Andrew Forrest

Dr Andrew Forrest
Born	John Andrew Henry Forrest 11/18/1961
Birthplace	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Executive Chairman, Fortescue
Known for	Founder of Fortescue; Founder of Minderoo Foundation
Education	Doctor of Philosophy (Marine Ecology), University of Western Australia
Children	4
Awards	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO); 2025 Progress Medal; TIME 100 Climate (2025)

John Andrew Henry Forrest AO (born 18 November 1961), commonly known as Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, is an Australian businessman, philanthropist, and mining executive. He founded Fortescue and serves as its executive chairman. It's one of Australia's largest public companies and a major global iron ore producer. Through Fortescue, he reshaped Australia's iron ore industry in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, building a mining and infrastructure operation that became a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

Beyond mining, Forrest's made a name for himself in philanthropy. He co-founded the Minderoo Foundation with his former wife Nicola Forrest, and it's grown into one of Australia's largest philanthropic organisations. He also runs Tattarang, one of Australia's largest private investment groups. In 2013, Andrew and Nicola became the first Australians to sign The Giving Pledge, committing most of their wealth to charitable work.

Ranked among Australia's wealthiest individuals. The Australian Financial Review named him richest in 2008. In recent years, though, he's become an outspoken advocate for renewable energy and the global energy transition, a stance that's drawn both praise and scrutiny. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Ecology from the University of Western Australia.

Early Life

Andrew Forrest was born on 18 November 1961 in Perth, Western Australia. He grew up on Minderoo Station, a cattle station in the Pilbara region, an experience that shaped his connection to the land and remote outback communities. The Forrest family's deep roots in Western Australian history are well documented.

Growing up in that remote pastoral environment exposed Forrest to regional Australia's realities, including close contact with Indigenous Australian communities. This would shape his later philanthropic work on Indigenous employment and welfare.

His time on a working cattle station taught him about Australian resources from an early age. The Pilbara, rich in iron ore and other minerals, would eventually become the geographic heart of his business empire. An Aboriginal mentor influenced his formative years, a relationship that contributed significantly to his later focus on Indigenous affairs and employment.

Later on, Forrest purchased Minderoo Station back, the property where he'd been raised. This transaction represented a personal and symbolic reconnection to his pastoral roots.

Education

Forrest attended the University of Western Australia (UWA) for his undergraduate studies. Later, he returned to academic work and earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Marine Ecology from UWA, reflecting a scientific interest in environmental and ecological matters that's informed his business and philanthropic work. His doctoral research in marine ecology stands out for a business leader associated with mining. That academic background comes up when people discuss his environmental sustainability and ocean conservation advocacy through Minderoo.

Career

Early Business Ventures

Before Fortescue, Forrest got involved in several business ventures in Australian resources. He worked on the Anaconda Nickel project (later Minara Resources) and had stakes in nickel mining operations, including the historic Windarra nickel project in Western Australia. These ventures gave him real experience in Australian mining and exposed him to the challenges of large-scale resource development, knowledge that proved crucial when he started Fortescue.

The Australian newspaper called Forrest "the accidental billionaire," noting the unlikely path from pastoral roots and early mining ventures to Australia's upper echelons of wealth.

Founding and Growth of Fortescue

Forrest founded Fortescue Metals Group (now simply Fortescue) with ambitions to become a major player in the global iron ore market. He wanted to challenge the established dominance of BHP and Rio Tinto in Australia's Pilbara. Under his leadership, Fortescue developed extensive iron ore mining operations, constructed rail infrastructure, and built port facilities to export iron ore to international markets, particularly China. During the resources boom of the 2000s and 2010s, the company grew rapidly and became one of Australia's largest listed companies by market capitalisation.

Fortescue's success transformed Forrest's personal wealth dramatically. The Australian Financial Review named him Australia's richest person in 2008. But commodity market volatility brought significant financial pressure too. In 2011, iron ore prices dropped and Forrest's paper wealth fell by a reported $15 billion.

Forrest has served as both chairman and executive chairman of Fortescue. In early 2026, Fortescue reported strong results. Andrew and Nicola Forrest stood to receive approximately $690 million in dividends following a substantial increase in profits, driven by record iron ore shipments.

Mining Tax Debate

Forrest became a prominent critic of the Australian federal government's Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT), proposed and implemented in the early 2010s. He argued it was unfair to smaller and mid-tier mining companies and warned it could drive increased foreign ownership of Australian resources. He publicly stated the MRRT protected only the largest mining companies at the expense of others. He also warned of a potential High Court challenge.

His criticism prompted responses from government officials. The then-Treasurer publicly challenged some of Forrest's claims about the tax's impact. Forrest characterised the tax as "unfair" and kept pressing his case in public appearances and media interviews throughout implementation. The MRRT was subsequently repealed by Parliament in 2014.

Energy Transition and Green Energy Advocacy

In recent years, Forrest's become one of the most prominent global business leaders pushing for a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Under his leadership, Fortescue established Fortescue Energy (formerly Fortescue Future Industries), a division focused on developing green hydrogen, green ammonia, and other renewable energy technologies. He's stated publicly that renewable energy is "faster and cheaper than oil and gas," promoting green hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels in heavy industry and transportation.

This stance sets Forrest apart from many other leaders in global mining and resources. In January 2026, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he was described as "one of the world's few top business leaders willing to" challenge prevailing attitudes on climate policy, including those of the incoming United States administration under President Donald Trump.

Yet Forrest's green energy claims have drawn scrutiny too. In February 2026, The Australian reported that he'd made a claim about Fortescue's planned reduction in fossil fuel costs that was characterised as false. Specifically, he'd claimed the company would slash its fossil fuel bill by US$1 billion from the following year. The tension between his ambitious statements on energy transition and Fortescue's commercial mining realities has become a subject of ongoing media discussion.

Philanthropy and Minderoo Foundation

Forrest co-founded the Minderoo Foundation with his former wife Nicola Forrest. It's grown to become one of Australia's largest philanthropic organisations, directing funding toward Indigenous employment and welfare, cancer research, ocean conservation, and humanitarian aid. The foundation's programmes have spanned multiple countries and issue areas.

In 2013, Andrew and Nicola signed The Giving Pledge, a commitment initiated by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. Signatories pledge to give away most of their wealth to philanthropy. The Forrests were the first Australians to make this pledge.

Forrest's philanthropy has extended to international humanitarian efforts. In October 2025, Minderoo issued a joint press release with Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, regarding humanitarian relief in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This reflected his growing profile in global humanitarian and development circles.

He's also been recognised for contributions to oncology and cancer research through Minderoo's health programmes. In 2025, Oncodaily recognised him among "The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology," citing his work in supporting cancer research and health innovation.

Tattarang

Beyond Fortescue and Minderoo, Forrest oversees Tattarang, described as one of Australia's largest private investment groups. It manages the Forrest family's private investments across agriculture, energy, technology, and property. This reflects his diversification of business interests beyond mining.

Personal Life

Andrew Forrest was formerly married to Nicola Forrest, and they have four children together. Their marriage ended, but they've continued collaborating on philanthropy through Minderoo. Both remain signatories of The Giving Pledge.

The nickname "Twiggy" has followed Forrest throughout his career in Australian media and public life. Origins are commonly attributed to his slight build in younger years.

Forrest maintains a documented personal connection to Minderoo Station in the Pilbara, the cattle property where he grew up and later repurchased. His ties to the land and Western Australia's pastoral and mining heritage have been recurring themes in media profiles.

Recognition

Forrest's received numerous honours and awards recognising his business achievements, philanthropic work, and advocacy.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to the community and the mining industry.

In 2010, he was among UWA staff and graduates recognised in the Western Australian Citizen of the Year Awards.

In 2025, Forrest received the Progress Medal from the Society for Progress, recognising his leadership in business and the energy transition.

That same year, TIME magazine named Forrest to its TIME100 Climate list, recognising him as one of 100 most influential people in climate and energy. The profile noted Forrest "has made it his mission to prove" that transforming the energy system is achievable, despite those who consider it too challenging.

Oncodaily also recognised Forrest among the 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025 for his contributions to cancer research and health innovation through Minderoo.

The Australian Financial Review Rich List 2023 assessed his net worth at A$33.29 billion, ranking him second-richest in Australia. He'd previously been ranked first in 2008.

Legacy

Andrew Forrest's impact on Australian mining is principally defined by Fortescue's creation and growth. He broke the longstanding duopoly of BHP and Rio Tinto in Pilbara iron ore production. The company's development of mines, rail lines, and port infrastructure in the Pilbara represented one of the largest privately driven infrastructure investments in Australian history. Fortescue's entry into iron ore increased competition and expanded Australian iron ore exports during a period of intense global demand, particularly from China.

His philanthropic legacy centres on Minderoo Foundation. It's spanned multiple domains: Indigenous employment, ocean conservation, cancer research, and international humanitarian relief. The foundation's scale and scope have made it a significant institution in Australian and international philanthropy. The Forrests' 2013 signing of The Giving Pledge was a notable moment in Australian philanthropic history, signalling a commitment to large-scale charitable giving by one of Australia's wealthiest families.

In energy policy and climate advocacy, Forrest's positioned himself as one of the most prominent voices among global business leaders for renewable energy transition. His promotion of green hydrogen technology through Fortescue Energy has drawn international attention and contributed to public debate about decarbonisation feasibility and pace in heavy industry. While his claims have attracted both support and criticism, his willingness to publicly advocate for energy transition from within mining has distinguished him in global business and policy circles.