The Treasurer, the Hon Scott Morrison has appointed Ms Cheryl Edwardes as a part-time member to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB ) for a five-year period.
The Board is a non-statutory body established in 1976 to provide advice on the Government’s foreign investment policy and its administration. The Board’s functions are advisory only.
Ms Edwardes worked as a solicitor before entering the Western Australian Legislative Assembly as the member for Kingsley. In 1993, she became the first woman to be appointed Attorney General in Western Australia.
She has extensive understanding of WA’s legal and regulatory framework relating to mining projects, the environment, native title, and heritage and land access. She was Chairman of Atlas Iron and was Special Counsel at Minter Ellison in Perth where she practised in government relations, climate change and environmental regulation and compliance.
Ms Edwardes has also occupied a number of professional and community-based roles including Chair of a number of organisations such as the Advisory Committee of the Constitutional Centre, the Commonwealth Redress Advisory Council, and the Western Australian Football Commission. She is also a member of the Law Society of Western Australia, the International Bar Association and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has a degree in Law from the University of Western Australia.
Ms Edwardes is joined on the Board by the Chair, Mr David Irvine AO, Messrs Michael D’Ascenzo AO, David Peever, Patrick Secker and Ms Alice Williams.
The Turnbull Government has taken consistent and determined action when it comes to ensuring foreign investment is not contrary to the national interest, whilst never underestimating its importance to our national economy.