Australian Government’s exploration initiatives

Mr Keld Knudsen is the Director for Northern Territory, Exploration and Onshore Environment at the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA). Keld has experience in a wide range of policy development, government relations and communications, and an in-depth understanding of the oil and gas sector. He is passionate about promoting and representing the Australian oil and gas industry and is particularly focused on ensuring effective communication to support the goals of the industry. Prior to his appointment to APPEA in 2011, Keld worked for the Commonwealth Government in the Offshore Resources Branch at the Department of Industry where he worked in Titles administration and policy development. Keld also has significant experience in business before joining the Government. Keld holds a Bachelor of Business Economics from the University of Queensland.

Ms Lisa Schofield is the General Manager of the Offshore Resources Branch in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, and has over 15 years’ experience working in the Australian public policy and higher education sectors. In this role, Lisa is also leading the implementation of the Maritime Boundaries Treaty with Timor-Leste. Previously, Lisa led the taskforce to develop the new quality assurance and regulatory framework for Australian higher education, including the successful establishment of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and the development of the Higher Education Standards Framework. Lisa was also the Higher Education Advisor to the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations during the 2010 Australian federal election. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts – Communications, from Charles Sturt University. She has been a local City Councillor and is currently a member of the Charles Sturt University Council.

Tony Knight is an experienced resource industry professional. He has been the Queensland Chief Government Geologist since 2016, where his primary role is to direct the Geological Survey of Queensland. Prior to joining government his career has ranged across key energy and industrial commodity groups and various operational and management roles. He was formerly Vice President Exploration for Arrow Energy, and previously worked for BHP, Shell, Anglo American and CH4 Pty Ltd. Tony is currently Chair of the Australian East Coast Leadership team for the Professional Petroleum Data Management not-for-profit organisation.

Kristina Erzikov is the Director of Resources Policy in the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Division of Resources and Geoscience. Prior to her appointment to the role in 2018, Kristina worked for the NSW government in strategic policy development roles across several portfolios, including planning (specifically its application to mineral, petroleum and other extractive development and industry and infrastructure development), health, social housing and justice. She holds a combined Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Sydney.

Ross McGowan is the Executive Director, Earth Resources Economic Development at Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. Ross has a broad executive background spanning many years – most recently in the Victorian Government as a Regulator in the Resources Sector and currently responsible for Economic Development in Earth Resources in the newly formed Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. Ross was head of Fisheries Victoria in the former department of Primary Industries and Executive Director of the Victorian Commercial Fishing Industry.

Barry Goldstein is the Executive Director Energy Resources, State Government of South Australia. Barry aims to sustain trust with the public and investors in the energy sector. Barry was Exploration Manager – Santos, Chief Geologist – Bridge Oil, and Chief Geologist – KUFPEC after starting with Phillips Petroleum. He is the chair for CoAG’s Upstream Petroleum Resource Working Group and was awarded an Order of Australia Public Service Medal, APPEA’s Gold Medal – the Lewis G. Weeks Award, PESA’s Distinguished Member Award and the AAPG’s Distinguished Service Award, He represented Australia in the International Energy Agency’s geothermal energy forum (2005–2015) and served on the USA-based Geothermal Resource Council Board (2010–2013). He graduated from the University of New York (Bachelors – Geology) and the University of Missouri (Masters – Geology).

Ian Scrimgeour has a PhD in geology from the University of Adelaide, and has over 25 years of experience working in the Territory, both in industry and Government. He has been Executive Director of the NT Geological Survey since December 2006. In this role, Ian has had responsibility for the delivery of the Territory Government’s initiatives to grow the mineral and petroleum exploration industry, including the current Resourcing the Territory initiative.

Jeff Haworth has worked in both the mineral and petroleum industries for over 40 years. He joined the Department of Mines and Petroleum in 1991 as the Petroleum Data Manager. In 2006 he worked as the Manager – Petroleum Geology for the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) managing the research and basin studies into petroleum systems in Western Australia. In 2011 he moved into the Director Petroleum Operations role overseeing operational compliance and then in 2013 became the Executive Director, Petroleum and oversaw the regulatory management of Western Australia’s upstream petroleum industry. In 2018, he became Executive Director, Geological Survey and Resource Strategy leading the Geological Survey of Western Australia and developing strategies for government for the resource sector. Jeff has a Degree in Mining Geology from the WA School of Mines in Kalgoorlie.