London | Running the World Coal Association must be one of the toughest gigs in the resources universe right now. Investors and banks are dumping coal, big miners are cutting back on it, Western governments are phasing it out. How do you sell the coal story to a sceptical world?

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, an Australian has put her hand up for the job. Michelle Manook left an executive post at Orica in Perth last year, moving to London to don the flak jacket and go into battle for the fossil fuel that so many people love to hate.