Importance of cultural engagement

A panel of experienced energy industry professionals have had their say on the importance of cultural collaboration and understanding. 

Speaking at Business News' The Future of Energy lunch on Thursday in Perth, Michael Blakiston - Gilbert+Tobin's partner of energy and resources - expressed the importance of working closely with traditional owners, particularly when proceeding with project land access negotiations.

"The government is a creature of its own and everyone has got their own way of dealing with government," Mr Blakiston said.

"Sitting on the side of the TOs [traditional owners] and seeing what was presented to them to make decisions. It was quite a surprise to me. 

"We are expecting so much from people who aren't from the development industry world. We're an engineering-based industry and the gantt chart is almighty. And so often, the gantt chart has a period of time when approvals are to be sorted, and people are incentivised to achieve their approval dates. 

"How do we expect the TOs to make a decision in this time period?

"We present information in a powerpoint presentation which is glossy, attractive and has got a lot of numbers, but it's not digestible."

Mr Blakiston said the industry could learn a lot from Canada in how to engage with traditional owners.

"We had a Canadian lawyer come out here last year for the Pilbara summit," he said. 

"Canada is far ahead of us in terms of engagement. What they do is put it (the information) into their language, so the TO groups being presented with an opportunity can can actually get it in their own language.

"By putting it into the language, it shows courtesy, an ability to communicate and gets some engagement."

Unity was also a key ingredient to success according to Rachael Risucci, who is vice-president of BP Australia's gas and low carbon energy portfolio.

"It all comes down to collaboration and partnerships working together," Ms Risucci said.

"That's what we found definitely whether we're working with government, working with our partners or traditional owners. Everyone needs to have that common purpose and goal. It's about working together and having those honest conversations about where the realities and challenges are."

Common purpose within the sector was touched on by state Energy Minister Reece Whitby, who called on all Western Australians to help the state transition into a renewable energy future.

"No-one can do this alone," he said.

"No government, no company, no community. This is a shared challenge. Today I ask all of you, from all sectors, to walk together towards the new dawn of a new renewable energy age." 

Both Ms Risucci and Woodside Energy's Menno Weustink spoke about strategies their companies used in a bid to retain local experience and talent within their operations in WA.

"Yeah, look it is a concern, we are definitely short of people," Ms Risucci said.

"I would hasten to say a lot of that talent and skill we need, along with the experience we have today, comes from our traditional oil and gas industry ...  in terms of doing big energy projects.

"But it does feel like because there's this anti-fossil sentiment which seems to exist now, that it’s putting off the kids of tomorrow actually wanting to go and have a career that has anything to do with understanding the rocks, and understanding how you do big energy projects which may have an element of gas attached to them.

"I think we've got a bit of work to do to actually convince the younger generation that it's not all bad to be involved in our industry. It is probably going to continue to be some of of us which are going to deliver oil and gas as well as renewable energy of the future, which will be part of these projects."