Christine Charles, Beacon Director

Christine is the Group Executive - External Affairs with Newmont Australia. Newmont is the world’s largest gold mining company, with headquarters in Denver USA, and operations at 28 sites across 5 continents. Christine’s role covers operations across Australia and New Zealand.

Christine has worked in community, public, academic and private sectors, over the past 30 years. She has been active in a wide range of policy areas and is a member of a number of local and national groups. Christine joined the South Australian public sector in 1992, from teaching at the Flinders University of South Australia, and working with community organisations. Originally from Victoria, she has lived in South Australia since 1984 after spending 10 years in the Northern Territory.

Christine was the Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of Human Services from 1997 to 2002. Prior to that she headed the South Australian Cabinet Office for four years after holding a number of senior government positions. In 2002 she worked for the World Health Organisation as a senior consultant based at the International Centre for Health Systems Development, Kobe, Japan.

Christine has strong personal and professional interest in public policy and the public/private/community interface. She is currently on the Board of SA Business Vision 2010, a Business Ambassador for South Australia, a board member of Reconciliation SA, National Vice President of the Institute of Public Administration and a Trustee of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). Christine is a member of the Minerals Council of Australia Sustainable Development Committee, and chairs the organising committee of the 2004 Global Conference on Sustainable Development. She is also a Board member of Operation Flinders and on the Marketing & Development Committee for the Dunstan Foundation.

Christine is currently a member of a number of boards and committees those of which include:

Member of the SA Council for Reconciliation
Trustee of the SA Business Vision 2010
SA Business Ambassador
Minerals Council of Australia, Sustainable Development Committee Member
Minerals Council of Australia, Social Practice Task Force Member
Chair, 2004 Global Sustainable Development Conference Organising Committee
Western Australia Chamber of Mines, Indigenous Affairs Committee
Operation Flinders Board Member
National Vice-President of the Institute of Public Administration, Australia
Editorial Board, Australian Journal of Public Administration