Global economic impact on Australia’s resources sector: Navigating policy instability and current challenges

Nathan is a Partner in Bain & Company’s Energy and Resources practice, working out of the Perth office. Nathan has worked with many of the world’s top mining and resources companies across gold, copper, iron ore, coal and base metals in Australia, Asia and Africa, advising on topics such as operational excellence, major capital project acceleration, supply chain transformation, corporate strategy, decarbonisation and technology. Nathan is a mining engineer by background, holding a B.Eng. from WASM and an MBA from UWA.

Through his work with major players in the mining and resources sector, Nathan has a deep understanding of the volatility and uncertainty of the post-globalisation era. He is passionate about helping the sector build the adaptability and resilience needed to navigate an increasingly complex future

Dr Naoise McDonagh is the Director of the MBA program and Senior Lecturer in economic security, trade and geopolitics at the School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University (ECU) Perth, Australia. He is the managing editor of the academic journal Law & Geoeconomics. With almost 50 publications in scholarly and policy outlets, as well as extensive media appearances, Dr McDonagh is a leading scholar addressing the complex relationship between international relations, geopolitics and trade.

Andre Winarto is a strategic adviser focused on the intersection of critical minerals, energy transition, and trade policy. With over 25 years’ experience in industry and consulting, he has worked with clients and institutions to navigate trade, investment, technology and supply chain risks tied to the energy transition. He is the Program Director at the Perth USAsia Centre, a leading WA think tank focused on Indo-Pacific foreign policy. He was previously a member of Ernst & Young’s Global Executive Leadership Team for Energy & Resources, where he led the firm's global Energy Transition Research Team.

As Program Director, Andre contributes to the strategic dialogue, particularly on critical minerals and the energy transition, at the Centre's roundtables that bring together senior leaders from government, the consular corps, the energy & resources sectors, and academia. Andre’s recent work examines the implications of U.S. trade policy under the new administration, China’s export controls, the growing weaponisation of critical inputs and how Australia's partners can reduce strategic vulnerabilities. He speaks regularly on industry panels and forums, focusing on where energy security, resilience, and geopolitics converge.
Andre has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the University of New South Wales, and a Certificate of Executive Leadership at Harvard Business School.

Richard Chopping is a geophysicist and computer scientist with the Geological Survey of Western Australia. His role within the survey focusses on ensuring the best science is applied to the State's challenges, especially around sustainable development of mineral, energy and water resources. Geology underpins all aspects of modern society and ensuring that it is managed according to the science is the best way for the world to continue to the adapt to the highly changing current environment and also political landscape. With Western Australia often top of the exploration rankings, it is looked to by companies and countries as a leader in balancing resource development and societal goals. Investments are best de-risked through this application of science, helping resources companies be successful and grow, and ensuring the world maintains the supply of strategic and critical resources into the future.