Gordon Ward has 22 years experience in the resource sector and is the Managing Director of Pike River Coal. He has been Chief Executive since January 2007 and is a director of national resource industry lobby group Straterra. Gordon was previously General Manager for New Zealand Oil & Gas, managing that company’s involvement in the significant offshore Tui oil and Kupe gas/condensate field developments. Since 1998 Gordon has been responsible for all aspects of the Pike River Coal, taking it through design and construction, its successful 2007 initial public offer and into mining operations.