Biography of Sir James Foots

From notes kindly provided by his daughter Merilyn Druve

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ON SIR JAMES FOOTS, A.O., B.M.E., HON.D.ENG., F.T.S.

Sir James Foots, A.O., B.M.E., Hon.D.Eng., F.T.S.E., born Jamieson, Victoria 1916.  Graduated in Mining Engineering Melbourne University 1937.  1938-1954 worked Broken Hill, Darwin and Captain’s Flat N.S.W.  1952-1955 Assistant General Manager Zinc Corporation Ltd and North Broken Hill Consolidated Ltd.

1955 appointed General Manager Mount Isa Mines Limited;  Director 1956;  Managing Director 1966.  When M.I.M. Holdings Limited was formed 1970 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  He retired as Chief Executive Officer 1981, Chairman 1983, and Director and Deputy Chairman in 1986.  1970-1989 Director Westpac Banking Corporation and 1987-1989 Chairman.  Served on Boards of Castlemaine Toohey’s Limited 1983-1985, The National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited 1982-1985 and ASARCO Incorporated 1985-1987;  Queensland Treasury Corporation Investments Board (Deputy Chairman) 1989-1990.

1956-1985Member of Council, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
1960-1964Member of the C.S.I.R.O. Advisory Council.
1963-1964Rotary International District Governor.
1965-1968Member R.I. Publications Committee.
1970-1992Appointed to Senate, University of Queensland; 1985 elected Chancellor.
1971-1990Member, Red Shield Appeal Committee, The Salvation Army, Brisbane.   Chairman for one year. 1974President, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
1974-1976President, Australian Mining Industry Council.
1976-1987Trustee, Queensland Overseas Foundation.
1980-1982Director, XII Commonwealth Games Australia (1982) Foundation Limited.
1980-1988Chairman, The Salvation Army’s Brisbane Advisory Board.
1982-1985Inaugural Chairman, University of Queensland Foundation.
1983-1986President, Institute of Public Affairs (Queensland); now Emeritus Councilor
1983-1986President, The German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
1985-1988Director, The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Trust for Young Australians.
1985-1989Chairman, Board of Trustees, Australian Koala Foundation Inc.
1985-1992Chancellor, University of Queensland.
1986President, 13th (1986) Congress of the Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions.
1986-1992Governor, University of Queensland Foundation.
1987 & 1990President, Aus.IMM Pacific Rim Conference, Gold Coast.
1989-1990Deputy Chairman, Investment Advisory Board, Queensland Treasury.
1989-1994Member, Mater Hospitals Trust Board.
1991-1993Chairman, University of Queensland Annual Appeal.
1993-1994Chairman 1994 World Gymnastic Championships Limited.
1993-1997Director, Uniquest Ltd.1
994-1997Chairman, Uniquest Ltd. 

AWARDS
1972The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Medal.
1972Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
1975Melbourne University Kernot Memorial Medal.
1975Knighted (Knight Bachelor).
1977Honorary Fellow, The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London.
1979Australian Institute of Management John Storey Medal.
1982University of Queensland Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering (Hon.D.Eng.).
1982J.P. Thompson Foundation Gold Medal.  [Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Queensland) Incorporated]. 1984Advance Australia Award.
1985Honorary Member, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
1985The Salvation Army Distinguished Auxiliary Service Cross.
1986Federal Republic of Germany Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit.
1987Life Member, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
1987Gold Medal, The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London.
1989Gold Medal, Company Director’s Association of Australia (Qld).
1992Officer of the Order of Australia (A.O.).
1993Aus I.M.M. Beryl Jacka Award.
2001Life Member, Australian Mining Hall of Fame.
2001Centenary Medal.
2003Inducted into the Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame.
2004Civilian Service Medal 1939-45 (Darwin Service 1943-1944).