Newmont’s Chris Welberry Joins AREEA Board of Directors
The Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Chris Welberry to its Board of Directors. Mr. Welberry, who currently serves as the Head of External Relations Australia at Newmont Corporation, brings a wealth of international experience as a public and government affairs leader.
With nearly three decades of experience in the resources and energy sector, Mr. Welberry has demonstrated his exceptional people management skills throughout his career. He spent over 20 years at ExxonMobil, one of the industry’s major players, where he started as a government relations adviser in Melbourne in 2000 and eventually rose to become the Global Head of Strategy and Planning (public and government affairs) at the company’s Texas headquarters.
In 2021, Mr. Welberry joined Newcrest Mining, which was later acquired by Newmont Corporation, the world’s leading gold miner, in November.
Steve Knott AM, Chief Executive of AREEA, expressed his enthusiasm for Mr. Welberry’s appointment, emphasizing the timeliness of his expertise in addressing the industry’s workforce and workplace relations challenges. These challenges include ongoing skills shortages and the complexities of new industrial relations laws, particularly concerning the supply of labor between businesses.
AREEA was able to address some of our most significant concerns through tough negotiations with the federal government last year, thanks to the Closing Loopholes legislation, Mr. Knott said. While we secured a carve-out for the critical service contractor stream from ‘same job, same pay’ orders, our members still face new regulatory risks and uncertainties in the new year.
Mr. Knott further highlighted that the resources and energy sector remains dedicated to attracting new talent and promoting workplace culture, inclusivity, mental health, and overall well-being. AREEA’s Bright Future STEM program reached a milestone of 10,000 students last year, underscoring the industry’s commitment to fostering the next generation of professionals.
He added, 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.
AREEA’s Board represents the largest and most diverse national employer group for the Australian resources and energy industry. Its members encompass various sectors, including hard rock and critical minerals mining, oil and gas, coal, smelting, refining, logistics, engineering, and other related industries.
The inclusion of Chris Welberry on the AREEA Board of Directors further strengthens the association’s ability to navigate current and emerging issues while effectively advocating for the interests of its members.
Overall, Mr. Welberry’s renowned expertise and extensive background in public and government affairs make him an invaluable addition to AREEA’s leadership team. As the industry faces ongoing challenges and strives for continued growth, his insights and strategic vision will undoubtedly contribute to advancing the sector’s workforce, workplace relations, and regulatory landscape.
