Management Team
Mr Nev Power joined Fortescue in February 2011, having recently held the position of Chief Executive Australian Operations for Thiess Pty Ltd where he was responsible for the construction business with a turnover of $4 billion per annum and 3,500 staff. In this role, Mr Power was responsible for some of Australia's most significant projects including the Brisbane Airport Link, Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital redevelopment and the Victorian Desalination project.
Mr Power spent more than 10 years in senior executive positions with Smorgon Steel Group Ltd where he was progressively promoted as the Group grew through acquisitions and expansion and, in February 2001, was appointed Chief Executive (Reinforcing and Steel Products Division).
Mr Power has a Bachelor Engineering from University of Southern Queensland and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Queensland. He maintains an active interest in managing the family cattle property and is an avid aviator, holding both helicopter and fixed wing licenses with endorsements on a range of aircraft.
Mr Pearce joined Fortescue in March 2010 with more than 20 years experience in senior management roles in the mining, oil and gas and utilities industries. He previously held the position of Managing Director and CEO of Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Limited and before that was Chief Financial Officer with Alinta Limited, an A$8bn energy and utility company based in Western Australia.
Mr Pearce has a Bachelor of Business from RMIT, a Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice and is a Chartered Accountant, a Chartered Secretary and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Pearce is currently a member of the Western Australian Business and Industry Committee for the Salvation Army.
Mr Woodall joined Fortescue in January 2013 and has over 28 years' experience in senior leadership roles in the mining and resources industry. Previously he was the Chief Executive Officer and President of Altynalmas Gold Ltd and President - Gold Division for Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Mr Woodall has held senior management positions with internationally publically listed resources companies in Canada, Australia, Fiji and China.
Mr Woodall has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Mining Engineering) from the Western Australian School of Mines, a Graduate Diploma - Business and a Master Science - Mineral Economics from Curtin University. Mr Woodall is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Mr Meurs joined Fortescue in May 2010 to take control of Expansion and Development Projects. His responsibilities range from exploration to studies and project development through to delivery of major capital expansion. As part of this he has direct responsibility for the delivery of Fortescue's current 100 million tonne per annum expansion and future development plans.
Prior to Mr Meurs joining Fortescue, he held the position of Managing Director at WorleyParsons. Mr Meurs was a key contributor to the growth and development of WorleyParsons after joining the company in 1988. During his time at WorleyParsons, Mr Meurs held project management and company development roles including establishment of the foundations of the process business, the establishment and growth of alliance and integrated services contracts in Hydrocarbons and Minerals & Metals and the development of the New Zealand business.
Mr Meurs has a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia. Mr Meurs is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Director External Affairs - Isak Buitendag
Mr Buitendag was appointed Director External Relations in January 2013. He has worked at Fortescue since March 2009, initially as General Manager at Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek and then as Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSES) from October 2010.
Prior to joining Fortescue, Mr Buitendag held several key operations and business development senior leadership roles with BHP Billiton in Western Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands.
Mr Buitendag holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Natal, South Africa and a Master of Business Leadership MBL from the University of South Africa.
Mr Thomas joined Fortescue in April 2004 in the role of Group Financial Controller and went on to become Head of Finance and IT and then Group Manager Finance. Mr Thomas was appointed Company Secretary in June 2010.
With more than 15 years experience in the mining and professional services industries, Mr Thomas has also held senior finance positions with the Goldfields Australia Group and with a number of professional service providers. He has extensive experience in accounting and finance, IT and business administration in the mining and professional services industries.
Mr Thomas has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, a Masters of Business Administration and is a Certified Practising Accountant.