Leigh Clifford to replace Margaret Jackson as Chairman of Qantas

Mr.. Leigh Clifford is to replace Ms. Margaret Jackson as Chairman of Qantas Airways when she retires at the conclusion of the Qantas AGM in November 2007.

Until handover, Mr. Clifford has filled a casual non-executive Director vacancy on the Qantas Board.

"I am personally delighted to be passing the mantle of Qantas Chairman to someone of Leigh's calibre and look forward to working closely with Leigh to ensure a smooth transition on my retirement," Ms Jackson said.

Mr. Clifford stepped down from the board of Rio Tinto and retired as Chief Executive on 30 April 2007. His executive and board career with Rio Tinto has spanned some 37 years, including positions as Director of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited for 13 and 12 years respectively. Mr. Clifford also occupied a wide variety of operational and marketing roles in the coal and metalliferous operations of the group in Australia and overseas.

Mr. Clifford has served as a non-executive director of Barclays Bank plc since October 2004 and was appointed to the Bechtel Board of Counselors in May 2007. He was formerly a member of the Coal Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency for a number of years and its Chairman from 1998 to 2000. He was also previously a director of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Mr. Clifford holds a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Engineering Science from the University of Melbourne. He will return to Australia permanently in November, after completing his commitments with Rio Tinto.

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