Management

BSc (Hons), PhD, MBA, GAICD

Julie is a development and change management leader with 22 years' experience working within Australia's resources sector, including senior coal, gas and chemicals project management roles with Peabody Energy, Anglo and BHP Billiton.

Previously, Julie was employed by Peabody Energy Australia as General Manager Strategic Planning and Projects, where she was closely involved in the development and expansion of Peabody's mining operations in Australia, including the $2 billion acquisition and integration of Excel Coal.

Significantly, Julie also managed and developed part of what now comprises the Meridian SeamGas CSG fields operated by WestSide, having acted as Manager Seamgas from 1999 to 2002 at the Moura Mine then operated under joint venture by Peabody Mitsui.

Julie sits on the Boards of ASX-listed coal miner Gloucester Coal and Queensland Government transmission company Powerlink and was appointed a Queensland Resource Industry Ambassador in 2009. She is also a member of the Queensland Exploration Council. Julie has previously held positions on the boards of Australian Coal Association Low Emissions Technology Ltd, Australian Coal Research Ltd, Queensland Resources Council Ltd and CRC Mining (CMTE Development Ltd).

Her qualifications include a BSc(Hons 1), PhD in physical chemistry, and an MBA.

BE Chem (Hons)

Simon is a chemical engineer with more than 29 years' experience in the oil and gas industry covering both upstream exploration and production, and downstream businesses, including refining and Liquefied Natural Gas.

Prior to joining WestSide, Simon was the Queensland Manager for oil, gas and alternative energy sector service provider AGR Asia Pacific and successfully expanded the business in this region for four years.

Previously, Simon worked in refining engineering and management for 16 years. He was also employed by Santos for 6 years where he gained experience in the exploration and production business.

CA, BBus (Accounting)

Damian is a Chartered Accountant with 17 years' experience in the financial management of companies in Australia and overseas.

Damian joined Westside from Queensland Gas Company Ltd where his most recent role was General Manager – Corporate Services & Financial Control and prior to that, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary.

He has also had previous reporting and commercial experience with Premier Oil Plc and Price Waterhouse.

BSc (Hons) Geology, MPESA, FAusIMM

Andrew has over 30 years' experience as a coal geologist in both the exploration and mining sectors in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Andrew has also spent some time as a consultant undertaking feasibility studies and due diligence on domestic and international projects.

Most recently, Andrew was Exploration Manager for Arrow Energy, initially managing the Bowen Basin program and latterly its NSW exploration activities. During this time, his responsibilities encompassed exploration planning, budget preparation and reconciliation, contractor and geological personnel management and QA/QC on field activities.

Peter has nearly 20 years' experience in the resources sector, spanning coal and metalliferous mining in Australia and abroad and worked in a number of roles within the CSG industry in the Bowen Basin.

Prior to joining WestSide in 2010 Peter was Vale's Australian Strategic Procurement Manager. He has also held several other senior Procurement and Logistics positions with Wesfarmers and BHP Billiton. 

He has a long association with CSG in the Bowen Basin, having started his career with the CSIRO on early exploration programs.

Peter subsequently joined Conoco which was then pioneering commercial CSG production at Moura in the mid -1990’s and later worked for BHP Billiton on its evaluation program around Blackwater and Moranbah. 

MBA, FAIDC

Garth has had a career spanning 25 years in the gas pipeline industry having held executive management positions in five Australian states and territories, including the General Manager of NT Gas and the State Manager Western Australia for AGL.

He has held directorships in several companies and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Garth's experience covers gas production, processing, transportation, transmission and delivery systems as well as gas-fired power generation and Liquefied Natural Gas production. Garth established an independent consultancy to the wider mining and energy industry before joining WestSide as the company's Commercial Manager.

BA (Journ), Dip Inv Rel (AIRA)

Richard is a communications professional with more than 30 years' experience in business journalism, marketing and sales while working as an investor relations consultant and in the newspaper publishing, manufacturing and retail sectors.

Before joining WestSide Corporation in 2010, Richard headed the Financial and Investor Relations team at leading Queensland marketing communications firm Three Plus for more than four years.

During that time Richard became an Associate of Three Plus and provided high level communications advice to many private and publicly-listed companies across a range of sectors, including financial services, ICT, resources and energy with a special focus on Coal Seam Gas.

Richard previously worked as a business journalist for 15 years with The Australian newspaper and subsequently as a Business Editor and Associate Editor of Brisbane's metropolitan daily newspaper, The Courier-Mail.