“I’m very pleased to accept this opportunity and I would like to thank the Premier for recommending me to the Governor for this appointment,” she said.

“I will certainly be working hard and using my experience in economics and trade to ensure that the confidence placed in me returns benefits for Western Australians.

“As well as promoting business investment in our State and helping to expand the market for Western Australian goods and services in the United Kingdom, the European Union and wider Europe, the position has a number of other responsibilities.

“Promoting Western Australia will be a pleasure for me.

“It will be a challenging role for the next two years based in London, not the least because it involves a shift to a new country, but I see it as a wonderful opportunity to do something for both exporters and for the State.

“I have greatly enjoyed my 17 years at the helm of Fremantle Ports,” Kerry Sanderson said, “which again has been a chance to help exporters.

“It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to serve in this role for a State that depends on trade and within an organisation and with a State Government committed to helping exporters and importers.

“I am leaving the position at a time when we have some significant achievements to be proud of and a number of other strategically important infrastructure projects progressing well.  We have a strong team well equipped to go forward with these.”