What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?  
 
Over the past year, our team has been closely involved in the legal issues associated with Santos’ $4+ billion Barossa development project. This includes supporting an appeal to the Full Federal Court in Tipakalippa v National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (No 2) [2022] FCA 1121. We have also been involved in the ongoing consultation on and submission of outstanding Environmental Permits and other regulatory approvals for the project. 
 
Furthermore, we have been managing a very significant procurement program, particularly with regard to the Barossa FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel) and hundreds of kilometres of pipeline; and a carbon capture and storage project that has the potential to store up to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide safely and permanently per annum.  
 
What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about, and why?  
 
Having dedicated my entire career to energy law, both in-house and in private practice, across multiple jurisdictions, I am deeply committed to finding sustainable solutions for the energy and resources industries. There has never been a more interesting time to be involved in energy and resources sector. However, I could have expressed the same sentiment five, ten, or even 20 years ago, albeit for different reasons. The rapid pace of development and change, coupled with the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge projects, is, in my admittedly biased view, unmatched in any other industry.  
 
Energy and resources companies, along with their lawyers, have traditionally focused on below-ground risk. This involved the acquisition, discovery, and development of resources such as coal, oil, gas, or copper. However, in recent years, our attention has turned above-ground. The priorities and approaches of regulators, governments, shareholders, companies, and activists are evolving. This evolution creates both risks and opportunities. As lawyers, we need to manage these risks, seize these opportunities, and help our organisations operate and prosper in this evolving world. We need all stakeholders to work together to move towards a NetZero future.