Ann Pickard is the Executive Vice President of Upstream Australia in the Shell Upstream International organisation. Based in Perth since March 2010, she oversees the exploration, production and gas commercialisation part of Shell’s Australian business. Described by Fortune Magazine as the bravest woman in oil and one of the 50 most powerful women in business, Ann was Shell’s Regional Executive Vice President for Sub Sahara Africa, based in Lagos Nigeria, for the past five years. In that role she oversaw the company’s exploration and production, gas and LNG activities in the region. Before that, Ann was Director, Global Businesses and Strategy and a member of the Shell Gas and Power Executive Committee with responsibility for global LNG, power, and gas and power strategy. Ann came to Shell in 2000, leaving Mobil upon the merger with Exxon. She has significant business experience throughout South America, the countries of the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and Africa. Ann is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, San Diego. She is married and has two children.

Antonio Baldassarre has more than 18 years experience in the industry and during his career has covered a number of engineering and management posts in several countries in the world such as the UK, West Africa, North Africa, Italy and Kazakhstan. His latest two posts were KARA Asset Technical Manager within the Eni E&P Division (Italy) and—prior to his move to Perth, to take up the role of Managing Director, Eni Australia—he was Operations Director and Deputy Venture Director of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) in Kazakhstan. Mr Baldassarre holds a Masters degree in engineering from Imperial College of London and a BSc in geochemistry from University of Siena (Italy).

Belinda Robinson is a leading voice in public policy particularly around issues related to energy and resources. In addition to her position as Chief Executive of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association, Belinda also sits on a number of advisory committees including the Government’s Reference Group responsible for developing a national energy security policy, and the Industry Reference Panel to the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce. Belinda also Chairs the CSIRO’s Wealth From Oceans Flagship Advisory Committee, is a member of CSIRO’s Energy and Transport Sector Advisory Council, non-executive director of the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network and a member of the Energy Alliance Advisory Council.

As Chief Executive of APPEA, Belinda is a determined and enthusiastic advocate of the role that Australia’s vast reserves of natural gas, including in its export form as Liquefied Natural Gas, should be playing in stimulating Australia’s economic growth by moving to a cleaner energy future.

Belinda came to APPEA from A3P, the Australian Plantation Products & Paper Industry Council, where she was the Chief Executive Officer for almost five years. She also spent nine years with the Federal Government including six in senior and executive positions within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet where she was responsible for the oversight of a range of resource, primary industries and environment policy issues. Belinda has also worked in a variety of resource planning roles in State and local governments.

She holds three degrees including a Master of Environmental Law from the Australian National University.

Bruce Steenson, Shell’s Vice President for Technical and Prelude, heads up the Prelude Floating LNG team, which is working on developing Shell’s Prelude and Concerto gas fields in the Browse Basin off the coast of Western Australia. Based in Perth, Bruce has previously worked for Shell in the UK, Argentina, Netherlands and Oman, covering a variety of technical and non-technical roles. A New Zealand national, Bruce is married and has three sons.

Catherine Tanna, who reports to the chief executive, joined BG Group in 2009 after a long career with Shell and BHP Billiton. At Shell, she was executive vice president of Shell Gas and Power with responsibility for Shell’s LNG, gas transmission and power generation interests across Africa. She also held similar roles in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Russia. In the 1990s, she worked for BHP Petroleum in Australia, based in Melbourne. She was born in Gladstone, Queensland, and is a lawyer.

Charles Allen was born and educated in the UK. He served for two years (1955–6) in the Royal Engineers in Malaya during the Emergency there. He joined Shell on graduation and his professional career commenced as an exploration geophysicist in various parts of the world and later in production and general management. He was posted to Australia in 1979 as Executive Director of Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Chairman of the North West Shelf Project. He became Managing Director of Woodside in 1982 and retired in 1996 when the initial project was complete. He was appointed AO in 1990 and received the Centenary Medal in 2003. He received the APPEA Reg Sprigg Gold Medal in 1996 and the Lewis G Weeks Gold Medal in 2002. He was chairman of CSIRO (1996–2001), National Australia Bank (Dir. 1992–2004, Chrmn. 2001–2004), Air Liquide Australia Ltd (Dir. 1998–2008, Chrmn. 2005–2008), Australian Mines and Metals Association (President 1989–92), The Cambridge Australia Trust (1996–2002) and The Florey Neuroscience Institutes (Chrmn. 2007–present) and he was a director of Metals Manufacturers (1990–2), Earthwatch Institute (1995–2005), Amcor Ltd. (1996–2005), and AGL (1996–2008). Charles Allen was married first to Angela (nee Evatt, dec. 2001) by whom he had two sons and a daughter. He married secondly Jocelyn Searby (nee Paynter) in 2002.

Datuk (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hashim, the President of the Malaysian Gas Association, began his career in PETRONAS soon after graduating from the University of Birmingham, UK in electrical and electronics engineering in 1976. Throughout his 32 years of involvement in the oil and gas industry, he has held a number of high profile positions of increasing responsibility, which include: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Oil Refinery (Melaka) Sdn Bhd and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Refining Company Sdn Bhd (MRC). In his career path in higher management in PETRONAS, Datuk Rahim moved on to become the Vice President of the Human Resource Management Division, then became the Vice-President for Gas Business, and then became the Vice President of the Research and Technology Division of PETRONAS, a post he held until end of 2008. While serving in PETRONAS, he also held several key positions in a variety of gas industry organisations, both in Malaysia and at an international level including helming the presidency of the Asia Pacific Natural Gas Vehicle Association (ANGVA). On the 9 October he was appointed as the President of the International Gas Union (IGU) for the triennium 2009–2012. The IGU is a global, non-commercial and non-governmental organisation aimed at promoting the technical and economic progress of the gas industry. Established in 1931, it presently has more than 100 charter and associate members. Datuk Abdul Rahim Hashim, a professional engineer, is on the Board of Engineers (BOE), Malaysia and he is also the Chairman of the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) Malaysia. He is also an Associate Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. In 1997, he completed the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) at Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.

David Eyton is BP’s Group Head of Research and Technology (R&T), accountable for technology strategy and its implementation across BP. In this role, David oversees the technological capability of the company and also sits on the UK Energy Technologies Institute and Science/Business Innovation Boards. David joined BP in 1982 after graduating from Cambridge University with an engineering degree. During his early career, he held a number of petroleum engineering, commercial and business management positions. In 1996 he was named General Manager of BP’s North West Shelf interest in Australia. David later managed Wytch Farm in the UK and then BP’s Gas Businesses in Trinidad. In September 2001 he became Lord John Browne’s Executive Assistant in the company’s London headquarters. Following that assignment, David was Vice President of Deepwater Developments in the Gulf of Mexico and, prior to his current role, was BP’s Exploration and Production Group Vice President for Technology.

David Knox was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Santos in July 2008. He has 25 years of experience in the global oil and gas industry, including as Managing Director for BP Developments in Australasia from 2003–2007. David Knox joined Santos in September 2007 as Executive Vice President, Growth Businesses, responsible for growth in Santos’ emerging new businesses including LNG, Geoscience and New Ventures, Indonesia and other strategic projects. Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, David holds a first class honours degree in mechanical engineering from Edinburgh University, and a Masters of business administration from the University of Strathclyde. David Knox has previously held senior positions with BP in Australia, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. He has worked for ARCO and Shell in the United States, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Norway.

David M. Kudlak assumed his current position as the Gippsland Projects Manager for Esso Australia in June 2008. In this capacity, he leads the Projects Division for Esso Australia, serves as the Project Executive for the $3B Kipper Tuna Turrum projects currently underway in Bass Strait, and is a member of the Production Unit Leadership Team for Esso Australia. He began his career with ExxonMobil in 1992 as a project engineer at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana refinery after spending six years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. During his 18 years with Exxon and ExxonMobil, he has held significant line management positions as well as project management assignments in Australia, Argentina, Canada, and the United States. He has been involved in supporting the Women in Energy Networks in both the US and Australia. David received his BS degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in 1986 and currently holds a position on the Alumni Engineering Council.

David Maxwell has had a long marketing, commercial and business development career in senior executive roles with companies such as CSR, Barrack Energy, Santos and Woodside. He led BG Group’s involvement in the alliance with Queensland Gas Company Ltd and its subsequent takeover by BG Group. In his role with QGC, David is responsible for all strategy, portfolio development, business development and commercial matters across the Australian business and is on the senior executive management team. Before joining BG, David was director of gas and marketing with Woodside in Perth. He was on Woodside’s executive committee with specific responsibility for LNG, gas and liquids marketing, development of Woodside’s gas projects and interest in the North West Shelf Gas and LNG Project. He was awarded the Australian Gas Association Silver Flame Award for his contribution to the gas industry in 2001. David is a native of New Zealand, married to Anne and has two children. He is based in Brisbane. He has a Masters in technology from New Zealand’s Massey University.

In her current role as the Upstream Project Manager for the PNG LNG Project, Decie Autin is responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the upstream portions of the PNG LNG project including the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant and 700 km of pipeline to the LNG plant site. Decie has been with ExxonMobil for over 28 years. She began her career in New Orleans in the offshore facilities surveillance team and moved within the organisation as facilities and mechanical engineering management, natural gas and gas liquids marketing, continuous improvement advisor and operations superintendent. After 15 years in New Orleans, Decie moved to Houston into the Natural Gas planning organisation. Decie has been the Hoover-Diana technical manager and startup manager, the Thunder Horse OBO interface manager and the Erha SURF project manager. Her most recent assignment prior to joining PNG LNG involved providing support for projects with significant sub-sea and pipeline engineering components.

Eric Streitberg is the Chairman of Buru Energy Limited and a non-executive director of Adelphi Energy. He is a professional geologist and geophysicist with over 35 years experience in exploration and production company management and has been responsible for the establishment and successful growth of a number of Australian listed oil and gas companies. He is a Fellow of the AusIMM and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the SEG, PESA and the AAPG, a Certified Petroleum Geologist of the AAPG, a current member and Chairman of the APPEA Board, holder of the APPEA Reg Sprigg medal and is Chairman of the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority of Western Australia.

Geoff Strong is the General Manager Wheatstone Development with overall accountability for the Chevron-operated Wheatstone LNG and domestic gas project. Geoff joined Chevron in 1981 in California, USA as a design engineer for various downstream, mid stream and upstream projects. Geoff subsequently held positions in supply, trading, marketing, strategic planning and upstream asset management. He has worked and lived in Kazakhstan and Indonesia on Chevron’s Tengiz and Duri Steam Flood projects. Prior to his current assignment, Geoff was General Manager for Venture Gas with responsibility for Chevron Australia’s exploration activities and non-operated interests in North West Shelf, Malampaya, and Browse gas projects. Geoff has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering with Honours from the University of Illinois, USA. He was also a registered professional mechanical engineer in California, USA.

Grant King was appointed Managing Director of Origin Energy Limited in January 2000 following the demerger of the energy and building/construction businesses of Boral Limited, where he had been Managing Director of the Energy Group since 1994. Grant has extensive experience in the Australian oil and gas industry. He was formerly General Manager of AGL Gas Companies where he held a number of management positions over a 17-year period. Grant has a degree in civil engineering from the University of New South Wales and a Masters of management from the University of Wollongong. He is Chairman of Contact Energy (since October 2004), a Councillor of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Limited (APPEA), a former Director of Envestra Limited, and former Chairman of Energy Supply Association of Australia (esaa).

J. T. (Todd) Creeger is project director for Australia Pacific LNG, a joint venture between Origin Energy and ConocoPhillips. Creeger began his career with ConocoPhillips in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1986. He held a number of engineering positions supporting onshore and offshore operations in the southern USA and Gulf Of Mexico. In 1996, he transferred to Russia to join the Polar Lights JV working as the engineering and operations manager. In 2000, he was appointed extraction manager for Conoco’s Norwegian business unit and relocated to Stavanger, Norway. With the merger of ConocoPhillips in 2002, he became exploitation manager, Caspian business unit and established the Caspian exploitation group based in Stavanger, Norway. In 2003, Creeger moved to ConocoPhillips’ corporate headquarters supporting the office of the Executive Vice President of Exploration and Production as director, project authorisation and performance. In 2005, he relocated to Lagos, Nigeria as president, West Africa, and managing director, Nigeria. In 2007, he reolcated to Farmington, New Mexico as General Manager, San Juan business unit, responsible for the operation of ConocoPhillips’ assets in the San Juan basin. He relocated to Brisbane in January, 2009 to assume his current role. Creeger graduated from high school in Findlay, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station in 1986. He is a registered engineer in the state of Texas. Creeger has been active in supporting philanthropic and community service efforts in the locations he has worked around the globe. Member: SPE.

John Smith was appointed CEO of Clough on 1 August 2007. John is a chartered mechanical engineer with a degree from Glasgow University and has almost 30 years of international oil and gas experience from bases in Norway, the United Kingdom and Australia. He worked for 20 years for various Brown and Root companies in upstream oil and gas engineering and construction and ran their businesses in Norway and then Australia. Following the Halliburton Dresser merger in 1998 John took operational responsibility for Halliburton Subsea and managed the strategic process, which led to the formation of Subsea 7. John was CEO of that business for the first two years and served on the board until June 2007. He served on the boards of five other listed companies, has run his own business, and is a past President of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA).

Michael Hession is the Senior Vice President of the Browse LNG Development Project with Woodside Energy Ltd. Previous to Woodside Michael worked for British Petroleum on a number of international E and P assignments. Dr Hession has a PhD in Geophysics from the University of Wales. He is also a graduate of the London School of Economics and the HEC School of Management Paris.

Rajnish Goswami is responsible for business development relating to the gas and power sector for Asia and the Middle East. Rajnish has been with Wood Mackenzie for 13 years and prior to joining Wood Mackenzie’s Singapore operations, Rajnish worked in the company’s London and Edinburgh offices. Rajnish has led a number of assignments for International Oil Companies (IOCs) and National Oil Companies (NOCs) relating to strategy development and gas sector development. Across Asia, Rajnish has led energy market analysis in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, India and Bangladesh. In the Middle East, Rajnish has led a number of advisory assignments relating to gas and power markets in UAE, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Egypt, Bahrain and Kuwait. Rajnish holds a MBA with distinction from the University of Edinburgh and has 18 years experience in the energy consulting business.

Reg is an exploration geophysicist with experience spanning four decades in most aspects of the petroleum and minerals industries. He was awarded honorary Life Membership of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in 1989 and the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal in 2002 for services to mining. He is Managing Director of Beach Petroleum Limited, which he joined as an executive director in 1992, becoming its Chief Executive Officer in 1995. He was a Councillor (later a director) of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association from 2002–2009 and was Chairman from 2004–2006. He has been a co-founder in numerous other public companies involved in the minerals industries, notably Ramelius Resources Limited (gold and nickel), Monax Mining Limited (base and precious metals, manganese and iron), Marmota Energy Limited (uranium), South East Energy Limited (lithium and uranium) and GTL Energy Limited (coal beneficiation technology). He remains as a non-executive director on many of these companies.

Roy Krzywosinski is the managing director of Chevron Australia and head of the Australasia Strategic Business Unit, located in Perth, Western Australia. The Australasia Strategic Business Unit is responsible for Chevron’s upstream interests and activities in Australia. This includes the oil production operation on Barrow and Thevenard Island, interests in the North West Shelf Venture, and the development of the Greater Gorgon and Wheatstone gas fields in Australia. Prior to Roy’s appointment in January 2008, he held the position of president and general manager, Chevron Project Resources Company, in Houston, Texas. Roy was responsible for Chevron’s project development, providing oversight for the execution of the corporation’s worldwide major capital project portfolio. Roy joined Chevron Corporation in 1981 as a design and construction engineer. He has held numerous positions in various capacities around the world. A native of Bay City, Michigan, Roy graduated in 1981 from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He received an MBA from the University of Colorado in 1988.

Stephen Robertson is Queensland’s Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Minister for Trade and the State Member for Stretton. Mr Robertson was first elected to the Queensland Parliament in September 1992 as the Member for the Brisbane electorate of Sunnybank (now Stretton). He served as Secretary of the Parliamentary Labor Party from August 1995 to June 1998. In June 1998, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier and chaired the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council, as well as being a member of the Queensland Innovation Council and the Deputy Premier’s Representative on the Queensland Food Industry Council. He was first appointed to the Beattie Ministry on 16 December 1999, as Minister for Emergency Services. He was sworn in as Minister for Natural Resources and Minister for Mines on 22 February 2001, as Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy on 12 February 2004 and as Minister for Health on 28 July 2005. He was sworn in as Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade on 26 March 2009. Mr Robertson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on 14 February 1962. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Griffith University, graduating with Honours from the School of Modern Asian Studies. Prior to his election to Queensland Parliament, Mr Robertson was State Secretary and National President of the United Firefighters Union of Australia. Mr Robertson’s electorate has a significant business migrant community from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Korea. He has a strong interest in the Asia-Pacific and has visited the region on a number of occasions as a participant on trade missions, Parliamentary Committee delegations and to attend conferences on political, economic and social developments in the region. He has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1978.

Tony Abbott was elected Leader of the Federal Liberal Party on Tuesday 1 December 2009. Prior to this appointment Tony held the position of Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. At a by-election in March 1994, Tony was elected as the Member for Warringah. On the election of the Howard Government in 1996 Tony was appointment Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs—in this role, he was responsible for the establishment of the successful Greencorps program for young people. Following the 1998 election he was appointed to the new portfolio of Minister for Employment Services. As Minister he oversaw the development of the Job Network and a major expansion of Work for the Dole. In January 2001 Tony was promoted to Cabinet as Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. Following the 2001 election he was appointed Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Leader of the House, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and appointed Minister for Health and Ageing on 7 October 2003. Tony attended St. Ignatius Riverview, graduated from Sydney University in Economics/Law, is a Rhodes Scholar and completed a MA, Politics and Philosophy at Oxford University. Prior to entering Parliament Tony was a journalist. He was a feature writer for The Bulletin and The Australian. He was press secretary and political adviser to the Leader of the Opposition, Dr John Hewson and he was Executive Director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy from 1993–4. Tony is married to Margaret. They have three daughters.