Alan has a 40-year history in mineral marketing, spending most of his career globally with Rio Tinto in executive marketing roles in iron ore, in Asia, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Positions held at Rio included President of Rio Tinto Iron Ore Asia and Director Strategic Partnerships, the latter role included Chairing both the Channar and BaoHI Ranges Joint Ventures. In early 2019, In recognition of his contribution to developing bilateral ties with China, Alan was the recipient of the 2019 Australia China Business Council (ACBC) WA Honorary Award for outstanding and sustained service to the Western Australia-China relationship.