Pioneer of the
Australian Iron Ore
Industry

“Under Mrs Rinehart’s leadership, Hancock Prospecting has been transformed from a company facing a parlous financial position in 1992, when she became executive chairman, to Australia’s most successful private company,” Hancock Prospecting said. “On behalf of the Hancock Prospecting executive team and staff, congratulations Mrs Rinehart on this well-earned recognition for your hard work, dedication, and leadership. Hancock Prospecting, and indeed Australia, would not be what it is today without you.”

Gina Rinehart has capped an extraordinary year of deal-making across the mining, energy, agribusiness and retail sectors by being named The Australian Financial Review Business Person of the Year at a ceremony in Sydney on Thursday evening. The annual AFR Business Person of the Year list recognises Australia’s top leaders, builders, pioneers and stirrers – and Mrs Rinehart could meet all four criteria. Her Hancock Prospecting empire, which is the biggest private company in the country by some margin, delivered another record year of shipments from its Roy Hill iron ore mine, with robust iron ore prices driving profits to more than $5 billion. The company has a staggering $38 billion in assets on its balance sheet, propelling Mrs Rinehart to the top of The Australian Financial Review’s Rich List for the fourth straight year.