After a challenging period for the organisation, Southern Ports has appointed an experienced port executive to its top position, effective from 14 January 2019.
Steve Lewis comes to Southern Ports from a role as interim CEO at Mid-West Ports Authority and has more than 20 years of experience as a CEO, of which 15 was in ports.
Mr Lewis led Dampier Port Authority (now part of Pilbara Ports Authority) and North Queensland Bulk Ports before returning to Western Australia.
Southern Ports includes Albany, Bunbury and Esperance ports and has a combined facilitated trade of more than 33.5 million tonnes in the 2018 financial year, with key trades including iron ore, alumina and grain.
Western Australia Minister for Ports, Alannah MacTiernan, said, “Steve Lewis is one of Australia’s most experienced port chief executives with strong experience leading large complex ports and a proven track record in building relationships with port users.
“Steve has a long history in regional WA having previously worked at Dampier Port Authority, where he was instrumental in growing the port’s base turnover from $3.5 million in 2003 to $86.4 million in June 2014.”
In 2018, a post-amalgamation review of Southern Ports found that there was a deficiency in the organisation’s change management processes, both pre and post-amalgamation, as well as issues within its organisational culture.
“Steve’s appointment marks a new beginning for Southern Ports after what has been a difficult period for the organisation,” Ms MacTiernan said.
