Hon Vaile

Hon Vaile as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Leader of the National Party from 2005 to 2007, established network of contacts throughout Australia and East Asia. His focus at home was with regional Australia and particularly northern NSW. As one of Australia's longest serving Trade Ministers from 1999 until 2006, he led negotiations which resulted in Free Trade Agreements being concluded with the United States of America, Singapore and Thailand, as well as launching negotiations with China, Japan and ASEAN. Importantly, early in his ministerial career as the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, he was instrumental in the establishment of the ARTC, which operates the Hunter Valley rail network. Mark brings significant experience as a Company Director having been Chairman of Aston Resources, CBD Energy Limited and SmartTrans Limited, a former independent Director on the board of Virgin Australia Holdings Limited and a former Director Trustee of HostPlus Superfund. He is Chairman of the Governance Committee.