Deputy Chair
Global Ambassador, Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director - Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, February 2013 to present

Executive Director - Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, February 2017 to 2022

Ms Gaines led Fortescue as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director from February 2018 to August 2022, after joining the Executive team as Chief Financial Officer in February 2017. 

A highly experienced business leader, Ms Gaines has extensive international experience in all aspects of financial and commercial management. 

Ms Gaines has significant experience in the resources sector and exposure to the impact of the growth in Asian economies, particularly China, on the Australian business environment and economy as well as a deep understanding of all aspects of financial and commercial management at a senior executive level in both listed and private companies. 

Ms Gaines has extensive exposure to the drive to transition to green energy and has been a key driver of the goal to decarbonise Fortescue’s mining operations by 2030.

In addition to her role as a Non-Executive Director, Ms Gaines is the Global Ambassador for Fortescue.  She is a Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and a Director and Deputy Chair of the West Coast Eagles (AFL) Football Club.

Ms Gaines was ranked second in the 2019 Fortune Magazine’s Businessperson of the Year and in 2020 the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia awarded her the ‘Women in Resources Champion’ at the annual Women in Resources Awards.

In 2020, Ms Gaines was awarded Joint Australian Businessperson of the Year by the Australian Financial Review.

Ms Gaines is a former Chief Executive Officer of Helloworld Limited and Heytesbury Pty Limited and has previously held Non-Executive Director roles with Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited, NEXTDC Limited, Mantra Group Limited and ImpediMed Limited.

Ms Gaines holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University, a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Curtin University.  She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chief Executive Women.