Wyatt left his position only recently and was replaced by Premier Mark McGowan who will hold both roles in an unusual move. He has also had ministerial responsibility for Finance, Energy, Aboriginal Affairs and Lands.
Woodside notes he was the first Indigenous treasurer of any Australian parliament, and has held various shadow cabinet portfolios including responsibility for Native Title and the Pilbara.
"Mr Wyatt's proven strategic leadership, demonstrated across his diverse ministerial portfolio, will be an important contributor to the Woodside Board as we execute our growth priorities and pursue the energy transition," chairman Richard Goyder said.
He has already joined two other boards in the state and there have been rumours he is also up for board membership at Rio Tinto, as reported by Energy News' sister publication Mining News Network. Rio has said it needs more local directors on the board.
Activist group 350 Boorloo Perth, which has previously reported on what it sees as the cozy nature of relations between government and the state's largest corporations called the appointment "shocking" given Wyatt has only been out of government for three months.
"Moving from a position of such power, with no cooling off period, is incredibly inappropriate," 350 spokesperson Anthony Collins told Energy News.
"Any decisions made by the state government regarding Woodside's operations should be heavily scrutinised, transparent and open to public consultation as a result of this appointment."
Its November ‘Captured State' report outlined what it saw as a snug relationship between industry and state Labor, with some 140 meetings between companies, industry lobby body APPEA and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CMEWA).
Often donations were made at the same time or straight after for amounts of up to $6600.
The report did not allege malfeasance or illegal donations but rather suggested the optics were not good.
Wyatt joins the board as an independent director and will be a member of the Human Resources & Compensation Committee, and the Sustainability Committee and Nominations & Governance Committee.
