Nikki Williams

Nikki Williams (who is occasionally referred to as Nicole B. Williams) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Coal Association (ACA). Williams was appointed following the abrupt dumping in August 2011 of Ralph Hillman, part way through the debate in the Australian parliament over the proposed carbon tax.

Finishing up at the NSW Minerals Council
Prior to commencing with the ACA in November 2011 Williams was the CEO of the NSW Minerals Council. Thanking Williams for her work, Chairman and Xstrata Coal Group Executive Mick Buffier stated that "from supporting the current government’s Work Health and Safety Act and calling for more infrastructure investment in mining regions to defending the industry against policies like the previously proposed industrial manslaughter laws and the Resources Super Profits Tax, Nikki has led the way." Buffier also credited her with initiating the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue "where the region’s miners want to work with government and the community to address the cumulative impacts of the region’s growing mines."

In a media release the ACA stated that "Williams has been at the forefront of the climate change debate since 1989 during the international negotiations for the first climate change treaty signed in Rio in 1992. She has held senior commercial roles with Shell and Exxon in Africa, Asia and Europe, operating across the coal, oil, gas and chemical industries."

Promoting the futility of anti-coal activism
"Withdrawing our coal exports to crunch supply in the hope of encouraging the use of alternative sources of energy wouldn't even rate a hiccup" Willaims told the Sydney Morning Herald in late 2006. "World coal consumption is roughly 5 billion of tonnes per year. Our state exports around 89 million tonnes per year, so it is a drop in the ocean compared to the global demand and consumption. It's important to point out that when the industry says, 'If we don't dig it up, someone else will', it is not to ignore the problem or our role in the solution. What we're saying is, 'Look, what we do is not perfect but we're working on the solution. In the meantime we're keeping the lights on, driving the economy, creating jobs and attracting investment to our state."

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Australia and coal
 * Minerals Council of Australia
 * New South Wales and coal
 * NSW Minerals Council's Greenwashing
 * NSW SLAPPs/NSW Minerals Council vs Rising Tide

Profiles of Williams

 * Olga Galacho, "Taking the heat", Herald Sun, July 28, 2007.
 * Keith Austin, "Deep in the dirt of it", Sydney Morning Herald, July 12, 2008.
 * Nick O'Malley, "Saunas, spies and supply lines", Sydney Morning Herald, December 4, 2010

Articles and interviews with Williams

 * Nikki Williams, "Living standards fuel our need to burn coal", Sydney Morning Herald, June 16, 2005.
 * Nikki Williams, "Does Australia have to have nuclear power to cut greenhouse gases?", Difference of Opinion, ABC TV, March 12, 2007.
 * Nikki Williams, "Call for faster low emissions", The Australian, April 2, 2008.
 * Nikki Williams, "We can bury carbon dioxide forever", The Australian, April 9, 2008.
 * Nikki Williams, "Coal and Climate Change- How We Can Have Our Cake and Eat It Too", Sydney Institute, July 23, 2008. (Podcast)
 * Nikki Williams, "Dr Nikki Williams", AM, ABC Radio National, August 12, 2009.
 * Nikki Williams, "Please get rid of the renewable energy target", The Australian, September 19, 2012.
 * Nikki Williams, "Politics and the Australian Coal Industry – what’s next?", Sydney Institute, 22 May, 2013. (Podcast).

External articles

 * Alexandra Smith and Ben Cubby, "Mining group input into Coalition policy 'appropriate'", Sydney Morning Herald, January 21, 2011.
 * "Miners unfairly portrayed as 'demons', lobby group says", Sydney Morning Herald, October 24, 2011.