Section 11(1) of the Government Trading Enterprises Act 2023 (WA) states that the role of the Board is to 'perform the functions, determine the policies and control the affairs of the port authority'.
As appointed by the Minister for Ports, the Pilbara Ports Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for Pilbara Ports.
Chair - Karlie Mucjanko BA, MBA(Exec), MAICD
Ms Mucjanko was appointed to the Pilbara Ports Board on 5 October 2020 and has been reappointed for a term expiring on 30 June 2026. Ms Mucjanko was appointed Chair of Pilbara Ports Board with effect from 1 July 2024 and is the Chair of the Organisational Development Committee.
Ms Mucjanko is an experienced Company Executive and Non-Executive Director specialising in strategic communications, social licence, government and stakeholder relations. She has managed large-scale, complex stakeholder relationships, corporate reputations and communications across a range of sectors including not-for-profits, co-operative and mutuals, privately-owned commercial business and government.
Ms Mucjanko has spent the majority of her career in agriculture, including a decade as a Senior Executive with Australia’s largest agribusiness, CBH Group. Since establishing her own communications consultancy, she has continued her interest in agriculture while expanding her focus to regional development, infrastructure and construction and resources.
Ms Mucjanko is the Chair of plant breeding company Intergrain and a Director of the Australian Export Grain Innovation.
Deputy Chair - Brad Geatches BCom, MAICD
Mr Geatches was appointed to the Pilbara Ports Board in May 2019 and has been reappointed for a term ending 30 June 2026. Mr Geatches served as Chair of the Board from May 2019 to June 2024 and as Deputy Chair since 1 July 2024.
Mr Geatches brings more than 30 years’ senior executive experience in underground mining, airports and seaports.
From 2007 to 2016 he was CEO of Perth Airport Pty Ltd and in that capacity led a $1.1 billion capital investment program that greatly expanded the airport’s capacity and transformed the airport’s customer experience. Prior to this, he was CEO of Cairns Port Authority, the operator of the Cairns airport and seaport, and CEO of Powercoal Pty Ltd, a company operating underground mines in NSW.
He is also a Director of Brisbane Airport, Canberra Airport and MATES in Construction WA.
He has a Bachelor of Commerce and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Director - The Hon. Tom Stephens BA (ANU), OAM JP, GAICD
Mr Stephens was appointed to the Pilbara Ports Board in August 2020 for a term expiring on 30 June 2027.
Mr Stephens served in the WA State Parliament from 1982 to 2014, and in State Cabinet as Minister for Works and Regional Development and later also holding the Local Government, Heritage and Regional Development portfolios.
In the period since retiring from the State Parliament, Mr Stephens has served on many Boards and Committees, drawing on his many years of involvement across regional Western Australia generally and with the Aboriginal community in particular. He was Chair of the Gascoyne Development Commission and previously served on the Board of Good to Great Schools Australia.
He currently chairs WA’s Geographic Names Committee, the Kimberley Development Commission, Deputy Chair of the WA Regional Development Trust, a member of the Regional Development Council, a Trustee for MercyCare, and board member of Martu United Pty Ltd and WA’s Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation.
Director - Robert Scharnell BS, MAICD
Mr Scharnell was appointed to the Pilbara Ports Board on 1 July 2021 for a term ending on 30 June 2026.
He brings more than 30-years of world-wide experience within the resources and maritime sectors, encompassing engineering, project management, business strategy, operations, and governance.
He was a Nominee Director of the Marine Preservation Association which oversees the largest Oil Spill Response Organisation in the USA. Mr Scharnell is also a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed South Africa gas exploration company, Kinetiko Energy Ltd.
Mr Scharnell is currently the Chair of Pilbara Ports Risk, Safety and Major Projects Committee, holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and is a member of AICD.
Director - Kirsten Rose FTSE GAICD
Ms Rose was appointed to the Pilbara Ports Board on 11 December 2023 for a term expiring 31 December 2025.
As CSIRO’s Deputy Chief Executive, Ms Rose works closely with the Chief Executive and Board and leads a portfolio of enterprise functions including strategy, engagement and collaboration.
She has held senior technical and innovation roles for more than 25 years in the US, UK and Australia, and her career includes deep experience in climate change, energy and resources technologies.
Ms Rose also brings a strong governance skillset from her executive role at the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a member of the CEDA State Advisory Council and the AmCham Board of Governors, as well as an Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering fellow, and is an active member of Chief Executive Women.
Ms Rose is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University Chicago.
Director - Scott Woodward MM, MBA, GAICD
Mr Woodward was appointed to the Pilbara Ports Board in July 2024 for a term ending 31 December 2025.
Mr Woodward brings strong experience in marine shipping, operations, regulatory and statutory compliance and commercial management.
He has held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Perth Airport since 2018, overseeing a complex, high risk operational environment. Prior to this, Mr Woodward held several high-level executive positions with the Toll Group, including Executive General Manager from 2015 – 2018, leading senior management and overseeing marine logistics, terminal management, fuel distribution, vessel construction and commissioning and financial management.
He also served as Toll Group’s Executive Director for Broome Supply Base, the Toll-Coral Supply Base in Israel and Perkins Marine in Singapore.
Mr Woodward is a Class 1 Master Mariner, holds a Masters in Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Director - Suzanne Hillier BSc/LLB, MEnvLaw, GAICD
Ms Hillier was appointed to the Pilbara Ports Board on 1 January 2025 for a term ending 31 December 2025.
Ms Hillier is an experienced senior executive and General Counsel, with over 30 years in Commonwealth and State governments working across a range of portfolio areas.
She has deep expertise in financial, audit and risk oversight and legal, governance and regulatory compliance. Working with Australia’s Offshore Energy Regulator she obtained extensive experience regulating the safety, integrity and environment of the oil and gas industry. She is passionate about the role businesses and government are playing in the decarbonisation agenda.
Actively serving for many years on boards and committees in the government and not-for-profit sectors, she is currently the Chair of Trails WA.
Ms Hillier is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). She holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws from University of Tasmania and a Master of Environmental Law from University of Sydney.