2026 BDO Outlook in Perth, in collaboration with Business News

Sean Cowan joined Business News as managing editor in 2020 and is now executive editor. Prior to joining this publication, Mr Cowan spent three years as managing editor, Western Australia at Australian Community Media as that company went through a demerger from Fairfax/Nine. He began his career at West Australian newspapers in 1998, spending time as the Karratha Bureau reporter, courts reporter, legal affairs writer, chief crime reporter, freedom of information editor and then as an investigative journalist with a roving brief. During this period, he was WA Journalist of the Year on three occasions. Mr Cowan also has four years of experience as a lecturer in journalism at Curtin University, during which time he was awarded a first-class honours in history for his thesis on the early history of football in Western Australia. In addition to his work in journalism, Mr Cowan has twice judged the West Australian of the Year awards, is a member of the WA Football Commission's heritage committee and is a selector for the WA Institute of Sport's Hall of Champions.

Elisha Newell joined Business News in 2024 to drive data-led journalism across the masthead. She cut her teeth as a markets and finance reporter, sub-editor and broadcaster at The Market Herald (now The Market Online) in 2019, covering mining, economic and technology news across Australia’s listed company sphere. Ms Newell joined Proactive in 2021 to further her passion for data as a features editor and broadcaster, where she interviewed leaders across the nation’s resources and biotechnology sectors. She was nominated for best student journalist at the 2018 WA Media Awards. Ms Newell studied Broadcasting and Creative Writing at Edith Cowan University. In 2025, she completed her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the Australian Institute of Management.

Dr Kate O’Shaughnessy is the WA State Manager for the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA). Immediately prior to joining the ASA, she was Research Director at the Perth USAsia Centre, a foreign policy think tank based at the University of Western Australia. Kate is also a former Australian diplomat, serving as Australia’s High Commissioner to Mauritius during COVID (2020-2022) as well as deploying to Ghana, Nigeria, France and Lebanon over the course of her career. Her public sector experience spans foreign and national security policy, crisis response, aid development and delivery, and intelligence analysis.

Parliamentary Service

• Elected to the Fortieth Parliament for Balcatta, at the general election of 11 March 2017, in succession to Christopher (Chris) Hatton (defeated).
  Re-elected 2021, 2025.

Ministerial Appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations; Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet from 19 March 2021 to 8 June 2023.
• Minister for Ports; Local Government; Road Safety; Minister assisting the Minister for Transport from 8 June 2023 to 8 December 2023.
• Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Ports; Road Safety; Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport from 8 December 2023 to 19 March 2025.
• Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance from 19 March 2025 to 13 July 2026.
• Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services; Defence Industries; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Veterans; Racing and Gaming; Goldfields-Esperance from 13 July 2026 to 3 August 2026.
• Minister for State Development; Economic Diversification; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance from 3 August 2026.

Read Hon David Michael's full biography

Cam Dumesny has been the CEO of WA’s transport and logistics peak industry body, WA Transport Industry Association, and its predecessor since July 2015. Graduating from Royal Military College Duntroon in 1984, Cam spent several postings as a Logistics Officer before attending the Royal Military College of Science in the UK. Following RMCS, he was posted to military research and development facilities in the UK, USA and Australia. Since leaving the Army, Cam has held senior executive roles in logistics, technology and manufacturing companies. Academically, in addition to a BA(Mil) Cam holds post-graduate qualifications in Supply Chain Management, Technology Management, and a conferred Masters in Predictive Modelling. In addition to WRF, Cam is a Trustee Director of a multi-billion-dollar industry super fund, is listed by Business News in WA’s most influential 500 people, an Editorial Advisor to WA Defence Review and is the Director of TraumaSim, a WA manufacturer exporting to 25 countries.

Wayne Bramwell is Chair of the Gold Industry Group, the national voice of Australia’s gold industry, and Managing Director and CEO of ASX100 gold producer Westgold Resources. A metallurgist, mineral economist and mining executive with almost three decades of experience, Wayne brings deep industry expertise and strategic insight to the governance of the sector’s peak body. He is a respected advocate for the gold industry, championing its enduring contribution to regional employment, thriving communities and Australia’s economic prosperity.

Jenelle Forrest is a Partner in BDO’s Project & Infrastructure Advisory team based in Perth. With more than 20 years' experience across health, government, energy and utilities, tourism, sport and major events, Jenelle advises clients on strategic infrastructure investment, capital projects, program delivery, commercial and financial advisory, governance and transformation.

Known for her pragmatic approach and strong commercial acumen, Jenelle helps organisations navigate complex challenges, align stakeholders and make confident decisions. She supports clients from strategy and business case development through to governance, delivery planning and implementation, helping to maximise long-term value from major investments and projects.