Mr David Byers has been announced as the CO2CRC’s new chief executive, effective in late July.
David has extensive experience in the resources sector, having most recently worked as Interim CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), the peak national body for the Australian minerals industry.
Immediately prior to joining the MCA, David was Vice President Government Relations and Public Policy for BHP, with responsibility for coordinating the company’s global government affairs and public policy interests.
This followed four years as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Petroleum Producers and Explorers Association (APPEA), the peak national body representing Australia’s oil and gas exploration and production industry. During this period, the Australian oil and gas industry experienced its largest ever expansion with seven major LNG projects under construction and development of new onshore and offshore gas resources.
David’s role at APPEA followed his earlier appointment from 2007-2010, as Chief Executive of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).
David has spent almost all his career in the resources sector with over 17 years at ExxonMobil Corporation in a variety of senior roles in Melbourne, Singapore and the United States and four years with Woodside, based in Karratha, Western Australia.
CO2CRC is pleased to have attracted someone of David’s experience and calibre to the role of Chief Executive. CO2CRC is Australia’s leading carbon capture and storage (CCS) research organisation, supporting industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is an active participant and leader of CCS projects globally and in Australia, demonstrating CCS in-field at its $100M Otway Research Facility.
“We have a big task ahead of us to limit global temperatures to below 2 degrees” and CCS is critical to a number of industries including gas, coal, cement and steel to help meet this goal” said Chairman Ferguson.
David will replace Ms Tania Constable, who is the newly appointed Chief Executive of the MCA. The CO2CRC Board thanks Tania for her leadership of the CO2CRC and looks forward to David continuing the model of strong stakeholder engagement established by Tania during her four years as CO2CRC Chief Executive.
