Management
John Cotter
Managing Director
John Cotter is the Managing Director and founding investor of North West Phosphate, bringing over two decades of experience delivering major infrastructure and resource projects across Australia. Raised on a cattle property west of Gympie, John combines a deep understanding of regional Queensland with commercial acumen across agriculture, mining and infrastructure.
A recognised expert in infrastructure planning, John has built a career focused on unlocking economic potential in the regions. His early investment in North West Phosphate was driven by a belief that Queensland can lead the way in fertiliser production and sovereign supply chains, strengthening Australian agriculture while creating long-term jobs and royalties in the North West.
John began his career in private practice and listed property development before founding Flinders Group, a national project management consultancy that grew to more than 150 staff and was acquired by global engineering firm Arcadis in 2014. He went on to establish Initiative Capital in 2016, supporting private investment in infrastructure and regional development.
John holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning, a Master of Applied Finance, and a Diploma of Project Management. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of the Royal Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland.
With a career grounded in practical delivery and regional opportunity, John remains committed to building projects that add value for landholders, local communities and the nation.
Paul Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Paul is an experienced environmental and project delivery professional with over 20 years’ experience working across resource development, environmental management and government interface. He has a strong track record delivering outcomes in complex, highly regulated and politically sensitive environments.
Paul has advised on major resource and infrastructure projects, supporting approvals, environmental compliance and stakeholder engagement, and is recognised for his practical, commercially focused approach to progressing projects toward development. His appointment as Chief Executive Officer reflects the Company’s focus on disciplined execution, regulatory alignment and advancement toward key development milestones.
Madeline Simmonds
Head of Corporate Affairs and ESG
Madeline Simmonds is Head of Corporate Affairs and ESG at North West Phosphate, where she leads the company’s corporate strategy across environmental, social and governance priorities, stakeholder engagement, and government and community relations. She also oversees land access, approvals, and commercial frameworks.
With almost 20 years’ experience in stakeholder management, regulatory approvals and major project development, Madeline has built a strong track record of guiding complex projects through the intersections of industry, government and community. She plays a pivotal role in strengthening North West Phosphate’s partnerships with landholders, Traditional Owners, regional communities and government stakeholders, ensuring that the project is developed responsibly and with long-term social and environmental benefit.
Passionate about sustainability and regional development, Madeline champions initiatives that demonstrate how Australia can deliver clean, secure and future-focused resource projects that contribute to global food security. Based in Brisbane and deeply connected to regional Queensland, she brings a strategic, solutions-focused approach to advancing investment-ready opportunities that deliver impact locally and globally.
Ben Paxton-Hall
Manager – Operations
Ben is an operations, government, regulatory and stakeholder-affairs specialist with experience in both the public and private sectors. Having worked across a host of highly regulated industries including mining and resources, Ben offers unique expertise in streamlining operations and delivering desired outcomes.
Prior to joining North West Phosphate, Ben held roles in government and private enterprise across Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra.
Michelle Mercieca
Geologist
Michelle has significant experience with the Paradise Phosphate project, having been involved with the project between 2008 and 2015 as the Senior Project Geologist. Between 2008 and 2011 she was based in Mount Isa to supervise the resource-definition drilling and sampling for metallurgical test work.
Adam Teague
Metallurgist
Adam has significant experience with the Paradise Phosphate project, having been the Metallurgy Manager between 2009 and 2013. During this time Adam was responsible for managing the development of the beneficiation process, including a 10-tonne-per-day pilot plant and DFS detailed design.
