A former Mount Isa Mines fitter and turner has been tasked with the responsibility of leading Australia's national emergency commission to handle the COVID-19 crisis.
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The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission is chaired by Neville Power, who runs Perth Airport and used to head up Fortescue Metals.
Mr Power is now 61 years old but grew up in North West Queensland at a cattle station called Bushy Park, near Duchess which is still owned by the family and where he used to muster until recent years.
He attended Mount Isa High School and got his first job in Mount Isa Mines in 1973 as a young apprentice fitter and turner and worked there for 23 years while studying in his spare time for an MBA.
He worked his way through a lot of different roles, heading up the gold division for a while before heading to Oaky Creek Coal, where he was general manager for a few years with the reputation of being "a golden boy".
He also ran an aviation company during his stint at MIM, and he holds both helicopter and fixed-wing pilot's licences.
He then spent about 12 years at Smorgon Steel Group in Melbourne and was made chief executive (reinforcing and steel products) in 2001.
He then took up a role working for Thiess, where he championed an indigenous employment program and became CEO of the Australian operations.
In 2011 he hit the jackpot, appointed CEO of Fortescue Metals when Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest finally stepped aside.
He held that role until last year hoping to have a quieter life.
But on March 24 this year, Power took a call from the prime minister who told him: "I need you to serve your country."
"You cannot say no to that," Mr Power told Nine newspapers.
The prime minister had appointed a high-powered board to coordinate advice to the Government on actions to anticipate and mitigate the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and it was only natural a "Power" should lead it.
Mr Morrison said Mr Power as chairman would brings both high level business expertise and a strong commitment to social issues.
Mr Power said he saw an opportunity after the pandemic to restructure the Australian economy in vital sectors such as manufacturing so it is better placed to ride out future shocks.
"Part of my role is to look at how we can emerge from the virus stronger and that may include restructuring our supply chains," he told the Courier-Mail this week.
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