Tribute to DRD CEO Dr Des Kelly on his retirement

3/2/99

One of the most recognisable figures in Western Australia's resources industry retires this week, having given 48 years of service to the State, the last five at the helm of the Department of Resources Development.

Resources Development Minister Colin Barnett said today that Dr Des Kelly's dedication to the growth of the State's resources industry was synonymous with the sector's emergence as the mainstay of Western Australia's economy.

Dr Kelly, a civil engineer by profession with a PhD in structural engineering, began his career in the early 1950s with the Public Works Department. Since 1993 he has been the chief executive officer of the Department of Resources Development, working tirelessly and effectively to advance responsible development of the State's resources.

Mr Barnett said that after an extensive Australia-wide selection process Dr Jim Limerick, currently an executive director of the Department of Resources Development, had been appointed to the CEO position.

The Minister said Dr Limerick brought both business and Government experience to the position, having worked with WMC before joining DRD in 1986. Since 1991, Dr Limerick has been the executive director of project development in DRD, with responsibility for managing relations between the Government and industry for many major resource projects, including the proposed Pilbara Petrochemical Plant and the expansion of the North-West Shelf project.

Dr Limerick has an honours degree and PhD in metallurgy and holds a Graduate Diploma in Business from Curtin University.

"Dr Limerick is well-known and respected by business and industry leaders and will bring significant knowledge and acumen to the CEO position," Mr Barnett said.

"I have every confidence in his leadership and look forward to working closely with him."

Dr Des Kelly, after 48 years with the WA Government, is one of the State's most senior public servants.

"Dr Kelly is so closely associated with the development of WA's resources sector that it is hard to imagine a time when he has not been involved in what is today an $18 billion industry," Mr Barnett said.

"I have been fortunate as a Minister to have a man of Dr Kelly's knowledge and experience to guide WA's dynamic resources sector."

As an engineer with the Public Works Department, Dr Kelly specialised in harbour projects in the State's north. From 1967-70, he was involved in the planning and development of infrastructure associated with the iron ore industry in the Pilbara. This included ports, townships, railways and water supplies.

Between 1970 and 1980 Dr Kelly was employed by the Department of Industrial Development negotiating agreements between the State and developers for various major resource projects. He was then appointed Under Secretary for Mines in 1980 and in 1993 was made head of the Department of Resources Development.

"In a distinguished career with the public service spanning 48 years Dr Kelly has made a lasting contribution to the State," Mr Barnett said.

"He has worked hard to help make WA one of the world's richest mineral and petroleum provinces and we have been fortunate to have a man of his calibre guiding this most important sector."

In 1992 Dr Kelly became a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his service to mining (AM). Dr Kelly officially retires tomorrow.

Media contacts: Justine Whittome, Minister's office, (08) 9222 9699

Tim Larcombe, DRD, (08) 9327 5555