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Our Leaders

Meet the Bis Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team.

Meet the team

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  • Graeme Hunt

    Chairman

    Appointed in 2018.

    Graeme brings a wealth of experience to Bis gained from senior leadership and governance roles across the resources, industrial services and power sectors. This has included roles as Managing Director of Broadspectrum and Lihir Gold. Graeme was a senior executive within BHP during a career spanning 30 years, culminating in roles which included President Iron Ore, President Aluminium and President Uranium.

    Graeme currently serves as Managing Director and CEO of AGL Energy (since 2021), and Chair of the National Resources Science Precinct and the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance (since 2012). He previously held a Director role with Broadspectrum Limited (formerly known as Transfield Services Limited) from 2012 until 2016.

  • Simon Atkinson

    Chief Executive Officer

    Appointed in 2023.

    Simon commenced as CEO in February 2023, joining Bis from Pacific National, Australia’s largest privately owned rail logistics business, and prior to that, Incitec Pivot Limited where he ran the Asia Pacific downstream business in Commercial Explosives and Fertilisers.

    An esteemed industry executive, Simon is highly regarded for his relentless pursuit of excellence in strategy, HSE, people development, process optimisation and value creation. He is focused on leading the business safely and efficiently with an absolute focus on stakeholder needs and generating sustained long-term value for our customer and shareholders.

    Simon is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School Executive Program. 

  • Michael Porter

    Chief Operating Officer

    Appointed in 2014.

    Michael was appointed Chief Executive Officer (Acting) in July 2022, having previously served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer since 2014.  

    Over his 34 year career, Michael has operated and led teams across a variety of sectors, including logistics, mining, and oil and gas. Michael is an accomplished executive, with experience across Australia and Indonesia, and is highly regarded for his customer focus and his ability to deliver strong operational performance across a broad and diverse range of portfolios.

    Michael is recognised for his passion for Zero Harm, his strong financial management and governance, as well as his focus on growth and continuous improvement.

  • Emma Stein

    Non-Executive Director

    Appointed in 2018.

    Emma Stein is currently serving as Non-Executive Director of ASX50 Company Alumina Limited as well as other non-executive roles including Cleanaway, Worley, Infigen Energy Limited and Todd Corporation.

    Emma’s executive career involved senior roles in prominent oil and gas companies in the United Kingdom, including roles as UK Managing Director for British Fuels’ Gas Division and UK Managing Director for Gaz de France Energy.

    Throughout her career she has amassed experience in the resources, oil and gas and energy sectors. She brings a wealth of knowledge in commercial and strategic matters to the Board.

  • David Gray

    Non-Executive Director

    Appointed in 2019.

    David Gray is the CEO and Managing Director at Insight Capital Advisors, an independent capital markets and corporate advisory firm. Prior to founding Insight Capital Advisors, Mr Gray was a Managing Director and Head of Equity Capital Markets at J.P. Morgan in Australia and prior to that was a Managing Director and Head of Equity Capital Markets at Deutsche Bank in Australia.

    He has also held other senior executive positions at UBS and Siemens. Mr Gray brings a wealth of knowledge to the position, with over 25 years’ experience across investment banking, independent advisory and financial markets. He has been involved in more than 300 advisory roles and capital raisings.

    Mr Gray has relevant industry experience having advised extensively in the energy, mining, resources services and transport logistics sectors. Mr Gray has served on the Board of J.P. Morgan Australia, was a Non-Executive Director of ASX listed Consolidated Operations Group and is a member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

  • Sandeep Chandak

    Non-Executive Director

    Appointed in 2018.

    Sandeep K Chandak is a Managing Director in Värde's Asia Corporate and Traded Credit team. Based in Singapore, he joined the firm in 2016.

    Prior to joining Värde, Sandeep was a Director at Deutsche Bank AG in Hong Kong trading Asia-Pacific trading loans and bonds for over a decade.

  • Jay Ditmarsch

    Non-Executive Director

    Appointed in December 2022.

    Jay Ditmarsch is a member of Carlyle Global Credit and has worked in New York and London. He is currently based in New York.

    Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Ditmarsch was a member of the Principal Transactions Group at Macquarie Capital.

    Mr. Ditmarsch received a Bachelor of Arts in Statistics and Economics from Harvard University.

  • Andrew Thomson

    Chief Financial Officer

    Appointed in 2023.

    Harnessing more than 30 years of financial and strategy experience spanning resources, infrastructure and facilities services organisations, Andrew joined Bis as CFO in March 2023.

    Whilst he came to Bis from Pacific National where he was Chief Commercial Officer, he has held senior and executive roles both in Australia and internationally at BHP, Broadspectrum (formerly Transfield Services), Greenhill, Helfen and NM Rothschild.

    Andrew holds a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of Glasgow.

  • Layla Mehravari

    Executive General Manager – People And Sustainability

    Appointed in 2022.

    With more than 15 years mining industry and contracting experience, Layla has responsibility for Bis’ People, Culture and Safety functions; working closely with leaders and functions across the business to develop and deliver proactive and measurable initiatives that keep Bis employees safe, valued and engaged.

    Most recently, Layla was Head of Employee Relations for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Prior to this, she held an Executive role at Mineral Resources for seven years. Earlier in her career, she held senior roles at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, Worley and Jan de Nul Australia.

    Layla holds a Master of Human Resources and Employee Relations, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts. 

  • Stephen Edwards

    Executive General Manager – Innovation

    Appointed in 2022.

    Accomplished innovation, engineering and project management executive, Stephen joined Bis in August 2022. He oversees Bis’ innovation pipeline and is responsible for driving its development and commercialisation, which includes working closely with our valued partners and joint venture entities.

    Immediately prior to Bis, Stephen owned his own management consultancy and has 30 years of experience encompassing strategic planning, innovation, operational analysis, organisational transformation, and program and project management across a range of sectors and organisations.

    Stephen has also held senior management positions in resource and management consulting organisations including, BHP, BlackPoint Consulting, Deloitte and Arthur Anderson.

    Stephen holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Engineering and a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Impact Assessment.

  • Ivan Mcleod

    General Manager - West

    Appointed in 2020.

    Ivan joined Bis in 2018 after 10 years with rail freight operator Aurizon where he held several senior roles as General Manager/Vice President in business development, operations and commercial and marketing in the company’s Iron ore and Bulk West portfolios.

    Ivan initially oversaw Bis’ customer and market strategies, before moving into operational leadership. 

    Ivan has a demonstrated track record of delivering strong operational and financial performance in complex operating environments whilst ensuring the highest level of safety and customer satisfaction.

    Ivan holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Phd) and a Bachelor of Rural Science (Hons) from the University of New England.

  • Drew Sargeant

    General Manager - East

    Appointed in 2019.

    On joining Bis in 2013, Drew has held several responsibilities, including overseeing the commercial management function covering all operations across eastern Australia, including specific projects within our underground business. 

    Drew has extensive operational and commercial experience from various industrial services and mining organisations. His ability to understand and crystallise a customer’s needs is central to his success. 

    Drew holds a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, from The University of Queensland.

  • Adam Gledhill

    General Manager - Underground

    Appointed in 2022.

    A seasoned underground mining professional with multi-disciplined industry experience, Adam’s career spans commercial, product, operational and management roles across several underground and mining services companies.  

    After joining Bis in March 2020, he held multiple senior roles in our Underground business where he added significant value, particularly in the areas of strategy, process and commercial, before being appointed General Manager – Underground in October 2022.

    Adam is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Directors Course.

  • Scott Elder

    General Manager - Assets

    Appointed in 2020.

    Dedicating the majority of his 25 year career to Strategic Asset Management in mining and resources, Scott has significant experience across all facets including RCM, risk mitigation, life cycle cost analysis, reliability engineering, inventory optimisation and capital planning.

    Originally spending two years at Bis between 2014-2016 as Assets and Maintenance Manager, Scott re-joined Bis in early 2020 as General Manager – Assets. In this new role, Scott has oversight for the group's asset and supply chain portfolios, whilst providing critical commissioning support to the Bis innovation pipeline.

    Scott has a Diploma of Project Management and is an active member of the Australian Institute of Management through which he has achieved multiple certifications.