Queensland committee finalises John Draper Award nominees and Branch Honours/Masters Scholarship
The 2025 John Draper Award nominees are Lara Picton (QUT), Natasha Scally (UQ) and Keely O’Mara (JCU). Congratulations to these students who were nominated by their respective lecturers for their academic achievements and geology related extra-curricular activities.
John Draper is a Queensland geologist who significantly contributed to understanding Queensland geology, particularly its sedimentary basins and their coal and hydrocarbon potential. John was awarded the Dorothy Hill medal in 2009, and the PESA Distinguished Member medal in 2013. Upon his retirement from the Geological Survey of Queensland, the PESA Queensland branch created this award to honour John’s exceptional legacy, given to the best student in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and related subjects at each of the Queensland universities teaching geology. John also was integral in keeping the Queensland branch viable over a very lean period.
The 2026 Queensland Branch PESA scholarship has recently been awarded to Courtney Berry. Three high quality applications were received, but Courtney’s project was considered the most aligned with PESA core interests.
Courtney will undertake an integrated reservoir characterisation study of the Hedinia and Iagifu sandstone intervals in the PNG Highlands, in collaboration with the University of Queensland and Santos, as part of the ongoing subsurface evaluation within the Santos PNG assets. The project will integrate petrographic and petrophysical datasets and expects to improve the understanding of pore systems, cement types and diagenetic timing, enhance prediction of reservoir heterogeneity and flow barriers, provide a refined facies modelling framework for the PNG reservoirs and practical subsurface insights to support more effective development decisions and improved production outcomes.
The Queensland Committee wishes all these students success with their ongoing studies.
