Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has appointed two new board members, including its first female director.

Chartered accountant Elizabeth Gaines and Fortescue’s director of development Peter Meurs will join the board to complement the company’s growth and provide more experience, chairman Andrew Forrest said on Friday.

Ms Gaines is also a chief operating officer of Jetset Travelworld Group, and has previously held senior executive roles with media group Entertainment Rights and private Western Australian firm Heytesbury.

Mr Meurs joined Fortescue in 2010, after serving as managing director of global engineering firm Worley Parsons.