33 Facts About Andrew Forrest

Andrew Forrest is best known as the former CEO of Fortescue Metals Group, and has other interests in the mining industry and in cattle stations.

Andrew Forrest had earlier stepped down as CEO of Fortescue Metals in 2011.

Much of the Andrew Forrest's philanthropy has been through either the Minderoo Foundation or the Walk Free Foundation, both of which he established.

Andrew Forrest has been accused of avoiding paying company tax, having revealed in 2011 that Fortescue had never paid company tax.

John Andrew Henry Forrest was born on 18 November 1961 in Perth, Western Australia, the youngest of three children of Judith and Donald Forrest.

Andrew Forrest stuttered as a child, which is how he came to develop a relationship with Ian Black, whose Aboriginal father, Scotty, became Forrest's mentor.

Andrew Forrest went on to the University of Western Australia where he majored in economics and politics.

Andrew Forrest became the founding CEO of Anaconda Nickel in 1993, after buying a stake in the company.

Andrew Forrest remains a major shareholder of FMG, through his private company, The Metal Group.

Andrew Forrest described the Gillard government proposed Minerals Resource Rent Tax as "economic vandalism" and a "mad dog's breakfast" that would drive up foreign resource ownership.

Andrew Forrest stated he would challenge it in the High Court as being unconstitutional, as it discriminates against states, and fails to appropriately capture big producers BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

Andrew Forrest was highly critical of the government's expenditure of $38M on an advertising campaign, that was not approved using the usual processes, as it had to "counter mining industry 'spin' about the resources super profits tax".

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie requested the government take Forrest's mining tax grievance to heart.

In June 2011, Allied Medical, of which Andrew Forrest owned a 46 percent stake in, was acquired by biotechnology company BioMD.

Andrew Forrest has an Australian Centenary Medal, Australian Sports Medal, was awarded the 2017 Western Australian of the Year Award, and the 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Alumni Social Impact Award.

In 2017 Andrew Forrest was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the mining sector, to the development of employment and business opportunities, as a supporter of sustainable foreign investment, and to philanthropy.

In 2019 Andrew Forrest was awarded a PhD in Marine Science from the University of Western Australia, and has a strong interest in maintaining the health of the oceans.

Andrew Forrest is a former director of Australia's Export Finance and Insurance Corporation and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, and former chairman of Athletics Australia.

Andrew Forrest has addressed the Queensland University of Technology, and Christians in the Marketplace.

Andrew Forrest gave the 2020 Boyer Lecture to outline a case for hydrogen energy and ways to manage human impacts on the oceans.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest made The Giving Pledge in 2013, promising to give away at least half of their wealth to charity.

Andrew Forrest became an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

Between 2008 and 2011, Andrew Forrest obtained 253 business signatories to his covenant.

Andrew Forrest has been publicly accused of engaging in questionable methods of land acquisition, and has had accusations levelled at his company for failing Indigenous trainees at FMG's vocational training centre in Port Hedland.

In 2013, Andrew Forrest was chosen to lead an Australian Government review into Indigenous employment and training programs.

Andrew Forrest established the Walk Free Foundation in 2010 to fight modern slavery.

In January 2014, Andrew Forrest announced a deal with Pakistan to do away with more than two million slaves in return for cheap coal.

Andrew Forrest founded the Global Freedom Network that the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar lead.

In 1991, Andrew Forrest married Nicola Maurice who grew up on a farm in central western New South Wales; the family raised sheep and cattle and grew wheat.

Andrew Forrest turned the yacht into an ocean research vessel for the Minderoo Foundation, with multiple laboratories and specialist research equipment installed since its purchase.

In December 2015, Andrew Forrest purchased the heritage-listed Tukurua mansion in Cottesloe for $16 million.

The Andrew Forrest family housed refugees at the home for a period of time after the purchase.

In 2022, Andrew Forrest purchased the nearby heritage-listed Le Fanu House.