Board and Executive
Gold Corporation was created by the Gold Corporation Act 1987 to oversee the operations of The Perth Mint.
Board
Sam Walsh AO
Chair
BCom (Melbourne), Fellowship (Kettering, Michigan), HonDCom (ECU), HonDCom (UWA), FAICD, FAIM, FCIPS, FATSE
Appointed January 2019. Sam has held leadership roles in the mining and automotive industries including CEO of Rio Tinto (25 years), supply manager of General Motors-Holdens and executive director of Nissan Australia (20 years combined).
In recognition of his distinguished service to the mining industry and to the community of Western Australia, Sam was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2010 and announced Western Australia Citizen of the Year (Industry and Commerce) in 2007. In 2021 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, with Gold Rays and Neck Ribbon by the Emperor of Japan.
He is Chair of the Accenture Global Mining Council (UK), the Perth Diocesan Trust, the Anglican Community Fund Inc, Theatre 180 Inc, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA Ops) and is a non-executive director of Mitsui & Co (Japan).
Jason Waters
Chief Executive Officer
BEng (Hons)
Jason was appointed Chief Executive Officer in April 2022 and is the fourth CEO of Gold Corporation and 15th leader since The Perth Mint opened in 1899. Prior to joining The Perth Mint, he led Government Trading Enterprises including Synergy as CEO from 2014-22) and Verve Energy as CEO from 2012-13.
With more than 30 years’ experience in the Western Australian energy sector, he has strong commercial, strategic and leadership skills.
He is a Graduate of Curtin University of Technology (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering; Graduate Diploma of Business) and Harvard Business School (Executive Education – Program for Leadership Development).
Nick Foster
Deputy CEO, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer
BA(Hons), PgDL
Nick joined Gold Corporation in 2021. He has more than 15 years’ experience at top law firms in the UK and Australia, specialising in corporate law. Nick completed a BA in History with German from the University of Durham, which included a year at Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg. He qualified as a lawyer in the UK and is admitted to practice in Australia.
He has global experience in a range of industries including resources, infrastructure, pharmaceutical and agri-business.
Nick leads the legal, procurement and records teams at The Perth Mint and oversees governance matters as the Company Secretary. He also holds board positions for multiple Perth-based charities.
John O’Connor
BSc (Hons) FICA, FICAEW, FAICD
Appointed January 2016. John is a former partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he spent 34 years, including 24 years as an audit partner, before retiring in 2013.
John’s leadership roles at PwC in Perth included being managing partner and also head of the assurance practice. He has extensive audit experience in the resources sector in Australia and globally.
John holds a number of non-executive director roles. He is a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand; Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; and Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Melanie Cave
LLB BA, GAICD, FLWA
Appointed June 2019. Melanie was a lawyer with Herbert Smith Freehills for more than 20 years including 11 as a partner.
She has advised on the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects in the mining, water and natural resources and health industries in Australia and globally, including Optus Stadium and Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Melanie has been a non-executive director for more than 10 years and is currently the Chair of Workpower Inc.
Sally Langer
BCom, CA, GAICD
Appointed February 2021. Sally has more than 25 years’ experience in professional services across multiple sectors with substantial experience in the resources sector, particularly in WA.
She has been responsible for management functions including strategy, business development, budgeting and human resources.
Originally a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen, Sally transitioned to executive search, working closely with boards and CEOs to advise on talent, culture and organisational structure.
She is a non-executive director of Northern Star, Sandfire Resources, MMA Offshore, Hale School and Ronald McDonald House. Sally is a member of three Northern Star committees: Audit and Risk; Remuneration and Nomination; Environmental, Social and Safety. She is Chair of the Audit committee and member of the People and Performance committee for Sandfire Resources.
Richard Watson
BEc (Hons), MPhil
Appointed in February 2019, Richard is the Assistant Under Treasurer, Agency Budgeting and Governance in the Department of Treasury and is responsible for overseeing the budgeting and governance of general government agencies and government trading enterprises within the Government of Western Australia. He supports the State’s financial management framework, legislative and accounting standards.
Prior to starting this role in 2018, he was executive director of the Economic Business Unit in the Department of Treasury from 2014.
Neil Roberts
Appointed in August 2021. Neil has worked as a key member of leadership teams in a diverse range of government, commercial, representative and charitable organisations.
He has served as chief of staff to state and federal government ministers with responsibility for the resources and electricity sectors.
Neil has extensive experience in the resources sector, including as a director of gold producer Endeavour Resources Limited (now St Barbara Limited) and as a corporate counsel and company secretary of several listed companies.
Anthony Barton
BBus(Acc)
Appointed September 2022. Anthony has extensive experience in capital markets, corporate finance, funds management and venture capital and has had advisory roles in the incorporation and listing of many Australian-based resource companies.
He has more than 40 years of commercial experience, having acted in senior executive and director capacities for two leading Australian stockbroking firms. Anthony is executive chair of Australian Heritage Group and chair of ASX-listed exploration company King River Resources Limited.
James Sawyer
Chief Financial Officer
BCom, CA
James joined the finance team at Gold Corporation in June 2014 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in March 2023.
Prior to joining The Perth Mint, James held various roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he worked within the Financial Assurance and Private Client teams with a focus on external audit. James is also an independent member of the audit and risk committee at Scitech.
Edwina Dwyer
Chief People and Reputation Officer (Acting)
GradCert (HRM), MAHRI
Edwina joined Gold Corporation in 2016 and was appointed Acting Chief People and Reputation Officer in July 2023.
Edwina has extensive experience in human resource management, having worked in a range of industries including oil and gas, engineering consulting and manufacturing within government-owned and private enterprises in both Australia and overseas.
In partnership with senior leaders, Edwina puts health, safety and employee wellbeing at the forefront of decision making. She is passionate about developing constructive leadership capabilities in others so they may better empower, engage and enhance performance in their own team members.
Justin Kees
Chief Operating Officer
Justin was appointed Chief Operating Officer for Gold Corporation in February 2021. He is responsible for the Perth Mint Refinery, sales and manufacturing of minted products.
Prior to taking up the position, Justin held various executive vice president roles at the world’s largest silver blank manufacturing facility, Sunshine Minting, in North America. Before moving to the USA, Justin worked at Gold Corporation for 19 years, including as the coining division’s general manager operations.
Justin has been involved in the precious metals industry for more than 35 years starting his career at Implats, South Africa.
Dion Paunich
Chief Safety, Security and Sustainability Officer
MBA, MPH
Dion joined Gold Corporation in 2022. He has more than two decades of experience in executive and management roles at companies including Synergy, Westrac and BHP and has expertise in maintenance, operations, health, safety and environment.
Prior to joining the corporation, Dion served in leadership roles at Synergy including general manager generation and head of health and safety. With a people first leadership style, Dion has more than 20 years’ experience as an accredited Six Sigma Black Belt (business improvement) and holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Health (WHS).
Sawan Tanna
Treasurer
CA
Sawan joined the commercial division in March 2016. He has 16 years’ experience in investment and commercial banking and precious metals industry.
Sawan’s previous role was manager of bullion front office support at ANZ Banking Group Limited. He has also held middle management positions at the Royal Bank of Canada in London and UBS Investment Bank in London.
He has also worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in London. Sawan was awarded the title of a Chartered Accountant (CA) from The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, after attaining a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance with First Class Honours from Lancaster University.
Nigel Elders
Chief Information Officer
Nigel has worked with The Perth Mint since December 2020 and has led the Business Technology department since April 2021, with a focus on meeting the needs of the organisation’s ongoing digital transformation and business modernisation.
He has had an extensive career in information technology across corporate organisations, not-for-profits and in IT consulting businesses in Australia and Ireland.
