Ms Gaines led Fortescue as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director from February 2018 to August 2022, after joining the Executive Team as Chief Financial Officer in February 2017 and serving on the Fortescue Board as a Non-Executive Director from 2013.

A highly experienced business leader with extensive international experience as a Chief Executive Officer, Ms Gaines has a proven track record in delivering financial and operational excellence. She has significant experience in the resources sector and exposure to the impact of the growth in Asian economies, particularly China, on the Australian business environment and economy as well as a deep understanding of all aspects of financial and commercial management at a senior executive level in both listed and private companies.

She is a former Chief Executive Officer of Helloworld Limited and Heytesbury Pty Limited and has previously held Non-Executive Director roles with Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited, NEXTDC Limited, Mantra Group Limited and ImpediMed Limited.

Ms Gaines was ranked second in the 2019 Fortune Magazine's Businessperson of the Year, and in 2020 the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia awarded her the ‘Women in Resources Champion’ at the annual Women in Resources Awards. In 2020, Elizabeth was awarded Joint Australian Business Person of the Year by the Australian Financial Review.

Ms Gaines holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University, a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Curtin University. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chief Executive Women.

She is also a Board member of the Victor Chang Cardiac Institute, West Coast Eagles, Curtin University Advisory Board and Australia Fortescue Future Industries.