The Sentient Group | Speeches

Michael Chaney

Michael Chaney (Perth - 18 April,2005)

At the time of his presentation to Sentient, Michael was CEO of Wesfarmers Ltd, a diversified company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange involved in hardware retailing, coal mining, gas processing and distribution, industrial and safety product distribution, insurance, chemicals and fertilisers manufacture and rail transport.

Michael graduated with Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Western Australia and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University Business School. He worked for eight years as a petroleum geologist and then joined the Australian Industry Development Corporation as a corporate finance executive and then Manager for Western Australia.

Michael joined Wesfarmers in 1983 as Company Secretary and Administration Manager, became Finance Director in 1984 and was appointed Managing Director in July 1992. From that time to 2005, Wesfarmers' market value increased from A$1 billion to over A$10 billion.