Speaker Biographies
Consul General David J. Gainer, US Consulate General Perth
David J. Gainer is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. He arrived in Perth in August 2019 after serving as Mission Spokesperson and Acting Public Affairs Officer in Ankara, Turkey. In Washington, David worked as Deputy and Acting Director of the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2014-16). Overseas, David has served as Public Affairs Officer in Chennai, India (2012-14); Cultural Affairs Officer in Prague, the Czech Republic (2008-12); Vice Consul in Melbourne, Australia (2005-7); and Acting Public Affairs Officer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2003-5).
Prior to joining the Foreign Service, David taught budget and appropriation law classes for the U.S. Department of Treasury. He earned Masters degrees in American history, African history, and Liberal Studies from the University of Maryland, University of Cape Town, and Georgetown University, respectively, and holds a BA in history from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He taught secondary school as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi. David has also worked as a disc jockey, hosting weekly music shows on a variety of radio stations, and he speaks Turkish, Czech, Khmer, Chichewa and Xhosa. David is married to Jessica an art historian, and they have two daughters.
Rebecca Brown, Director General, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Ms Rebecca Brown commenced as Director General of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) in September 2018. In this role, she is also Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Western Australia. Ms Brown has overseen significant changes across JTSI to position the agency as critical to advancing the State Government’s key policy agendas, including growing local jobs, diversifying the State’s industry base and export potential and continuing to leverage the broader research, science and innovation community to advance outcomes for Western Australia.
She was appointed Acting Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet from March 2020 to May 2021 to support the State Government’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Brown returned to her role as Director General of JTSI in June 2021.
Ms Brown has worked across both Federal and State government agencies in a range of senior roles across revenue and economic policy, social policy, resourcing and performance. This included overseeing the reform of the WA health system, including the establishment of a new governance model and the development of the Health Services Act 2016.
Ms Brown has held senior positions at both WA Treasury and the WA Department of the Premier and Cabinet, where she oversaw key reforms between the public and non-profit community sectors.
Ms Brown has an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Western Australia and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Gary Frampton, Head of Business Development and Technical Projects, BHP Nickel West
Gary has played a significant role in the transformation and reorientation of the Nickel West business, from being a nickel producer for the stainless steel sector, to becoming a globally significant battery materials supplier.
Prior to this appointment, Gary has held numerous senior leadership positions across the Nickel West asset, including General Manager of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda Concentrator, and General Manager of the Kwinana Nickel Refinery. In prior roles with Anglo American and Bulong Nickel Operations, he has also held numerous senior engineering and technical positions.
Gary has a degree in Chemical Engineering, and is married with two children.
Robert Grant, Director Energy, Fortescue Future Industries
Rob Grant commenced as Director Energy of Fortescue Metals Group in April 2020 to oversee the Company’s energy growth initiatives, including the transition to renewable energy and development of a hydrogen business.
He brings engineering and commercial experience spanning more than 20 years in the international energy and infrastructure industry, including nine years as Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Hydro, a global clean energy provider with a significant renewable energy footprint in Australia and internationally.
Prior to joining Fortescue, Rob was Chair of the Clean Energy Investor Group – representing over 20 institutional investors owning over 70 clean energy power stations and over A$11 billion in investment in the national electricity market.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and has completed an MBA and Master of Applied Finance at Melbourne and Macquarie Universities.
Caron Sugars, Partner in Charge- Governance, Risk and Controls, KPMG
Caron is the Partner in charge of KPMG Perth’s Governance, Risk and Controls division, and KPMG’s National Board Advisory Services.
More than 20 years professional experience in commerce, risk management, external and internal audit. Caron re-joined KPMG in 2007 after spending five years in senior finance and Company Secretary roles with one private and two listed entities. Working with Boards and shareholders gave Caron a solid grounding in governance and risk.
Caron has a depth of experience in the Energy and Natural Resources sector having worked with oil and gas and mining clients across most traditional commodities globally. She draws on this experience annually to produce KPMG’s Mining Risk Report for the year.
In supporting the community, Caron sits on the WA Council for the Governance Institute of Australia and their national Board as well as being the Deputy Chair of the Special Air Services Resources Trust Board.
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