Dr Paul Heithersay

Chief Executive of the Department for Energy and Mining

Dr Heithersay joined the South Australian public service in 2002, initially as executive director of the Geological Survey of South Australia within the Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA). His appointment to the Survey followed a 20-year career working as a geologist at mineral exploration companies including Geopeko and North Ltd.

In the next two decades in the South Australia Public Service, Paul held senior roles with the Departments responsible for mineral resource development in South Australia, before being promoted to deputy chief executive at the Department for the Premier and Cabinet in 2017 to oversee the interactions between energy and mining.

In 2018, Paul was appointed the first chief executive of the new Department for Energy and Mining, a state government agency tasked with overseeing South Australia’s role as a leader in the global energy transformation. In this role, he leads one of the few government departments in the world that recognises the synergies between decarbonisation and resource development. Under his watch the Survey has gained a reputation as the world’s best geoscientific data, while the Department is recognised for its leadership in regulatory reform, industry compliance and strategic policy development.

In June 2012, Dr Heithersay was awarded a Public Service Medal for his outstanding public service to the growth and development of the mineral resources sector in South Australia, in part reflecting his work as chief executive of the Olympic Dam Task Force. In his current role, he continues to work to facilitate the development of South Australia’s substantial copper, gold, uranium, magnetite, graphite and heavy mineral sands resources and support investment in renewable energy and carbon abatement within the local industry including the creation of a hydrogen economy.

In November 2012, he was elected to the Fellowship of the Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (ATSE).

In October 2013, Dr Heithersay was awarded the prestigious Legend in Mining award for his role in guiding South Australia’s transformation into a major destination for investment in mineral resources and energy.