Organisation: Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Job Title: Team Leader
Word Limit: 2 Pages
Location: Toowoomba Region
With 34 years of experience in the oil and gas industry around the world, most recently spending
five years as a Stakeholder and Project Lead/Senior Staff Engineer with Origin Energy focused on
Coal Seam Gas and Unconventional Technologies, I have demonstrated exceptional knowledge of
the CSG industry and an in depth knowledge of the legislation, policies and guidelines that
surround it. Having spent a considerable amount of time overseas with Halliburton, when I
returned to Australia to seek employment I was hired specifically to resolve issues of regulatory
compliance for the interface and assurance for hydraulic fracture stimulation (fracking).
Although initially I did not have direct experience with fracking, I was chosen because of my
analytical skills and high level ability to find solutions, as well as my demonstrated experience in
supporting multiple stakeholders across various countries at any given time. In my role as Global
Technical Manager in Houston I was responsible for the completion of yearly business plans,
monthly revenue and cost forecasts, as well as providing technical support, for India, Russia,
China, Turkey, Vietnam, Poland and Algeria, among other countries. This role particularly
demonstrated my ability to manage competing priorities, whilst meeting and exceeding
expectations within strict timelines.
My practical experience in the field, having a strong operations background, meant that I could
speak confidently on the issues in context. Further, this practical knowledge of the subject enabled
me to effectively communicate highly technical information to others who did not have my
technical background. This set me apart from many others in similar roles who were from an
environmental background, or whose knowledge of the field was primarily theoretical. I very
quickly became the reference point for any questions about fracking or chemical usage across the
country, whether coming from internal, external or government representatives, and was the
focus point for preparing technical responses. Through careful, confident communication, and
having developed trusting working relationships with stakeholders across the board, I was able to
allay fears and build confidence in the process ahead.
To succeed in this role, I very quickly built on my knowledge of the oil and gas industry to include a
deep understanding of fracking, the chemicals used, and the legislation and guidelines set out by
the Environmental Protection Act and the Petroleum and Gas Act. I utilised excellent analysis and
research skills to identify valuable, factual information, whilst also familiarising myself with the
unsupported claims. In taking this approach, I was well armed for providing reassuring, factual
advice and answers. This was invaluable in verbal communication, where I would be speaking to
government representatives or stock analysts who had concerns sparked by sensationalised media
coverage, as well as in the preparation of papers and briefing notes for the executive team and
board of directors that detailed the fracking process and risk issues. In addition to this, I was
accountable to prepare risk assessments, guidelines and data reports from sampling, monitoring
and analysis of all fluids and chemicals associated with the fracking process for state and federal
regulation.
In my most recent role I led a team that was responsible for coordinating the exploration of land
to establish CSG levels. Through extensive research and exploring new technologies it was decided
that the only solution by which we would be able to get an accurate reading to make quantitative
analysis of this particular site was through the use of radioactive traces encased in ceramic vials.
While this is a very safe practice, many people, both internal and external to the organisation,
were very nervous about engaging this practice in the Great Artesian Basin. Before beginning such
work, it was imperative that all stakeholders we well informed and supportive of the solution
presented. It was my responsibility to work up a complete program, including developing a range
of risk analysis documents for the operation, people involved, local community and public
perception. Documents I developed as a part of the complete program included:
1. Approvals, and Contact Lists
2. Radioisotope Tracers – Communications and Stakeholder Plan
3. Radio Isotope Tracer Public Perception Assessment
4. Environmental Risk Assessment Amendment Submission and Support Technical Documents for
onsite Disposal of RA Tracer Materials
5. QLD Radiation Health Submission Documents and Approvals
6. Tracer Risk Assessment
7. Completion and Disposal Documents
My first step was to develop a stakeholder map. I utilised this document to ensure I
communicated all relevant information to the appropriate people, whether they were directly or
indirectly involved in the process. In addition to this, I liaised with the Department of Environment
and Heritage Protection to ensure all legal ramifications were addressed. In this particular case, it
was legal to utilise the radioactive trace in the well to determine gas levels, however old
environmental law meant that none of that material could be left at the surface of the well.
I utilised effective liaison skills with the government department to ensure we were allowed to
dispose of any waste as per standard procedure, burying it according to regulation, and received a
written amendment on the environmental authority for the project to confirm that this had been
approved. In order to gain this approval, I liaised with a wide range of individuals at different levels
of the organisation as many were hesitant to sign the approval without support from the Chief
Executive Officer. My exceptional ability to explain highly technical concepts in language accessible
to my audience was integral to my success in this. At all points I approached with open
communication, and where possible took the opportunity to understand the person I was speaking
with and their background so I could pitch the content at an appropriate level to ensure
understanding. In this manner I was able to gain support throughout the organisation.
In this particular role the stakeholders varied greatly, including landholders, landholder groups,
councils, local citizens, state and federal regulatory groups, politicians and the media. I understood
the differing needs of each stakeholder, and was able to effectively adjust my communication to
be talking with landholders one day, and the Federal Minister for Agriculture the next, whilst
presenting a solutions focused program.
In addition to this, I worked with a diverse team, which included specialists in government
relations, media and communications, and drilling and completions. I gained support from my
team to ensure goals were met within strict timelines through open communication, explaining
clearly why we were doing what we were, and the consequences of not achieving the goal or
solution. In this particular case, failure to meet objectives would have resulted in writing off 25%
of the gas that was attainable in that project as we needed this process to confirm our
assumptions. As a result of my expert liaison and coordination skills, this project went ahead and
was completed without issue.
