QRC farewells New Hope’s Shane Stephan

19 May 2020

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has thanked Shane Stephan for his distinguished leadership as Chief Executive Officer & subsequently Managing Director of the New Hope Group after 11 years with the company.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said New Hope Group announced Shane would retire from the company at the end of August.

“Shane is the real deal – a home grown Queensland coal miner who cut his teeth in the Ipswich coal fields before rising up through the ranks to head-up one of Queensland’s largest and most successful independent coal miners. It’s a brilliant pedigree and it speaks volumes about the opportunities that are on offer in the modern resources industry,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Shane achieved significant milestones through a challenging period for the coal industry including the acquisition of New Hope’s 80 percent interest in the world-class Bengalla mine and his management through the approval processes for the New Acland Stage 3 extension.”

Mr Stephan also served as an alternate QRC Board member from 2007 and a full board member from November 2014 to July 2015 and again from December 2015 to November 2018.

“Shane’s operational experience was always brought to bear on any discussion of safety around the QRC table. I applaud Shane for his valued contribution to both the QRC and the resources sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“New Hope were always willing to host visits to the company’s New Acland mine site. Whether the visitors were QRC staff, teachers, neighbours from the community, school groups or visitors from overseas, they’d always leave marvelling at New Hope’s technical skill in recovering narrow seams of coal. Under Shane, New Hope made this technical excellence their watchword.”

Mr Stephan would depart New Hope Group on the 31st August, the company is currently undertaking a process for his replacement.

“On behalf of the entire industry I wish him well,” Mr Macfarlane said.

Media contact: Anthony Donaghy 0412 450 360