Keith Spence

Woodside Energy Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Woodside Petroleum Ltd, has appointed former chief operating officer Keith Spence to the new position of director, enterprise capability.

WHEN Celebrate WA announced Western Australia's Citizen of Year awards for 2009 two weekends ago the presence of the University of Western Australia would not have escaped the attention of many.

THE landscape has changed for Western Australians who want to be on the boards of national companies, according to some of the state’s leading directors.

With industry connections that would be the envy of any university, the Australian Institute of Management Western Australia has become a large and commercially successful business.

The state government has set January 1 next year as the date for energy utilities Verve and Synergy to commence trading as one entity, after announcing that Michael Smith would be chair of a new board to oversee the merger.

South African engineering and construction group Murray & Roberts has made a $430 million offer to win full control of Perth-based Clough, in which it already holds more than 60 per cent of the stock.

The resources sector will struggle to find enough skilled workers to drive production on the LNG plants expected to come on-stream in the next few years.

FEATURE: The state’s premier oil and gas training institute has joined forces with Northern Territory-based Charles Darwin University in the search for a training provider to tackle a looming oil and gas skills shortage.

Energy Minister Mike Nahan has confirmed the resignation of Michael Smith from the board of electricity retailer Synergy, a departure which coincided with the exit of three other board members.

Departing Synergy board member Keith Spence has told Business News the merger of Synergy and Verve had already delivered $70 million in savings.

The head of the Economic Regulation Authority Lyndon Rowe has been appointed full-time chairman of Synergy.

Synergy chairman Lyndon Rowe is confident Synergy’s new board, which was boosted today with the addition of three members, will operate harmoniously.

Board changes

A nearly $50 million national research facility opened in Perth yesterday is set to further define Western Australia’s place in the world as a resources hub, but has its work cut out for it convincing the public of its benefits according to industry leaders.

Big energy companies are fairly well prepared for the next wave of LNG projects coming into production, according to industry executive Keith Spence, but they need to stay focused on training to ensure a good supply of skilled workers is on tap.

Energy giant Woodside Petroleum is considering growth opportunities in Papua New Guinea, announcing today it was evaluating a takeover offer for Oil Search through an all-scrip deal valued at more than $11 billion.

Two petroleum industry executives with a strong Perth connection have struck a deal that will see Oil Search boost liquefied natural gas development in Papua New Guinea, after negotiating a $US2.2 billion ($A3 billion) deal to buy InterOil.

Former Woodside Petroleum executive Keith Spence has resigned as a director of Oil Search to join rival oil and gas producer Santos as chairman.

Our board moves wrap includes Michael Stirzaker, Keith Spence, Colin Bwye, Brian Thomas, Jessica O'Neil, Paul Evans, and Sara Kelly.