John Towner is renowned for taking oil and gas industry assets from start to public listing as exemplified by companies such as Sydney Gas (director 1999-2000), Sunshine Gas (2002-2003) and New Guinea Energy (2005-2008), all of which he founded and are successfully listed on the ASX. Through his private company, he acquired all the oil and gas assets of Amoco Australia and founded Sydney Gas, the first company to produce and retail gas in New South Wales from coal seams. Mr Towner was also instrumental in the restructure of Anzon Investments to Anzon Energy, a company that has successfully carried out oil exploration and production in South-East Asia. In 2005, he formed New Guinea Energy which focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Papua New Guinea. New Guinea Energy listed on the ASX in December 2007.