OUR TEAM
Our senior management team comprises highly experienced individuals with strong track records in exploration and development of large-scale gas projects for leading Australian and international oil and gas companies.
Our broader team is focused on making efficient, value-driven decisions across our entire value chain, from exploration to development to operation. We are supported by functional and technical expertise, as well as by proven service providers and suppliers.
Western Gas is committed to attracting and retaining the right people for a business of our scale and focus. All our people and contractors are committed to our high standards of health, safety and environmental management.
Andrew Leibovitch – Executive Director
Andrew is a Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years’ experience in corporate finance and project management of large-scale gas projects in Australia and internationally. Previous appointments include executive roles at Woodside Petroleum Ltd as General Manager of the Browse LNG project and General Manager of the Eastern Australia Gas Business Unit. He is a former director and co-founder of Sunbird Energy Ltd, a Southern African focused gas explorer and developer, and a former director of Transerv Energy. Andrew is currently Executive Director and co-founder of Goshawk Energy Pty Ltd, an onshore oil and gas explorer focused on development in the Canning Basin in Western Australia.
Will Barker – Executive Director
Will is a Geologist with more than 20 years’ experience in the exploration and development of large-scale gas projects in Australia and internationally. Will was previously General Manager LNG at Arrow Energy Ltd and responsible for development of the company’s lead coal seam gas to LNG export project in Queensland, Australia. He is a former director and co-founder of Sunbird Energy Ltd, a Southern African focused gas explorer and developer. He was Operations Manager of New Guinea Energy and Technical Director of Transerv Energy in the Perth Basin. Will is currently Executive Director and co-founder of Goshawk Energy Pty Ltd, an onshore oil and gas explorer focused on development in the Canning Basin in Western Australia.
The Hon. Michael Ahern – Non-Executive Director
The Hon. Michael Ahern AO is a former Queensland Premier and has held the Ministries of Primary Industries, Industry and Technology, and Health. Mike is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences and Engineering, a Member of the Board of Governors of the ATSE Clunies Ross Foundation and has been appointed Special Representative of the Queensland Government for Africa, The Middle East and India.
Richard Barker – Company Secretary & Business Manager
Richard is a barrister and solicitor with 15 years’ experience in Australian corporate and construction advice and litigation, working with leading Australian law firms in New South Wales and Western Australia. Richard is currently corporate and compliance advisor for a number Australian oil and gas companies and Company Secretary of listed entities on ASX and AIM.
Petrina Raitt – Manager Environment
Petrina Raitt is an environmental scientist with 20 years professional experience within government and the oil and gas industry in Western Australia. She has held lead environment roles in significant offshore and onshore resource projects and is experienced in navigating State and Commonwealth approval processes. As an Environment Manager of Xodus Group for the Asia Pacific region, Petrina leads a team of professionals providing high quality environmental support and value adding solutions to the oil and gas industry.
Diana Hedayat – Chief Financial Officer
Diana has a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics & Marketing and is a commercially focussed, senior finance and accounting professional with over 10 years’ experience in both the public and private sector. Prior to joining Western Gas, she had finance and analytical roles at The Small Business Lounge, Ernst & Young, St John of God Health Care and BlueScope.
Cameron Manifold – General Manager Operations
Cameron is a qualified engineer and an oil & gas industry professional with over 35 years of experience. He has worked in a wide range of regions and sectors, and has established and run successful consultancies and E&P companies. Cameron is currently the operations and HSE director for Spark Exploration, a private E&P company with interests West of Shetland in the North Sea. He was previously a non-executive director of Zeta Petroleum, well engineering manager of Buru Energy and Dampier Bunbury Pipeline (now AGIG) on the Tubridgi gas storage project.