Brian Loton AC (b. 1929) was chairman of BHP from 1992 to 1997. Loton was educated in Perth and Melbourne. After working at the Whyalla shipyards and at Iron Knob during student vacations, he joined BHP in as a general cadet in 1954. He soon became a special cadet, and within ten years of joining the company had risen to the position of Executive Officer, Engineering. He became general manager of the Newcastle steelworks in 1970, executive general manager of the steel division in 1973, chief general manager of the company from 1977 to 1982 and its managing director from 1982 to 1991. He has also held directorships of the National Australia bank, Amcor, Australian Foundation Investment Company, Atlas Copco and North West Shelf Development. He was President of the Victorian Scouts Association from 1997 to 1999, has been a member of a host of professional and fundraising organisations, and has won a number of business, mining and metallurgy awards in Australia and overseas. He has an honorary doctorate from Monash University.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2001
© Estate of Joe Greenberg
Joe Greenberg (37 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
A collection of thirty-seven caricatures by the artist Joe Greenberg capture the heroes and villians of Australian business in the 1980s.
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