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  Laura Benger

  Chairperson

  Laura is a highly experienced director, executive and coach with an authentic, vibrant and empowering leadership style. Demonstrating eclectic and versatile executive expertise, Laura has a passion for operational excellence and is committed to driving an aligned purpose throughout the organisations she supports.

  Having grown up in mining towns across the Pilbara and North Queensland coalfields, Laura’s connection to the mining industry is life-long and personal, with a family history in the mining industry spanning four generations.

  Her vision is to build better organisations through innovation, honest conversations, leadership coaching and leading with vulnerability. Laura brings a breadth of experience and knowledge to the organisation having led numerous transformation and change journeys in various industries, including healthcare, manufacturing and the resources sector.

  Laura holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification and bachelor’s degrees in both Science and Psychology. She is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, a certified Prosci Change Practitioner and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

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  Richard Kern

  Director

  Richard has worked in the Mining Industry for almost 25 years in both Safety and Business Improvement-related roles.

  He is currently the Group Manager, Safety & Sustainability with Bis. In this role, Richard is responsible for providing strategic direction to the business in Health, Safety, Environment and Security and supporting operations to deliver leading outcomes for its clients.

  Prior to this, he spent over 20 years working within the Nickel, Iron Ore and Gold sectors in WA. This included senior roles with Newmont Mining as the Director, Health, Safety & Security, Leighton Mining, where his responsibilities were Risk Management and Health and Safety and with BHP Nickel West and WA Iron Ore where he led the response to a Ministerial enquiry into their safety performance.

  Consequently, Richard has seen first-hand the impact of workplace events on families, friends, colleagues and businesses.

  He personally believes that leaders within the mining and minerals processing sectors are focused on preventing fatalities and injuries in their businesses however, when the worst occurs, Richard wants to ensure that assistance and support is made available to loved ones through Miners’ Promise.

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  Ian Murray

  Director

  Mr Murray is a Chartered Accountant, a Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds an Executive degree in Advanced Management & Leadership from the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School.

  With over 25 years’ mining industry experience in senior leadership positions, including the position of Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR) and DRDGold Ltd (NYSE & JSE: DRD), he has also held executive positions with international ‘Big Four’ accounting firms.

  Mr Murray brings a wealth of financial, corporate, project development and operational experience to the Board and most recently led Gold Road as it transitioned from explorer to large scale gold producer.

  Mr Murray has been the recipient of many awards during his leadership of Gold Road, including the Gavin Thomas award for leadership, the Diggers and Dealers Deal of the year award in 2017, after winning the best emerging company award in 2011 as well as the CEO of the year award from CEO Magazine.

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  Franko Roberts

  Director

  Franko has worked in the mining industry for more than 20 years starting his career as a Driller’s Off-sider in Kalgoorlie, WA. He has worked in several roles but specialises in coaching Human Resources, Industrial Relations, and Risk & Sustainability Management strategies for Clients and Contractor companies in Australia and abroad. As a result, he has witnessed first-hand the impact of workplace incidents and understands how families and loved ones are impacted, and need support, following a significant incident at work.

  He holds two Master’s Degrees (MBA & Human Resources Management) from Murdoch University, WA is a Justice of Peace and is a passionate Rider of the Cancer 200. Franko is a founding member of Team MAMILS which has raised over $500,000 to find a cure for cancer.  He is married with two children and a beautiful wife.

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  Debbie Morrow

  Director

  Debbie is an Executive with 20 years’ global experience in leading major capital and large-scale construction projects complemented by several years in corporate leadership roles in the oil & gas industry.

  Senior leadership experience includes strategy development, business transformation, organisational design and implementation of change, health, safety, wellbeing & environment, cultural design and enabling major people change.

  Through lived experience Deb is extraordinarily passionate about Health, Safety and Wellbeing and is a competent and experienced crisis leader. Deb believes that everyone should go home enriched by their workplace and that holistic wellbeing should be top of the agenda at every organisation.

  Deb has Bachelor of Business majoring in Management, minor in Accounting at Edith Cowan University 1998 with Gold Key status for academic performance. Deb was a Finalist Telstra Business Women’s Awards 2019 and a 40 under 40 winner First Amongst Equals in 2007.

  Becoming a GAICD in 2021 Deb is embarking on her Board career and feels privileged to support organisations which align with her skills, values and passion.

  Deb reflects that Miners’ Promise is an exceptional organisation and charity who is there with care, compassion and support when the unimaginable happens. While prevention is always better than cure, Miners’ Promise plays an extraordinary role in supporting individuals and their loved ones when they need it most.

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  Ryan Hawkins

  Director

  Ryan has more than 16 years’ experience as a legal and governance professional across a number of industries including construction and infrastructure, mining and oil and gas. He is currently the Head of Legal and Company Secretary of the BGC Group.

  Ryan holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of International Business from Griffith University, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course.

  Ryan is a member of the North Cottesloe Surf Club and loves spending time at the beach with his family.

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  Stephen Jones

  Director

  Stephen Jones is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia. Stephen hopes to use his experience gained from leading corporate finance and governance teams in Australia and overseas to assist boards and entities to strengthen and grow.

  Stephen has worked in a range of industries and a number of roles including auditing, finance, investor relations, feasibility studies, environmental management and governance roles.

  Having spent the last 20 years working in the Western Australian mining and mineral exploration industry, Stephen strongly believes in the value of the industry and the women and men who work to make it great.

  Stephen believes that all members of society are valuable and contribute to its ongoing strength and are worthy of protection and support. Stephen is a family man who enjoys volunteering with his wife in his local community and has two adult children.

Rachel Gopal

Company Secretary

Extend your family today – Miners’ Promise. Your family, our family.