Andrew Forrest

Dr Andrew Forrest
Born	John Andrew Henry Forrest 18 11, 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 Template:Post-nominals (born 18 November 1961), commonly known as Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, is an Australian businessman, philanthropist, and mining executive. He is the founder and executive chairman of Fortescue, one of Australia's largest publicly listed companies and a major global iron ore producer. Through Fortescue, Forrest played a central role in the development of Australia's iron ore industry in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, building a mining and infrastructure enterprise that has grown into a multi-billion-dollar operation. Beyond mining, Forrest has established himself as a prominent figure in philanthropy through the Minderoo Foundation, which he co-founded with his former wife Nicola Forrest and which has become one of Australia's largest philanthropic organisations. He also oversees Tattarang, one of Australia's largest private investment groups. In 2013, Andrew and Nicola Forrest became the first Australians to sign The Giving Pledge, committing the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. Ranked as one of Australia's wealthiest individuals — the Australian Financial Review named him the richest person in Australia in 2008 — Forrest has in recent years become an outspoken advocate for renewable energy and the global energy transition, a stance that has 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 of Western Australia, an experience that shaped his connection to the land and the remote communities of outback Australia. The Forrest family has deep roots in Western Australian history. Growing up in the remote pastoral environment of the Pilbara exposed Forrest to the realities of life in regional Australia, including close contact with Indigenous Australian communities, which would later influence his philanthropic work focused on Indigenous employment and welfare.

Forrest's upbringing on a working cattle station instilled in him an understanding of the Australian resources landscape from an early age. The Pilbara region, rich in iron ore and other minerals, would later become the geographic centre of his business empire. Reports have noted the influence of an Aboriginal mentor in Forrest's formative years, a relationship that contributed to his later focus on Indigenous affairs and employment initiatives.

Later in life, Forrest purchased back Minderoo Station, the property on which he had been raised, in a transaction that was reported as a personal and symbolic reconnection to his pastoral heritage.

Education

Forrest attended the University of Western Australia (UWA), where he completed his undergraduate studies. He later returned to academic pursuits and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Marine Ecology from UWA, reflecting a scientific interest in environmental and ecological matters that has informed aspects of his later business and philanthropic activities. Forrest's doctoral research in marine ecology is notable for a business leader primarily associated with the mining industry, and his academic background has been cited in the context of his advocacy for environmental sustainability and ocean conservation through the Minderoo Foundation.

Career

Early Business Ventures

Before founding Fortescue, Forrest was involved in a number of business ventures in the Australian resources sector. He was associated with the Anaconda Nickel (later Minara Resources) project and had involvement with nickel mining operations, including interests connected to the historic Windarra nickel project in Western Australia. These early ventures provided Forrest with experience in the Australian mining industry and exposure to the challenges of developing large-scale resource projects, knowledge that would prove critical in the establishment of Fortescue.

The Australian newspaper described Forrest as "the accidental billionaire," noting the unlikely trajectory of his rise from pastoral roots and early mining ventures to the upper echelons of Australian wealth.

Founding and Growth of Fortescue

Forrest founded Fortescue Metals Group (now known simply as Fortescue) with the ambition of becoming a major force in the global iron ore market, challenging the established dominance of companies such as BHP and Rio Tinto in Australia's Pilbara region. Under Forrest's leadership, Fortescue developed extensive iron ore mining operations, constructed rail infrastructure, and built port facilities to export iron ore to international markets, particularly China. The company grew rapidly during the resources boom of the 2000s and 2010s to become one of Australia's largest listed companies by market capitalisation.

Fortescue's success transformed Forrest's personal wealth. The Australian Financial Review named him the richest person in Australia in 2008. However, the volatility of commodity markets also brought periods of significant financial pressure. In 2011, a downturn in iron ore prices led to a reported $15 billion reduction in Forrest's paper wealth.

Forrest has served as both chairman and executive chairman of Fortescue. As of early 2026, Fortescue reported strong financial results, with Andrew and Nicola Forrest set to receive approximately $690 million in dividends following a significant increase in the company's profits, driven by record iron ore shipments.

Mining Tax Debate

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

His criticism of the tax drew 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 continued to press his case in public appearances and media interviews throughout the period of the tax's implementation. The MRRT was subsequently repealed by the Australian Parliament in 2014.

Energy Transition and Green Energy Advocacy

In more recent years, Forrest has become one of the most prominent global business leaders advocating for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. 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. Forrest has publicly stated that renewable energy is "faster and cheaper than oil and gas," and he has promoted the development of green hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels in heavy industry and transportation.

Forrest's stance on climate and energy has distinguished him from many other leaders in the global mining and resources sector. In January 2026, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Forrest 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.

However, Forrest's green energy claims have also attracted scrutiny. In February 2026, The Australian reported that Forrest had made a claim regarding Fortescue's planned reduction in fossil fuel costs that was characterised as false, specifically a statement that the company would slash its fossil fuel bill by US$1 billion from the following year. The tension between Forrest's ambitious public statements on the energy transition and the commercial realities of Fortescue's mining operations has been a subject of ongoing media commentary.

Philanthropy and Minderoo Foundation

Forrest co-founded the Minderoo Foundation with his former wife Nicola Forrest. The foundation has grown to become one of Australia's largest philanthropic organisations, directing funding toward a range of causes including 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 Forrest signed The Giving Pledge, a commitment initiated by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates in which signatories pledge to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. The Forrests were the first Australians to make this commitment.

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

Forrest has also been recognised for contributions to oncology and cancer research through the Minderoo Foundation's health-related programmes. In 2025, he was recognised among "The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology" by Oncodaily, citing his work in supporting cancer research and health innovation.

Tattarang

In addition to Fortescue and the Minderoo Foundation, Forrest oversees Tattarang, described as one of Australia's largest private investment groups. Tattarang manages the Forrest family's private investments across a range of sectors, including agriculture, energy, technology, and property. The establishment of Tattarang reflects Forrest's diversification of business interests beyond the mining sector.

Personal Life

Andrew Forrest was formerly married to Nicola Forrest, with whom he has four children. The couple's marriage ended, though they have continued to collaborate on philanthropic endeavours through the Minderoo Foundation. Both Andrew and Nicola Forrest remain signatories of The Giving Pledge.

Forrest's nickname, "Twiggy," has been widely used in Australian media and public life throughout his career. The origins of the nickname are commonly attributed to his slight build in his younger years.

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

Recognition

Forrest has received a number of honours and awards in recognition of his business achievements, philanthropic work, and advocacy.

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

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

In 2025, Forrest was presented with the Progress Medal by the Society for Progress, in recognition of his leadership in business and the energy transition.

Also in 2025, TIME magazine named Forrest to its TIME100 Climate list, recognising him as one of the 100 most influential people in the field of climate and energy. The accompanying profile noted that Forrest "has made it his mission to prove" that transforming the energy system is achievable, despite those who consider it too challenging.

In the same year, Forrest was recognised among the 100 Most Influential People in Oncology by Oncodaily for his contributions to cancer research and health innovation through the Minderoo Foundation.

The Australian Financial Review Rich List 2023 assessed Forrest's net worth at A$33.29 billion, ranking him as the second-richest person in Australia. He had previously been ranked first on the list in 2008.

Legacy

Andrew Forrest's impact on the Australian mining industry is defined principally by the creation and growth of Fortescue, which 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 the iron ore market increased competition and contributed to expanded Australian iron ore exports during a period of intense global demand, particularly from China.

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

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