How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

In the resources and energy industry, there is a strong focus on crisis readiness.  While crises cannot be predicted, a company’s reaction to them can be planned and practiced to best prepare for a wide range of potential scenarios.  The legal department participates with other business representatives in upfront risk assessments to identify potential risks and evaluate their likelihood and impacts, develops mitigation strategies for legal risks, and generally instils a culture of compliance and risk awareness across the company.  The legal department plays a key role in identifying emerging risks and bringing the external environment into the company context.

In your opinion, what are the main trends affecting your work now?

The work the legal department does in support of our business is diverse and dynamic.  Optimal support for a growing business means balancing legal department portfolios to address business priorities and align with business goals.  The geographic footprint of our business requires a continuous focus on geopolitics.  Data privacy and cybersecurity considerations are ever present.  Technology and AI are changing the way legal advice is created and delivered.

What strategic priorities are guiding your legal team into 2025?

The strategic plan for the international legal team at Woodside includes a focus on (i) people and culture (diversity, training, succession), (ii) the support we provide (both ‘what’ and ‘how’), (iii) value and cost, and (iv) emerging risks (identification, monitoring, management).