Speaker — Neptune Forum 2026
Dr. Andrew Forrest
Executive Chairman and Founder of Fortescue, Founder of Minderoo Foundation and Tattarang
Australia — Chairman, Minderoo Foundation; Patron and Founding Member, Mission Neptune
Minderoo Foundation
Dr Andrew Forrest AO is an entrepreneur, scientist and business leader committed to ending fossil fuel use, accelerating green energy, and addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges with data and science-driven solutions.
In 2003, he founded Fortescue, growing it from a small exploration company into one of the world’s leading miners and infrastructure operators, and Australia’s most successful company for shareholder returns.
Fortescue’s success provided the platform for Minderoo Foundation, now Australia’s largest philanthropy with a $9 billion endowment, investing in world-leading research across climate and ocean science, humanitarian relief, and emerging technologies governance. Through Tattarang, one of Australia’s largest private investment groups, Dr Forrest deploys capital across renewable energy, battery metals, shipbuilding, medical technology, agri-food, and property — guided by the principle of using capital as a force for good.
Dr Forrest holds a PhD in Marine Ecology and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. He serves on Harvard’s Salata Institute Advisory Board, is a member of the Giving Pledge and the Council on Foreign Relations Global Board of Advisors. In 2025, he was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the world.
