Consultants/Advisors

Geoffrey Geary, Consulting Geologist

Geoff Geary is a Petroleum Geologist with 30 years of extensive experience in prospect generation, sedimentary basin analysis, sequence stratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, structural geology, seismic interpretation, basin modeling and oil and gas field evaluation and development. While with Mobil E&P Australia, he was part of the team that identified the giant Jansz gas discovery on the NW shelf of Australia. He has provided services to many companies, including majors, active in Australia and internationally. He has also worked for various government geoscience research organisations including Geoscience Australia, the New Zealand Institute for Geological and Nuclear Sciences and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (VDPI). Geoff co-authored two groundbreaking studies of the offshore Otway Basin, 1998 and 2001, for the VDPI that led to a significant revival of exploration interest in the basin and subsequently major gas discoveries at Geographe, Thylacine and Casino. He is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia.

John Moore, BSc(Hons) (Geophysics), Senior Geophysical Advisor

John Moore has extensive worldwide experience, with assignments in Exxon operations in Singapore and Malaysia and supervisory positions in Indonesia, USA, Alaska, Pacific and the North Sea. John has supervised the acquisition and processing of MEO’s 2006 seismic data in the NT/P68 area and particularly the imaging and processing of the Epenarra 3D data using “high end” 3D PSDM processing to image the exploration targets. He has also managed the acquisition and processing of 3D seismic data in WA-360-P in 2007 and 2009. John is intimately engaged in resolving complex depth conversion issues beneath the shelf slope break in MEO's NWS permits.

John Robert, B.Eng.(Chem.) B.Com. M.I.E.(Aust.), Project Development Advisor

John Robert is a Process Engineer and Industrial Economist with more than 35 years experience in a wide range of industries. John's career commenced with Exxon in the Australian petrochemicals industry where he held engineering, operations management and new plant startup roles. John then spent several years in Europe and the Middle East for the Australian Government in export promotion.

On returning to Australia, John moved into a Business Development Manager role and became a Technical/Economic Consultant for Davy John Brown (later Aker Kvaerner, Aker Solutions), involved in development studies for many resource-processing and industrial ventures. John's current role with MEO involves advising on the technical, economic and marketing aspects of the company's innovative offshore methanol and LNG projects.

Christopher Hart, FAICD, Founder

Chris Hart co-founded Timor Sea Petroleum NL (the precursor to MEO Australia) and remained Managing Director until July 2008. He elected to retire from executive duties at MEO during 2008 and stepped off the board at the end of September 2008. Chris was responsible for formulating and developing the strategies for the commercialisation of the Evans Shoal gasfield. This activity primarily related to the development of the offshore methanol production concepts, the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project, the Timor Sea LNG Project and the upstream gas production options. Chris has developed each aspect of the Company’s projects, including upstream interests, the engineering, marketing, design, commercial and economic feasibility reviews, joint venture matters and ongoing statutory compliance for the Tassie Shoal Methanol Project and the Timor Sea LNG project.

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 Advisor

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.

Peter Carson, Drilling Manager

Peter Carson is a drilling professional with over 38 years experience in the oil and gas industry, in the North Sea, Europe, North Africa, Brazil, Far East and Australia. Specifically, he has managed the Drilling, Testing, Completions, HSSE, Commercial and Logistics operations in Deepwater single string ventures. Peter's experience includes planning and managing the Drilling, Testing and Completions operations, exploration wells (normal and HTHP), development wells, re-drills, workovers and high angle and horizontal wells using platforms, jack-ups, semi submersibles, drill ships and land rigs. Peter also manages in-country Risk review, Project Plans, Execution Plans for SSV and well engineering processes to move any well from BofDD to spud, using a PEP risk management model.

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.