Board Of Directors
Don Argus AO, SFFIN, FCPA, 68
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Limited since November 1996 and Chairman since April 1999. Chairman of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since June 2001. Mr Argus was last re-elected in 2004 and is standing for re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- Don Argus has considerable experience in international business and a strong management background. He has more than 40 years’ experience in the banking industry and is a former Managing Director and CEO of the National Australia Bank Limited.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Chairman of Brambles Industries Ltd (since September 1999) and a Director (since May 1999)
- Chairman of Brambles Industries Plc and a Director (since August 2001)
- Director of Australian Foundation Investment Company Ltd (since May 1999)
- Former Director of Southcorp Limited (from May 1999 until August 2003)
- Member of the International Advisory Council of Allianz Aktiengesellschaft (since April 2000)
- Member of International Advisory Committee to the New York Stock Exchange Board of Directors (since November 2005)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Chairman of the Nomination Committee
Charles Goodyear BSc, MBA, FCPA, 48
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since November 2001. Appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January 2003. Mr Goodyear was last re-elected in 2004 and is not retiring or subject to re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- No
- Skills and experience:
- Charles Goodyear has extensive experience in finance, corporate restructuring and mergers and acquisitions. He joined the Group as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 1999. He was previously President of Goodyear Capital Corporation and Executive Vice President and CFO of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Member of the International Council of Mining and Metals
- Member of the United States National Petroleum Council
- Board Committee membership:
-
- None
Paul Anderson B S (Mech Eng), MBA, 61
- Term of office:
- Appointed a non-executive Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc on 26 April 2006 with effect from 6 June 2006. Mr Anderson will seek election at the 2006 Annual General Meetings. He was the CEO and Managing Director of BHP Limited from December 1998 until June 2001 and of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc from June 2001 until July 2002. He was a non-executive Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc from July to November 2002.
- Independent:
- Yes. Refer to comments in section 4.3 of the Corporate Governance Statement.
- Skills and experience:
- Paul Anderson has an extensive background in natural resources and energy and, as one of the architects of the merger that created BHP Billiton, has a deep understanding of the strategy behind the Group’s success. He is Chairman of the Board of Duke Energy Corporation and has more than 20 years’ experience at Duke Energy and its predecessors.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Chairman of Duke Energy Corporation (since November 2003) and former CEO (from November 2003 to April 2006)
- Director of Qantas Airways Limited (since September 2002)
- Former Director of Temple Inland Inc (from February 2002 to May 2004)
- Former Director of Fluor Corporation (from March to October 2003)
- Member of the US President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Member of the Sustainability Committee
David Brink MSc Eng (Mining), D Com (hc), 67
- Term of office:
- Director of Billiton Plc since June 1997. Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since June 2001. Dr Brink was last re-elected in 2003 and is standing for re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- David Brink brings considerable mining and finance experience to the Group. He has over 20 years’ experience in the mining industry, in particular shaft sinking, tunnelling and exploration contracting, followed by 12 years as the CEO of a major listed construction, engineering and manufacturing conglomerate.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Chairman of Unitrans Limited (since November 1997)
- Deputy Chairman of ABSA Bank Limited and ABSA Group Limited (since April 1992)
- Director of Sanlam Limited (from January 1994 until June 2006)
- Director of Sappi Limited (since March 1994)
- Former Director of Murray & Roberts Holdings Ltd (from July 1984 until December 2003)
- Vice President of the South African Institute of Directors
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Chairman of the Sustainability Committee
- Member of the Risk and Audit Committee
John Buchanan BSc, MSc (Hons 1), PhD, 63
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since February 2003. Dr Buchanan has been designated as the Senior Independent Director of BHP Billiton Plc since his appointment. He was last re-elected by shareholders in 2003 and is standing for re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- John Buchanan has had a wide international business career gained in large and complex international businesses. He has substantial experience in the petroleum industry and knowledge of the UK and international investor community. He has held various leadership roles in strategic, financial, operational and marketing positions, including executive experience in different countries. He is a former executive Director and Group CFO of BP, Treasurer and Chief Executive of BP Finance, and Chief Operating Officer of BP Chemicals.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Chairman of Smith & Nephew Plc (since April 2006) and Deputy Chairman (from February 2005 to April 2006)
- Director of AstraZeneca Plc (since April 2002)
- Senior Independent Director and Deputy Chairman of Vodafone Group Plc (since July 2006) and Director (since April 2003)
- Former Director of Boots Plc (from December 1997 until July 2003)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
Carlos Cordeiro AB, MBA, 50
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since February 2005. Mr Cordeiro was elected in 2005 and is not subject to re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- Carlos Cordeiro brings to the Board more than 20 years’ experience in providing strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial institutions and governments around the world. He was previously Partner and Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Advisory Director of The Goldman Sachs Group Inc (since December 2001)
- Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs (Asia) (since June 2000)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
David Crawford BComm, LLB, FCA, FCPA, FAICD, 62
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Limited since May 1994. Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since June 2001. Mr Crawford was last re-elected in 2005 and, in accordance with the Group’s policy described under ‘Tenure’ in section 4.3 of the Corporate Governance Statement, is retiring and standing for re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- David Crawford has extensive experience in risk management and business reorganisation. He has acted as a consultant, scheme manager, receiver and manager and liquidator to very large and complex groups of companies. He was previously Australian National Chairman of KPMG, Chartered Accountants. The Board has nominated Mr Crawford as the financial expert of the Risk and Audit Committee for the purposes of the US Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and is satisfied that he has recent and relevant financial experience for the purposes of the UK Listing Authority’s Combined Code.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Chairman of Lend Lease Corporation Limited (since May 2003) and Director (since July 2001)
- Director of Foster’s Group Limited (since August 2001)
- Director of Westpac Banking Corporation (since May 2002)
- Former Chairman of National Foods Limited (Director from November 2001 until June 2005)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Chairman of the Risk and Audit Committee
Gail de Planque AB Mathematics, MS (Physics), PhD (Env Health Sciences), 61
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since 19 October 2005. The Hon E G de Planque was elected in 2005 and is not retiring or subject to re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- Gail de Planque is an expert in nuclear technology and has over 30 years’ experience as a physicist, adviser and regulator in the field of nuclear energy. She also has significant experience as a non-executive Director of global energy companies and is a consultant on atomic energy matters. She is a former Commissioner of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a former Director of the Environmental Measurements Laboratory of the US Department of Energy and a Fellow and former President of the American Nuclear Society.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Director of TXU Corp (since February 2004)
- Director of Northeast Utilities (since October 1995)
- Director of Landauer Inc (since December 2001)
- President of Strategy Matters Inc (since March 2000)
- Director of Energy Strategists Consultancy Ltd (since May 1999)
- Former Director of BNFL Plc (from November 2000 to March 2005) and of BNG America Inc (from March 1995 to March 2006)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Member of the Sustainability Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
David Jenkins BA, PhD (Geology), 67
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Limited since March 2000. Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since June 2001. Dr Jenkins was last re-elected in 2005 and is not subject to re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- David Jenkins is a recognised authority on oil and gas technology. He was previously Chief Geologist, Director Technology and Chief Technology Advisor to BP Plc. He was also a member of the Technology Advisory Committee of the Halliburton Company and the Advisory Council of Consort Resources and Chairman of the Energy Advisory Panel of Science Applications International Corporation.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Director of Chartwood Resources Ltd (since November 1998)
- Director of Orion International (Oil & Gas) Ltd (since March 2005)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Risk and Audit Committee
Marius Kloppers BE (Chem), MBA, PhD (Materials Science), 44
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since January 2006. Appointed Group President Non-Ferrous Materials and executive Director in January 2006 and was previously Chief Commercial Officer. Mr Kloppers will seek election at the 2006 Annual General Meetings.
- Independent:
- No
- Skills and experience:
- Marius Kloppers has extensive knowledge of the mining industry and of BHP Billiton’s operations. Active in the mining and resources industry since 1993, he was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in December 2003. He was previously Chief Marketing Officer, Group Executive of Billiton Plc, Chief Executive of Samancor Manganese and held various positions at Billiton Aluminium, including Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Hillside Aluminium.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- None
- Board Committee membership:
-
- None
Chris Lynch BComm, MBA, FCPA, 52
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since January 2006. Appointed Group President Carbon Steel Materials in April 2006. Mr Lynch will seek election at the 2006 Annual General Meetings.
- Independent:
- No
- Skills and experience:
- Chris Lynch has extensive experience in finance and knowledge of the mining industry. He joined the Group as Chief Financial Officer of the Minerals Group in 2000 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in September 2001. Prior to that he held various positions at Alcoa, including Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Alcoa Inc and Chief Financial Officer, Alcoa Europe.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Director of Minerals Council of Australia
- Board Committee membership:
-
- None
Jacques Nasser AO, BBus, Hon DT, 58
- Term of office:
- Appointed a non-executive Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc on 26 April 2006 with effect from 6 June 2006. Mr Nasser will seek election at the 2006 Annual General Meetings.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- Following a 33 year career with Ford in various leadership positions in Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the US, Jacques Nasser served as a member of the Board of Directors and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motor Company from 1998 to 2001. He has more than 30 years’ experience in large-scale global businesses.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Director of British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (since November 2002)
- Director of Brambles Industries Limited and Brambles Industries Plc (since March 2004)
- Director of Quintiles Transnational Corporation (since March 2004)
- Partner of One Equity Partners (since November 2002)
- Member of the International Advisory Council of Allianz Aktiengesellschaft (since February 2001)
- Former Chairman of Polaroid Corporation (from 2002 to 2005)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Member of the Risk and Audit Committee
Miklos (Mike) Salamon BSc Mining Eng, MBA, 51
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since February 2003. Mr Salamon was last re-elected by shareholders in 2005 and is not subject to re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- No
- Skills and experience:
- Mike Salamon has extensive knowledge of the mining industry and of BHP Billiton’s operations. He was previously Executive Chairman of Samancor, Managing Director of Trans-Natal Coal Corporation and Chairman of Columbus. He was previously an executive Director of Billiton Plc with responsibilities for nickel, chrome, manganese, stainless steel and titanium, and Group President Non-Ferrous Materials. He was appointed Executive President in January 2006 with responsibility for health, safety, the environment and communities, marketing, strategy and business development, exploration and technology.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Chairman of Samancor Limited (since October 1993)
- Director of Cerro Matoso SA (since March 1996)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- None
John Schubert BC Eng, PhD (Chem Eng), FIEAust, FTSE, 63
- Term of office:
- Director of BHP Limited since June 2000 and a Director of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since June 2001. Dr Schubert was last re-elected in 2004 and is seeking re-election in 2006.
- Independent:
- Yes
- Skills and experience:
- John Schubert has considerable experience in the international oil industry including at CEO level. He has had executive mining and financial responsibilities and was CEO of Pioneer International Limited for six years, where he operated in the building materials industry in 16 countries. He has experience in mergers, acquisitions and divestments, project analysis and management. He was previously Chairman and Managing Director of Esso Australia Limited and President of the Business Council of Australia.
- Other directorships and offices (current and recent):
-
- Chairman of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (since November 2004) and Director (since October 1991)
- Director of Qantas Airways Limited (since October 2000)
- Chairman of G2 Therapies Limited (since November 2000)
- Former Director of Hanson Plc (from May 2000 until May 2003)
- Former Chairman and Director of Worley Parsons Limited (from November 2002 until February 2005)
- Board Committee membership:
-
- Member of the Nomination Committee
- Member of the Sustainability Committee
Group Company Secretary
Karen Wood BEd, LLB (Hons), FCIS, 50
- Term of office:
- Company Secretary of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc since June 2001. Appointed Special Advisor and Head of Group Secretariat and a member of the Office of Chief Executive in December 2005.
- Skills and experience:
- Karen Wood is a member of the Takeovers Panel (Australia), the Business Regulatory Advisory Group (Australia) and the JD (Juris Doctor) Advisory Board of the University of Melbourne. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and a member of the Law Council of Australia and the Law Institute of Victoria. She chairs the Global Ethics Panel, the Disclosure Committee and the US Disclosure Controls Committee of BHP Billiton. She was previously the General Counsel and Company Secretary of Bonlac Foods Limited.
