Directors

Andrew Forrest

Andrew Forrest founded the Australian Children's Trust in 2001 with his wife Nicola.

Andrew’s commitment to helping underprivileged children is well known and he has been at the forefront of initiating programs for the benefit of children across Australia. He is the primary funder of the ACT and a central driver of the philosophy to help people in the long term - not simply  short term relief but to assist people to gain the skills to help themselves; the fishing rod, not the fish.

In his business life, Andrew is CEO of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, taking Fortescue from inception to a company with a market cap of over A$20 billion.  As a fully fledged operating business, Fortescue is now a major new supply source for the world’s iron ore market through the creation of an integrated  mine, port and railway system within the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Previous roles held by Andrew include CEO and Deputy Chairman of Anaconda Nickel Ltd (now Minara Resources); director or chairman of Australia’s Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, the Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy and Athletics Australia.   

Among other awards he has received the Australian Centenary Medal and the Australian Sports medal as well as multiple global “Deal of the Year” awards.  

The most rewarding job Andrew has ever done is raising kids.


Herb Elliott (AC MBE)

Herb is an Australian Olympian who enjoys the very rare achievement of having never been beaten in his sporting career.

Herb was formerly the inaugural Chairman of National Australia Day Committee, Commissioner of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Director of Australian Olympic Committee, Director of the Australian Institute of Sport and is currently a Director of Athletics Australia.


Nicola Forrest

Nicola’s 25-year career spans the leadership, management and administration of charitable, retail and financial organisations after graduating from Canberra University in 1981 (Bachelor of Arts, Economics major). 

Nicola was one of the founding members of the Australian Children's Trust and over the last five years has been instrumental in assisting many well-deserving organisations.

Nicola is also a director of the Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF), which is one of Australia’s preeminent community-based research organisations, dedicated to the fields of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Newborn Medicine. WIRF has a close working relationship with King Edward Memorial Hospital which is the sole tertiary level prenatal centre for Western Australia, and the School of Women’s and Infants’ Health of the University of Western Australia.


Peter Huston

Peter was previously a partner of Deacons Lawyers before he established his own boutique legal practice. Peter is currently Group General Counsel for Fortescue Metals Group Ltd and despite his busy schedule and work commitments has been involved with the Australian Children's Trust since 2007.

Throughout his legal career, Peter has also been actively involved in a number of charitable organisations and other institutions including acting as the honorary legal adviser to the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation, and Member of the Board for the Aquinas College Foundation Council and was a member of the Advisory Committee for the establishment of the Notre Dame Australia University Law School. Peter was also instrumental in establishing the Vocational Training and Employment Centre (a monitoring, training and support programme for local Aboriginal people) first established by Andrew Forrest during his time at Anaconda Nickel Ltd, and again at Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.

Peter was appointed as a director of the Australian Children's Trust in early 2008.


Marcelle Anderson

Marcelle Anderson has over 15 years experience at senior management levels in Government, both federal and state. 

 

She was previously Chief Executive of the Western Australian Department of Cabinet and Executive Director of the NSW Department of the Premier.

 

She is currently the Manager, Government Relations and Approvals, for WorleyParsons.

 

Ms Anderson is the Chair of the Board of St Andrews Grammar School in Western Australia.

 

She has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from the University of Western Australia.