Sadly, we bid farewell to Chris Porter a geologist with over 60 years’ experience in the petroleum industry, who passed away in Adelaide recently. Chris received a BSc (Honours) in Geology from the University of Adelaide in 1961, and a MSc in Geophysical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 1968. Chris’ first job was as a geophysical “jug hustler" on seismic crews in New South Wales, West Texas and the swamps of Louisiana. His career progressed with companies including Australian Aquitaine, Phillips Petroleum, Western Mining (WMC) and Santos Limited.
Society News
Vale Rowley Butters
Article prepared by Don Poynton who first met Rowley in 1972
(Accompanying photo from PESA News No 75, April/May 2005)
PESA Meritorious Service Awardee, Rowley Edward Butters passed away peacefully on Sunday 12 October, aged 87.
In the April/May 2005 issue of PESA News, newly elected PESA Federal President Dave Cliff wrote, “The biggest change for PESA will be the retirement of Rowley Butters as the society’s Secretariat. Rowley has been with the organization since its inception as the APEA Profession Division in 1968 when he was press-ganged into being WA Branch Treasurer”.
Rowley joined the industry as accountant with WAPET in the mid-1960s.
Geopitch Winner Courtney Berry Reflects on AEGC Experience
The PESA AEGC Student Travel Bursaries have been designed to provide financial assistance to students and early career geoscientists to attend the AEGC by helping to cover travel expenses and conference registration fees. Open to PESA members giving an oral, poster or Geopitch competition presentation, they offer a member per state the chance to attend this conference for a significantly reduced price.
This year, Courtney Berry, a student at Curtin University currently based in Brisbane was one of the lucky winners of the award. Read on to hear more about Courtney’s experience at AEGC.
“The highlight of my AEGC experience in Perth this year was taking part in the GeoPitch competition.
Notice of Membership Fee Increase
The PESA board advises that there will be a small membership fee increase, effective from December 2025. The fee increase of approximately 2.5% will account for CPI increase and will ensure that PESA can continue to provide members with a range of high value services. Small fee increases, consistent with inflation, ensure that larger more impactful fee increases are not required in the future.
The fees below will apply to both new and renewing members.
Please note that there are no changes to Retired or Graduate membership fees, and Student membership will continue to be free.
OPINION PIECE – Climate Change and the Demise of PESA – By Dennis Morton
By Dennis Morton - Member NSW branch https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-morton-a7587121/
Australia’s petroleum exploration and production industry has been in decline for decades and professional societies like PESA-Australia are suffering. Membership is falling, meeting and conference attendance is low and branch budgets are under pressure. Without significant change branches in Victoria and NSW may fold. The ACT branch merged with NSW after Geoscience Australia discouraged employee involvement, citing federal government policies that demonise fossil fuels.
Academia has also been affected with most Earth Science faculties in Australian universities closing.
New PESA Webinar Library and Pete’s Webinar Picks
Peter Hoiles – PESA Webinar Coordinator
PESA Webinar Library
It is hard to believe that we have nearly five years under the PESA Webinar Series belt. Over this time, we have heard from many speakers on a number of topics of interest to PESA members, from oil and gas exploration in Australia and from across the World, to visiting several facets of the “Energy Trilemma”. Many of these speakers have graciously given their permission for their video recordings to be made available to PESA members for viewing at their leisure.
WA branch volunteers man the PESA booth at AEGC
PESA are proud to be joint organisers of the Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference (AEGC) 2025, taking place in the beautiful city of Perth, Australia from 8-11 September 2025. AEGC is the premier event for petroleum and mineral geoscience in Australasia and promises to be an exciting and enriching experience, bringing geologists, geophysicists, geochemists and industry professionals from across the globe.
PESA Symposium 2025 – Juggling the Energy Mix
Symposium Chair Melanie Fitzell and the Queensland branch committee delivered another successful one-day symposium on Monday 1st September at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The conference opening address was delivered by the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, the Honourable Dale Last, who closed his speech with the words: “you drill, I sign”. This was followed by a Keynote address from Darren Moor, Executive Director Georesources from the same department, and a final Keynote from industry stalwart Rick Wilkinson of Energy Quest “Energy plan or just muddling through?”.
A technical session featuring CCS and geothermal followed morning tea, three top quality presentations from Nikki Accornero (Accornero Advisory), Rachel Kieft (Santos) and Ray Johnson and Heinz-Gerd Holl (Novus).
Background to resolution on Retired members from AGM May 2025
By Max Williamson
FCA PESA Distinguished Member
For and on behalf of the NSW Branch Executive Team
Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Ltd
NSW Branch
GPO Box 625 Sydney NSW 2001
(Incorporated in WA) A.B.N 12 009 061 278
PESA GAZETTE - BACKGROUND TO RESOLUTION ON RETIRED MEMBERS
Date: 26 May 2025 5.00pm
Place: AGM PESA - Rydges Hotel Southbank
The Motion:
The Annual renewal fee for members who have retired and are not working in a paid role or paid employment be reduced to the sum of $50 per annum starting from renewals after 31 December 2025.
Business:
AEGC conference in Perth, September 8-11th
Early bird registration is open until 18th July, so register now
Check out the list of accepted papers here
We are delighted to invite you to the Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference (AEGC) 2025, taking place in the beautiful city of Perth, Australia from 8-11 September 2025. AEGC is the premier event for petroleum and mineral geoscience in Australasia and promises to be an exciting and enriching experience, bringing geologists, geophysicists, geochemists and industry professionals from across the globe.
Perth is known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, is the perfect backdrop for the 2025 conference.