Georgina Rinehart
Chairman, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd
Considered the richest person in Australian history and the wealthiest woman in the world, Georgina Rinehart was born in Perth, Australia to one of Australia’s richest families, and studied economics at Sydney University.
Ms. Rinehart joined the Hancock Group as a Personal Assistant to her father, the mining magnate Lang Hancock, who discovered the world’s largest iron ore deposit. After gaining extensive knowledge about the industry, she inherited Hancock Prospecting from her father, a company which has no other shareholders and is therefore completely under her control. She also acquired a 10 percent stake in Ten Network Holdings Ltd. and a 12 percent stake in Fairfax Media.
Ranked by Forbes as the 19th most powerful woman in the world, Ms. Rinehart keeps a very low profile, routinely declining interviews. An ardent supporter of women’s causes, she has paid for the construction of an orphanage in Cambodia, sponsors the education of poor young girls, and has worked to prevent human trafficking. She is a recipient of many awards, including the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award, the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year Award, and the Australian Corporate Heroes Award.