EnergyQuest is an advisory firm specializing in energy analysis and strategy for the oil, gas and power industries. Its work includes traditional energy sources, emerging energy sources such as coal seam gas, shale and renewable energy such as biofuels. It provides market monitoring through its Energy Quarterly reports, strategic analysis and business development. It works with major energy companies, governments and investors.

Graeme Bethune B Ec (Hons), PhD, FCPA. FAICD

Chief Executive Officer

Graeme Bethune is CEO of EnergyQuest, which provides advisory services to energy companies, investors and governments.

In a short period EnergyQuest has established itself as a leader in Australian energy analysis and strategy.

Graeme has a 30 year career in senior finance roles in both private and public sectors.

Prior to establishing EnergyQuest in 2005, Graeme held a range of senior positions with the Australian energy group, Santos, responsible for finance, business development and investor relations. Over a ten year period he was responsible for over $2 billion of transactions (including capital raisings, a share buy-back, acquisitions and divestments), for Australian and international investor relations and for media.

He has also served on a number of government, commercial and charity boards and government reviews.

Graeme has a first-class honours degree in economics from Monash University and a PhD from the Australian National University. He has undertaken the executive program at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants and is a member of the US Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Australian Institute of Energy, of which he is chair of the South Australian branch.

Susan Bethune BA (Hons), MEc

Executive Manager

Susan Bethune is a partner in EnergyQuest, responsible for market analysis. Susan has 35 years experience in economic and financial analysis with the Australian government (Australian Bureau of Statistics and Productivity Commission), the corporate and finance sectors and the tertiary education sector (University of Adelaide and University of South Australia).

Graeme Atwell

Senior Associate

Graeme has had in excess of 40 years of experience in the energy industry in Australia in a wide range of roles and responsibilities covering the total energy supply chain.

For over 30 years, Graeme operated in a diverse range of roles in the electricity generation industry in South Australia within the Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA). This included power station design, operation and maintenance, coal mining at the Leigh Creek Coal field for 8 years, and purchasing and trading of gas for electricity generation. For several years Graeme represented ETSA on the national generation committee of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia.

On behalf of ETSA, in 1994 and 1995, Graeme was responsible for negotiations for, and establishment of, gas purchase contracts from the Cooper Basin and gas transportation contracts in the Moomba to Adelaide pipeline (MAP) as a result of the South Australian Government’s decision to discontinue its gas marketing role (previously conducted by PASA) and to sell the MAP assets.

During the late 1990’s, Graeme played a key role in establishing the gas trading entity, Terra Gas Trader, and negotiating gas supply contracts with the various electricity generation businesses established by the SA Government due to the separation and privatisation of the ETSA assets. During this time Graeme was also a member of the Major Energy Users Group national committee.

Between 2001 and 2007, Graeme was employed by Santos in key commercial roles.

This included marketing and commercialisation of gas from the Cooper Basin assets on behalf of the South Australian and South West Queensland Producer Joint Ventures. Major projects in this role were the sale of in excess of 500PJ of gas (over $2 billion) to AGL in 2002, major ethane sales to Qenos in Sydney, and negotiation and establishment of Australia’s first major gas swap agreement which enabled Queensland CSM to be contractually supplied to Sydney markets.

Within Santos, Graeme was also responsible for commercialisation of Santos’ Timor Sea assets and played a key role in the project to bring PNG gas to Australia.

In support of Graeme’s commercial and contractual responsibilities he also completed a Professional Certificate in Arbitration and Mediation.

Graeme is a member of the Australian Institute of Energy, and the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators.

Mike Cochran

Senior Associate

Mike Cochran has been working with EnergyQuest since 2005 and specialises in conventional and alternative liquid fuels.

Previously Mike held senior commercial and marketing positions with some of the world’s largest resource and petroleum organisations, Santos Ltd, Rio Tinto and, BHP.

During 22 years with Santos, Mike was responsible for marketing Santos’ petroleum liquids, crude oil, LPG, condensate and naphtha, in international markets. He was also responsible for business improvement initiatives such as splitting condensate/naphtha for the Asian petrochemical and Hong Kong town gas markets and, inland production of diesel fuel.

Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Sydney University and post graduate Diploma of Oil Supply and Refining (University of Oxford). Over the past eight years, Mike has presented at national and international forums on condensate, naphtha, LPG and biofuels. Ecco Consulting

Technical Associates

EnergyQuest works with an extensive range of associates to provide high calibre technical expertise in multi-disciplinary teams.