Proudly Supported By
Board (NT)
Chair, Executive Committee
Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO
Board Member since 2014
Ryan is a Principal Research Scientist and the Group Leader of Predictive Mineral Systems Science with CSIRO. He has a BSc and MSc in Soil Science from the University of Tennessee and a PhD in Applied Geology from Curtin University. Following his PhD, Ryan joined CSIRO 15 years ago and has worked on numerous regolith and groundwater geochemistry projects related to gold, base metal, Ni and U mineral exploration. Ryan is the Past-President and a Fellow of the Association of Applied Geochemists. He is a Board member of the Australian Geoscience Council and Elements journal.
Susan Cull
Vice Chair, Executive Committee
Manager, People and Communities, The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia
Board Member Since 2017
Susan is currently employed by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia as Manager, People and Communities, and was Senior Policy Adviser for the nine years prior. In addition to her experience in a membership organisation representing the Western Australian resources sector, she is also a registered teacher with primary classroom experience and has provided education support and resources in her previous role as Education Officer with the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (2001-2003).
Angela Riganti
Secretary, Executive Committee
Content Manager, Geological Survey of WA, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Board Member Since 2018
Angela graduated from the University of Milan (Italy), then completed the MSc in Economic Geology at Rhodes University and a PhD at the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg) in South Africa. She joined the Geological Survey of Western Australia in 1997, working first as a regional geologist mapping in the Yilgarn Craton, and later as a Content Manager designing geological databases. Throughout her career, she has collaborated in various geotourism and educational projects with different organisations (within and outside government) to foster interest in geoscience and to promote community awareness of the role and importance of the earth sciences in everyday life.
Damien Beng
Treasurer, Executive Committee
Finance, Risk & Audit Committee Chair
General Manager, Treasury, Woodside Energy
Board Member Since 2022
Damien is the Assistant Treasurer at Woodside Energy, Australia’s leading natural gas producer, committed to providing sustainable energy solutions. Damien has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) with first class honours and a Bachelor of Science (Information Technology and Applied Mathematics) from the University of Western Australia and a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. Since joining Woodside in 2001, Damien has held a number of Strategy, Marketing and Commercial roles before leading the Woodside Treasury team since 2018.
Dr Natasha Hendrick
Governance and Strategy Committee Chair
Principal Geophysicist, Santos
Board Member Since 2020
Natasha is a scientist, volunteer, adventurer, mentor and advocate for women in leadership. She has her PhD in geophysics and is the recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship and Churchill Fellowship. Natasha has 25 years’ experience working in technical and leader roles across the energy industry. She is currently a Principal Geophysicist at Santos, a Board Advisor for Women Who Code, and an international leadership facilitator. She is part of the Homeward Bound global leadership initiative for women in STEMM, and is passionate about helping women succeed in STEMM and navigate a digital future where human leadership competencies are needed more than ever.
Joanne Thompson
Board Member
Committee member, Science Teachers’ Association of Western Australia
Science Teacher, Department of Education, Western Australia
Board Member Since 2022
Joanne Thompson is a secondary science teacher, specialising in Environmental Science and Chemistry. Prior to joining the teaching profession, she worked as an environmental scientist and consultant and has more than 15 years’ international experience in all stages of mine life, from exploration to mine closure and reclamation. She serves on the committee of the Science Teachers’ Association of Western Australia and is a member of the WA School Curriculum and Standards Authority’s Earth and Environmental Science Curriculum Advisory Committee.