Russell Gibbs (Chairman)
Managing Director and Chief Executive of Hawaiian Group
Russell was appointed as the director and chief executive of Hawaiian in 2000, a privately held Western Australia-based property company. He is also a member of the Wen Family Advisory Council, which oversees the Wen Family’s Australian and Malaysian real estate operations. Russell’s leadership style draws on his approachable nature and big picture vision, which has seen the company grow an extensive property portfolio, including shopping centres, offices, land and hospitality. Today, the company is a leading West Australian business recognised for having a strong ethos and innovative approach. The company’s strategy to connect people through places has seen Hawaiian properties become more than just structures, but spaces which encourage people to relax and reconnect with their family, friends and the community. Russell was previously state president and national councillor of the Property Council of Australia, a member of the Murdoch University Senate Committee and deputy chair of Youth Focus. Russell is currently a director of Satterley Property Group (since 2009) and St Ives Group (since 2013) and an Advisory Council member of the Curtin University Faculty of Business and Law (since 2020). Russell joined the West Coast Eagles board of directors in November 2011 and in November 2015 was elevated to the position of deputy chairman, succeeding retired director James McMahon.
Paul Fitzpatrick (Deputy Chairman):
Partner - Clayton Utz
Paul was a partner of Clayton Utz between 1 July 1985 and 30 September 2019. He practised in the areas of commercial litigation, competition law, national competition policy, international and domestic arbitration and sports law. He is a former partner in charge of the Perth Office of Clayton Utz, and has conducted a wide range of complex litigation, including contractual disputes and cases relating to the Competition and Consumer Act, the Corporations Law, professional negligence, and intellectual property. He was named Competition Lawyer of the Year, Perth in 2013 by Best Lawyers Australia, and has been named by Best Lawyers as one of Australia's Best Lawyers in litigation, competition and alternative dispute resolution. Paul has represented athletes before appeals tribunals and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and West Coast Eagles players at the AFL Tribunal. He was a legal advisor to the Western Australian Football Commission and the West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), is a former director of WAIS and is a current director of the Wally Foreman Foundation Inc.
Trevor Nisbett
Chief Executive Officer of the West Coast Eagles Football Club
Trevor Nisbett has been with the West Coast Eagles Football Club since September 1, 1989 commencing his career as the Club’s Football Manager. Winning AFL Premierships in 1992 and 1994. He successfully fulfilled this position from that time until March 1999 when he took over the role of Acting Chief Executive and was later the successful applicant and appointed to the position of Chief Executive on June 23, 1999. Winning the AFL Grand Final Premierships in 2006 and again recently in 2018. Prior to joining the West Coast Eagles, Trevor was the Football Manager for Subiaco Football Club from 1984 to 1989. He was the Football Manager of East Perth Football Club from 1981 to 1982 and then became General Manager of East Perth from 1982 to 1983. He has been involved in the football industry as a player or administrator for over 40 years with the last 38 years as an administrator.
Chris Wharton AM
Starting his career as a journalist, Chris worked across several areas of newspaper management in Sydney before being appointed chief executive of Perth’s Community Newspaper Group in 1995. He was later appointed managing director of Channel 7 Perth for nine years before becoming chief executive of West Australian Newspapers in 2008. As CEO, Chris was responsible for all Seven West Media assets in Western Australia: The West Australian, West Regional Publications (23 mastheads), its online properties, WA Publishers, Redwave Media (nine regional radio licence areas) and Channel 7 Perth, before resigning as CEO of Seven West Media in 2017. His community and business involvement includes board memberships of the Telethon Trust from 2000 - 2017, Gold Corporation from 2004 until 2019 and Perth Racing since 2018. Chris was a member of the WA Olympic Team Appeal Committee from 2000 - 2017. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Institute of Management and is a former Councillor and Vice President of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also a former member of the Committee for Perth. He was awarded an AM in the 2016 Queen's Birthday honours for services to print and broadcast industries and for services to the community. He joined the West Coast Eagles board in November, 2013.
Justin Langer
Head Coach of Australian cricket team
An outstanding Australian left-hand batsman, he was part of one of the most successful opening partnerships in cricket history with Queenslander Matthew Hayden. A pugnacious competitor he played 105 Test matches for his country and scored 7696 runs at an impressive average of 45.27. His highest score of 250 came on the biggest stage, against England in the 2002 Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Post his own playing career he has proven to be a coach who drives those same elite standards, initially as head coach at the WA Cricket Association. He was in charge of the Western Warriors in the four-day domestic competition and the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash T20 League. Appointed Australian cricket head coach in May 2018 and joined the West Coast Eagles board on July 1, 2017.
Terry Bowen
Terry is currently Chair of the Operations Group at BGH Capital and a Non-executive Director of BHP Group Limited and BHP Group Plc, Navitas Pty Ltd, Transurban Limited, and the West Coast Eagles Football Club. He previously served as Managing Partner and Head of the Operations Group at BGH Capital (to January 2020). and prior to this served as Executive Director and Finance Director of Wesfarmers Limited (to November 2017), Finance Director of Coles (to April 2009) and Managing Director of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety (to October 2007). Terry was formerly the Chief Financial Officer of Jetstar Airways (to October 2005), and before this held senior finance roles with Tubemakers of Australia Limited. He is a former Chairman of the West Australian Opera Company Incorporated and a former Non-Executive Director of the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research Pty Ltd, Gresham Partners Holdings Limited and Gresham Partners Group Limited. Terry joined the West Coast Eagles board in May 2017.
Zoe Yujnovich
Country Chair/Executive Vice President of Shell Australia
Zoe Yujnovich has extensive experience in the resource sector. In 2020 she has taken on a new role as the Executive Vice President of Shell’s Conventional Oil and Gas assets. Prior to this role she was Country Chair/Executive Vice President of Shell Australia Pty Ltd from February 2017. Zoe began her career in Australia in a number of frontline mining roles and then broadened her experience internationally, working in the USA, UK, Brazil and Canada. While at Rio Tinto, Zoe held a number of senior leadership positions, including Company President in Brazil and President and CEO of the Iron Ore Company of Canada in Montreal. Zoe joined Shell in 2014 leading Shell’s Oil Sands business in Canada. During that time she was a non-executive Director of the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan. Zoe was Chairman of Australia’s national oil & gas industry association (APPEA), a board member of the University of WA Business School and Christ Church Grammar School until the end of 2019. She is a member of the Western Australian Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Zoe holds an engineering degree from the University of Western Australia and an Executive MBA from the University of Utah.
Nicole Moody
Nicole is a highly experienced and results driven communications professional with a wealth of experience in public relations, marketing communications, brand management, government relations, issues and crisis management and strategy development. She is widely regarded as one of Perth’s most senior and experienced communication professionals with 30 year’s experience across the fields of journalism, public relations, corporate social responsibility, marketing and Government relations. Nicole is the Managing Director of Perth based communications consultancy, Hunter Communications, providing strategic corporate communications to protect and enhance client brands. She has been recognised and awarded nationally for her communications work.Prior to Hunter Nicole worked as a Ministerial media adviser and policy officer, corporate affairs director and journalist. She has previously served on the boards and committees of WA Football Commission, Perth Zoo, Lifeline, Perth Business Events and the Australia Day Council. She is a member of Committee for Perth and the Public Relations Institute of Australia. Nicole joined the West Coast Eagles board on 3 May 2021.
Ben Wyatt
Ben Wyatt was Australia’s first Indigenous Australian Treasurer, appointed to that position when Labor won the State election in 2017. Testament to his capability, capacity and strong work ethic, he also held while in office the port folios of Minister for Finance, Aboriginal Affairs, Lands and Energy. Elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2006 after a bi-election for the seat of Victoria Park, Ben served with devotion and distinction in an area in which he lived more than 20 years. Ben holds a Masters Degree with Distinction from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia. Of Yamatji heritage, he also served on the National Board of Indigenous Business Australia and as an officer in the Australian army – following his graduation from the Royal Military College, Duntroon. His career began in WA as a barrister and solicitor where he served as counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
