MEO Australia
energy for the future
David Maughan, B.Sc. (Hons) (Geology/Geophysics), Exploration Strategy Adviser
David Maughan is an Exploration Geophysicist with world-wide experience in exploration, development and production. He worked for and consulted to ExxonMobil for 35 years, with over 20 years expatriate service in North and South America, Asia and Europe. He spent 25½ years in management in a variety of line, operational, staff and technical functions. From 2008 until May 2013, he was Exploration Manager for MEO Australia, responsible for building and managing the G&G team and all aspects thereof in relation to existing projects and potential new ventures . Dave is now engaged as Exploration Strategy Adviser to provide high level strategic advice to the board and executive management.
John S Robert, B.Eng.(Chem.) B.Com. M.I.E.(Aust.), Project Development Adviser
Mr. Robert is a Process Engineer and Industrial Economist with more than 40 years’ experience in a wide range of industries, particularly in gas-to-liquids projects. He initially worked for Exxon in the Australian petrochemicals industry where he held engineering, new plant construction, start-up and operations management roles.
Mr. Robert then took on a commercial role for some years in Europe and the Middle East for the Australian Government as a Trade Commissioner in export promotion. On returning to Australia he became a business development manager and technical/ economic consultant with the international engineering contractor Davy John Brown (later Aker Kvaerner).
In this role he was involved in many feasibility, planning and development studies focused on value-added processing for ventures including oil & gas, power generation, chemicals, fertilizers and minerals. He managed a comparison of infrastructure costs at nine remote Australian sites for a major new methanol production facility and led a high-level expert team for technical review of a methanol process plant for a possible change of ownership. Clients included local and multinational energy and chemicals companies and government agencies.
Mr. Robert was a key initiator in 1999 of the development of innovative offshore methanol and later LNG projects in the Timor Sea, and became Development Engineering Manager for MEO Australia Limited from 2001. His role covered the technical, economic, market analysis and environmental approval aspects of these projects. As a consultant in 2005-6, Mr Robert also managed substantial studies on technical and market aspects of a major GTL diesel project. He continues with MEO as Project Development Advisor.
Mr Robert has degrees in Chemical Engineering and Commerce from the University of Melbourne, and is a Member of Engineers Australia.
Alexander Weilsmann (JP MA MPP), Government Relations Adviser
Alexander Weilsmann has extensive experience in government relations. Working for the NSW Government for over 15 years, he was involved in; policy analysis and development; project management; government and international relations; diplomatic and ceremonial protocol, and stakeholder consultation. In 2005, Alexander was appointed by the NSW Government as the Principal Adviser to the Consul General of The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in Sydney. He identified and established opportunities for the NSW Government and corporate sector to participate in nation building, including economic development and strengthening the institutions of state in Timor-Leste.
Alexander left the NSW Government in 2007 and has continued advising on government and international relations and policy development to the corporate and government sectors. Alexander provides advice to MEO Australia on government and international relations.
Colin Fulton, Media & Public Affairs Adviser
Colin Fulton mediates MEO's corporate strategy, including crisis and issues management work and government relations. This is backed by considerable experience in the areas of public information and education campaigns for both government and private industry. Colin previously held the position of General Manager for the Victorian operation of a major international communications consultancy, and also as a former senior political journalist with the ABC, commercial radio and television. Colin's political experience includes five years as Principal Press Secretary and Personal Assistant to the then Deputy Premier (later Premier) of Victoria The Hon. Lindsay Thompson.
Andrew Hodgson, BSc(Hons), Operations Geologist
Andrew Hodgson has over 20 years experience in the oil and gas exploration industry. He has worked for many O&G companies including, Shell Australia, BHPB and more recently as senior Operations Geologist for Esso Australia, Nexus Energy and Todd Energy in New Zealand. Andrew brings to MEO a broad base knowledge of drilling operations, wellsite geology and operations geology from both onshore and offshore projects, in many areas of the world. At MEO Australia, Andrew is largely responsible for planning and coordinating formation evaluation requirements and associated third parties for MEO’s ongoing drilling campaigns.