Murchison said the incoming directors had extensive skills and experience in a range of relevant industries that would assist the company as it moved into the financing, approval and execution phases for the Oakajee port and rail infrastructure project, as well as the Jack Hills expansion project.

Joining Murchison is Peter Wasow who has spent nine years as executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Australian oil and gas producer Santos before stepping down last year.

The second appointment is Greg Martin who has 30 years experience in the energy, utility and infrastructure sectors.

Martin is currently chairman of Grant Samuel Infrastructure Partners and a non-executive director of Santos, as well as the Australian Energy Market Operator.

He also spent 25 years with the Australian Gas Light Company, one of Australia’s oldest and biggest publicly listed downstream energy companies, including five years as chief executive officer between 2001 and 2006.

Ken Scott-Mackenzie, current chairman of Macmahon Holdings and non-executive director of construction materials producer Adelaide Brighton, also joins Murchison.

Mackenzie is a mining engineer and lawyer with 36 years experience in the engineering, mining and construction sectors in Australia and overseas.

Mackenzie has worked at Abigroup, Bilfinger Berger and with South African mining and construction group Murray and Roberts.

The fourth non-executive director is Samantha Tough who has two decades of corporate experience, primarily in the Western Australian natural resources sector.

Tough spent five years as a senior executive with Woodside Energy including four years as general manager of the North West Shelf project, Australia’s largest operating resources development.

After leaving Woodside in 2005, Tough was director of strategy at oil producer Hardman Resources.

Emergent Resources announced the appointment of Stuart Hall as the company’s non-executive director.

Hall has more than 25 years of mining industry experience with proven expertise in the areas of major project development, management and financing.

He was previously the chief executive officer at Crosslands Resources and prior to that the CEO at Marathon Resources.

During the early stages of his career, Hall spent 12 years with Western Mining Corporation and then BHP Billiton following the Xstrata and BHP takeover of WMC.

Meanwhile, Tim Cutt is BHP Billiton’ new president of diamonds and speciality products, with the appointment effective next month.

The company said Cutt would be replacing Graham Kerr who had been in the role since 2007.

Cutt is currently the president of production at BHP’s petroleum business and has held the position since 2007.

Cutt’s career in the resources industry started with Mobil Oil Corporation, where he held positions in engineering, operations and senior management for 25 years before moving onto ExxonMobil.

Anthony Greenway will be joining Whinnen Resources as the company’s managing director and CEO.

Whinnen said Greenway had international mining experience though his employment in executive management levels with Azumah Resources, Iron Ore Holdings, BC Iron and Platinum Australia.

Greenway was responsible for exploration and project development operations management, with a focus on advancing projects through to mining across a range of commodities.

Whinnen said Greenway had the diverse management, technical and logistical skills required to effectively run exploration in offshore environments.

Finally, Western Manganese announced that company secretary Elizabeth Hunt tendered her resignation this week.

Hunt was replaced by chartered accountant David Palumbo who holds a commerce degree from Curtin University.