Brendan Pearson will step down as Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) CEO after almost a decade with the lobby.

MCA chair Vanessa Guthrie expressed her appreciation.

“Brendan and his team have advanced the interests of the minerals sector significantly across a broad spectrum of issues,” she said.

“He led the MCA during a period of economic downturn in the sector and was able to maximise the organisation’s impact with forthright and thoughtful advocacy.”

Mr Pearson said it was a privilege to be at the coalface “during a period of significant challenges for the industry and the nation”.

“I am especially pleased that we have built coalitions of interest across a range of policy issues and deepened and broadened our co-operation with the broad policy community,” he said.

“Particular challenges to the coal, iron ore and gold sectors have been (and continue to be) met resolutely, while amalgamations with uranium and coal sector bodies have been productive.  The mining and carbon taxes have been repealed, there is bipartisan support for the Fuel Tax Credits scheme and I am confident there will be much-needed reform of the GST distribution system over the next 12 months.”

“It has been a particular pleasure working with an industry that makes such a strong contribution to regional Australia and one that leads all other sectors in providing opportunities to Indigenous Australians,” he said.

Mr Pearson will leave in mid-October, making way for David Byres to become acting chief executive.