The Directors report on the performance of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2005 as follows:

Back (L to R) Trevor Bourne, Bob Critchley, Dan O'Brien
Front (L to R) Garry Woods, Bill Cutbush, Malcolm Jackman 

// Directors

The names and details of the Company’s Directors during the financial year and until the date of this Report are set out as follows. If Directors served for less than the whole period then details are shown as to their length of tenure.

It should be noted that of the total of six board members, four are independent.

Bill Cutbush FAICD
Non-Executive Chairman
Age 72

Bill Cutbush has many years’ experience as a Chairman and a Director of public companies in manufacturing and related activities. Bill was previously Managing Director of Bell and Howell Asia Pacific and Executive Chairman of Hanimex Pty Ltd. He was appointed a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Coates on 1 July 2000. During the past three years Bill has also served as a director of the following other public companies:

Blackmores Limited*/ Maxwell Optical Industries Limited*/ Freedom Group Limited**/ Millers Retail Limited**
* denotes current directorship
** denotes previously held position of Chairman

Trevor Bourne
Non-Executive Director
Age 58

Trevor is an experienced independent director, holding a board position at Origin Energy, Hastie Group Ltd (Chairman) and Lighting Corporation Ltd in addition to his appointment to the Coates’ board. In an accomplished executive career, he retired as CEO of Tenix Industries in December 2003 and prior to this spent 15 years with Brambles, six of which as Managing Director of Brambles Australasia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Newcastle, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. During the past three years Trevor has served as a director of the following public companies:

Origin Energy Limited*/ Hastie Group Limited*/ Lighting Corporation Limited*
* denotes current directorship

Bob Critchley
Non-Executive Director
Chairman – Human Resource & Remuneration Committee
Age 61

Bob Critchley is a Strategic Workforce Consultant and published author. Previously, as International President for DBM Inc, Bob was responsible for global operations at the world’s leading outplacement and career management company. Earlier he established DBM in Australia, before selling the business to its US parent and becoming its Asia Pacific President. Bob is a Director of Worklife International Pty Limited and Chairman of Noni B Limited, Cordukes Limited and Trent Capital Limited. He has over 25 years’ experience in the banking and finance industry – in Australia and overseas – including service with National Australia Bank, Citibank and Societe Generale. Bob has an economics degree from the University of Adelaide and is a Certified Practising Accountant. During the past three years Bob has also served as a director of the following other public companies:

Becton Development Group*/ Cordukes Limited*/ Noni B Limited*/ Trent Capital Limited*/ Strathfield Group Limited
* denotes current directorship

Malcolm Jackman FAICD
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director
President Commissioner of PT Coates Hire Indonesia
Chairman – Coates Hire (UK) Limited
Chairman – Coates Hire (NZ) Limited
Age 52

Malcolm joined Coates in February 2003 and joined the Board as Managing Director in July 2003. Prior to joining Coates, Malcolm spent 18 years in the recruitment industry working in New Zealand, Australia and North America. His most recent role was CEO of Manpower Australia and New Zealand. He spent his early career as an officer in the Royal New Zealand Navy and holds degrees in accounting and mathematics. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Directors and a recipient of the Centenary of Federation Medal. Malcolm is President Commissioner of PT Coates Hire Indonesia as well as Chairman of Coates Hire (UK) Limited and Coates Hire (NZ) Limited.

During the past three years Malcolm has also served as a current director of the following public company:

Rubicor Group Limited*
* denotes current directorship

G.F. Dan O’Brien
Non-Executive Director
Chairman – Audit & Risk Committee
Age 49

Dan O’Brien has held Directorships and management positions in a number of prominent Australian and international public and private companies. He is currently a principal of Dromoland Capital, a private equity group and a director of Select Harvests Limited and Hexima Limited. He has significant commercial experience having held CEO positions for BIL Australia, Mattel Asia Pacific and The King Island Company over the past 15 years. Mr O’Brien holds an MBA, having graduated with distinction from Harvard Business School. He is also a qualified veterinary surgeon. During the past three years Dan has also served as a director of the following other public companies:

SPC Ardmona Limited / Select Harvests Limited*/ Hexima Limited*
* denotes current directorship

Garry Woods
Executive General Manager and an Executive Director
Commissioner of PT Coates Hire Indonesia
Age 48

Garry commenced with Coates in 1992 as Divisional Controller when Coates was a division of Australian National Industries. When the company floated in August 1996, Garry was appointed Finance Director. In April 2002 he took on the role of Group General Manager for the General Hire business and Coates Conrent, and in May 2003 also became responsible for Coates Indonesia. Garry is degree qualified in Accounting and Finance from Macquarie University. On completion of his degree he worked for Mayne Nickless in various finance, accounting and IT roles for some 10 years before leaving to join Coates. He was involved in the green fields setup of the Indonesian business in 1992, the 1996 float, and numerous acquisitions including Rentair in 1999 and Wreckair in February 2002. Garry as Group General Manager was responsible for the Australian Coates Hire operations, Coates Conrent, Coates Hire Indonesia and Coates Training Services from February 2002 (following the Wreckair acquisition) until 30 June 2005. Garry is now Executive General Manager responsible for the Coates business Allied Equipment, Term Rental, Coates Offshore, Coates Hire Indonesia and Coates Training Services as well as a number of Group functions including Sales and Marketing and Asset Management including Procurement and Service.

Company Secretary
Geoffrey Fardell

Geoff’s background is an experienced company executive with financial and commercial experience across many different industries and countries. Geoff is a qualified chartered accountant and has been with Coates as CFO since May 2002. He has over 20 years’ experience with companies including TNT, Spherion, Unisys, Lend Lease and KPMG.