Neil Roberts Email and Phone Number

I provided support and advice to the Minister across his whole portfolio, and was responsible leading the six policy and five administrative staff team.

I was involved in all Federal Government activity relating to the resources sector. Neil was intimately involved in developing the Federal Government’s national regulatory regime for the offshore petroleum industry.

As General Manager Government and Community Relations, I was responsible formanaging the company’s relationships with the WA Government, local governments and thecommunities in the areas where the company operated, as well as with the traditionalowners of the land over which the company held mining tenure.

In February 2005, after the Gallop Government was re-elected, and following Minister CliveBrown’s retirement, I was retained by incoming Minister Alan Carpenter as his PrincipalAdviser relating to economic development generally with an emphasis on, but not restrictedto, resource-related matters.On Premier Geoff Gallop’s resignation in January 2006, the WA Government wasreorganised and I was appointed as Special Adviser to Premier Carpenter and the newMinister for Resources, the Hon. John Bowler as the Government’s principal adviser withrespect resource policy matters.

Following the Gallop Government’s election in February 2001, I joined the WA Ministerfor State Development, Tourism, and Small Business, The Hon. Clive Brown, as his principalpolicy adviser with respect to the Mining Act matters and resource development issues.In February 2002, I became Minister Brown's Chief of Staff, and my responsibilitiesexpanded to include policy matters across the portfolio, plus managing the 12 Ministerialthe 12 Ministerialstaff.

During this period that Neil was the Company’s only Executive Director. He negotiatedSBM’s purchase of assets worth more than $49 million from its major shareholder.As Company Secretary/General Counsel Neil ensured that SBM complied with therequirements of the Corporations Law and the ASX Listing Rules. He prepared all board andgeneral meeting agendas and minutes, all ASX announcements, and the Quarterly andAnnual Reports.Neil played an active role in formulating accounting policies, resolving accounting issues,and liaising with the Company’s auditors. He was the main source of advice to theCompany’s Directors and CEO concerning all corporate governance issues.He participated in negotiating all major transactions involving the Company and prepared (orsupervised the preparation) of all legal documents associated with all aspects of theCompany’s operations and affairs, including take-overs, exploration and production jointventures, supply contracts, and tenement purchases.Neil, together with the Independent Directors and CEO, resigned from SBM in July 1997 onthe resolution of a dispute between the Company’s major shareholders.