EnergyQuest is an Australian-based energy advisory firm, which specializes in market analysis and strategy for energy companies and buyers, investors and governments. It is also a source of informed comment on energy trends affecting Australia and the region.
- Experienced: more than 200 years combined experience, encompassing economic analysis, commercial strategy, geoscience and engineering.
- International perspective: focused on global and regional energy trends, particularly through Graeme Bethune’s roles as a former member of the Executive Committee of the International Gas Union and the Regional Coordinator for North Asia and Australasia. Graeme is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
- Committed: to independent and rigorous analysis. EnergyQuest provides highest quality analysis and honest advice.
Our Team
Graeme Bethune
Chairman
Rick Wilkinson
Chief Executive OfficerRick Wilkinson has more than 36 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He has held senior positions in the areas of commercial negotiation, LNG contracting, gas wholesaling and retailing, as well as technical field engineering. He joined EnergyQuest in 2016.
Rick held various roles with Santos over 14 years, including President GLNG and Queensland where he oversaw the initiation, and definition for final investment of the A$16+ Billion CSG to LNG project, and Vice-President Commercial of Santos.
He has been an Associate with management consultants, McKinsey & Co., and held managerial and engineering positions with Schlumberger in Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan and the USA.
Rick is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland – Centre for Natural Gas, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD)
Susan Bethune
Head of ResearchSusan Bethune is EnergyQuest Head of Research, overseeing data analysis and quality assurance. She was previously Head of Data and Finance.
She is a specialist in economic, financial and statistical analysis. She has created EnergyQuests comprehensive data bases of most aspects of Australian energy and has undertaken numerous projects for clients wanting customised data series.
Susan has a BA (Hons.) (Macquarie University) and an M.Ec. (ANU). She has over 40 years’ experience in economic and financial analysis with the Australian Government (Australian Bureau of Statistics and Productivity Commission), the corporate and finance sectors, the tertiary education sector (University of Adelaide and University of South Australia) and EnergyQuest.
Marie-louise Lees
Senior AssociateMarie-louise is a petroleum engineer with over 30 years domestic experience. Marie-louise joined EnergyQuest in January 2019.
For 29 years to July 2017 Marie-louise worked for Santos in many Reservoir Engineering and leadership roles including Chief Reservoir Engineer, General Manager Reservoir Development and Cooper Basin Development Manager. During her career with Santos Marie-louise worked in Reservoir Engineering roles in the Cooper Basin, Victoria, Western Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Marie-louise started her career working for Esso Australia as a process engineer based at the Longford Processing Plant.
Marie-louise has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with first class honours from the University of Adelaide. She is a life member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, a member of Engineers Australia, a Certified Professional Engineer and a registered Petroleum Engineer.
Matt Paull
Senior AssociateMatt Paull joined EnergyQuest in December 2022 and has over 25 years’ experience in government and the oil and gas industry.
Matt has deep knowledge of the energy industry and worked for Australia’s peak body for oil and gas, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, for over a decade where he led representation of Queensland’s $80 billion oil and gas industry before government, media, and the broader community. Prior to working in the industry, Matt had a successful career with the Australian Government where he held senior positions in resources and energy policy development, investment facilitation, science and technology support, international relations, finance, and economic analysis.
Matt has a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University and a Graduate Certificate in Finance and Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Mathew Barley
Senior AssociateMathew is a Reservoir Engineer with over 40 years upstream oil and gas industry experience. Mathew was at Santos in a variety of roles, including Reservoir Engineering, Development Planning, Commercial, Code Developer, and Data Management. His technical experience there covered conventional assets in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam, and CSG (CBM) assets in the Queensland Bowen/Surat Basins and Indonesia. He has considerable experience with reservoir simulation and geological modelling in different environments.
Since leaving Santos in early 2021, Mathew has been working as an independent consultant.
Mathew has a Bachelor of Applied Mathematics with first class honours from the University of Adelaide. He is a life member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and was a founding member of the Australian Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Bruce Holland
Senior AssociateBruce Holland has worked in many different roles in the steel making, oil and gas industry, and the electricity industries, as well as an independent consultant.
Bruce’s roles within the energy industry span over 30 years, and have included Project Director roles for major infrastructure projects, Group Manager for Business Development, commercial roles (including gas marketing and negotiations for large long-term gas and electricity supply agreements), operational roles, production planning and coordination of operations, gas supply, oil and LPG logistics and shipping, planning and various operational functions.
Bruce has a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from the University of NSW, and a Development Program for Managers from The Australian Graduate School of Management. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy (FAIE).