, and is a past President of Chief Executive Women.

Mark Norwell
BE (Hons), MBA, MAICD
Group Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Mark was appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Perenti in September 2018. Mark has over 25 years’ experience in the mining industry throughout Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Americas. Mark holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree (honours) from the University of Western Australia and an Executive MBA from the University of New South Wales (AGSM).
Full profile
Prior to joining Perenti Mark held several executive roles with Thiess and Leighton Contractors, as well as various operational leadership positions with Henry Walker Eltin and Macmahon.
His expertise spans underground, open cut and process engineering operations across a variety of commodities including iron ore, gold, copper, diamonds, nickel and oil sands.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree (honours) from the University of Western Australia and an Executive MBA from the University of New South Wales (AGSM).
Mark’s strategy and growth expertise coupled with his operational experience have fostered a strong understanding of the success factors that drive business performance in the mining industry.

Andrea Hall
FCA, GAICD, MAppFin, BCom
Non-Executive Director
Andrea was appointed as a non-executive director on December 15, 2019. Andrea is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and a Masters in Applied Finance (Corporate Finance).
Full profile
Having commenced her career at KPMG in 1987, before retiring from the firm in 2012 as a Partner in Charge of the Perth Internal Audit, Risk and Control Services division within KPMG’s Risk Consulting area.
She currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of several listed and non-listed entities, including Evolution Mining, Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, ARIA and the Australian Naval Infrastructure. She has also previously held non-executive directorship roles at several other prominent entities, including Automotive Holdings Group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, and Lotterywest.
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, and she is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand. She served on the WA Council for Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand for seven years until 2011, the last year as the Chair. Andrea has also completed a Masters in Applied Finance (Corporate Finance).

Tim Longstaff
BEc, FCA, GAICD, F FIN
Non-Executive Director
Tim was appointed as a non-executive director on August 16, 2021, is Chair of Perenti’s People and Remuneration Committee and sits on the Audit & Risk Committee. Tim started his career in the audit division of PricewaterhouseCoopers then had a 25-year career in investment banking, with many years in Managing Director and senior executive roles at top-tier global firms. Tim holds a Bachelor of Economics degree.
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Through his career in Australia and overseas, Tim brings a depth of experience in strategy formulation, acquisitions and divestments, debt and equity capital markets, and investor engagement amongst asset-intensive industrial companies.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Economics degree, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.
Tim started his career in the audit division of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He then had a 25-year career in investment banking, with many years in Managing Director and senior executive roles at top-tier global firms. He has been a strategic partner and advised the Boards and CEOs of leading Australian and international companies on numerous transformational M&A and capital markets transactions.
More recently, Tim served as Senior Advisor to the Federal Minister for Finance and Leader of the Government in the Senate, and the Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Through this experience Tim brings valuable global geo-political perspectives and insights into the workings of Government.
Tim is also a non-executive director of ASX-Listed Ingham’s Group Limited and Nine Entertainment. He also sits on the Board of the George Institute for Global Health. Tim is Chair and non-executive director of Aurizon Holdings.

Craig Laslett
BEng, FIE, CP Eng, EngExc, FAICD
Non-Executive Director
Craig was appointed as a non-executive director of Perenti on 28 February 2022. Craig is a Civil Engineer with more than 40 years of engineering, project management and executive experience across some of Australia’s largest publicly listed mining services and infrastructure companies, including a role as the Managing Director of Leighton Contractors, a subsidiary of the Leighton Holdings Group, now CIMIC Group.
Full profile
This included leadership and accountability for diverse operations and a direct and indirect workforce of circa 20,000 people.
This experience includes accountability for HWE Mining and Leighton Mining for open cut mining, underground mining and materials processing services across operations in Australia and overseas.
Craig is currently the Managing Director of Leed Engineering and Constructions, a privately owned Adelaide based civil infrastructure contractor.
In addition to his professional career, he is passionate about enhancing the contribution and value provided by the contracting and services industries, including representing the industry at board and governmental levels. This includes supporting industry diversity and providing opportunities for indigenous and disadvantaged youth, which he has pursued in his capacity as the past Chair of CareerTrackers.

Andrea Sutton
BEng Chemical (Hons), GradDipEcon, GAICD
Non-Executive Director
Andrea joined the Perenti Board on 16 October 2023 following the implementation of the DDH1 scheme of arrangement on 6 October 2023. Andrea brings over 20 years of operational, technical and corporate experience within the mining industry.
Full profile
Andrea’s prior roles include Non-Executive Director of Energy Resources of Australia and Managing Director and Chief Executive of Energy Resources of Australia. Within Rio Tinto, Andrea has been the Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Security, Managing Director with the Support Strategy Review team, General Manager – Operations at the Bengalla mine, and General Manager – Infrastructure within Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore business.
Andrea is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Engineers Australia, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chief Executive Women.
Andrea is a board member of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and a Non-Executive Director of Red 5 Limited (ASX:RED), Iluka Resources Limited (ASX:ILU), and Commonwealth company Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd (ANI).

Gregory Walker
Non-Executive Director
Gregory is an international mining professional with over 45 years of experience managing complex mining operations and delivering sustainable results. Renowned for his ability to build strong community and cultural relationships, Gregory has led teams in Australia, the USA, Canada, Tanzania, the Dominican Republic, and Papua New Guinea.
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His expertise spans mineral processing, open cut and underground mining, corporate governance, government and community liaison, and strategic executive leadership.
Gregory has held roles such as Executive Managing Director of Nevada Gold Mines, Senior Vice President of Operational and Technical Excellence at Barrick Gold, and Executive General Manager of Barrick Pueblo Viejo Gold Mine in the Dominican Republic.
Gregory holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Metallurgy from Curtin University.
His extensive operational expertise and global leadership experience further strengthens the Board’s capabilities and support the Perenti’s strategic priorities.
