Category: Board of Directors

Appointed to the Karoon Board on 1 October 2020.
Appointed as the Chair of the Board on 23 November 2023

Mr Botten is a highly experienced and successful former Chief Executive and internationally recognised business leader with over 40 years’ experience in the international resources sector. His executive career was dominated by his 26‑year tenure as CEO of Oil Search, where he was instrumental in driving its growth from a market capitalisation of A$200 million to a peak of A$15 billion.

Peter’s executive experience spanned all aspects of the upstream petroleum sector, including in upstream oil and gas exploration, development and production operations through his involvement in projects in PNG, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and North America. Peter also has considerable experience in governing and growing ASX listed companies and other business entities. He was one of the longest serving CEO’s on the Australian Securities Exchange and was included in the Harvard Business Review’s list of best performing CEO’s in the world for 2 consecutive years (2015 and 2016).

Peter holds a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London University and the Royal School of Mines. In recognition of building relations between Australia and PNG, along with services to business and communities in PNG, Peter was awarded Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) along with Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

Current directorships of other listed companies include:

• Chair, Aurelia Metals Ltd (ASX: AMI); and
• Chair, Conrad Asia Energy (ASX: CRD)

Independent Non‑Executive Director (Appointed 6 June 2014)

Peter Turnbull is an experienced ASX independent non‑executive director and chair with significant exposure to the global mining, energy and technology sectors.

Peter brings to the board significant commercial, legal and governance experience gained from working with boards and management to build company value for shareholders both organically and through mergers, acquisitions and other corporate routes. Peter also has expertise in the commercialisation and scaling of new technologies.

In addition, Peter has significant regulatory and public policy experience from prior executive roles including as a Director of the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong and roles with ASIC. Over time, Peter has held roles as a director or senior officer of several global organisations which promote best practice governance and is a regular contributor and speaker in Australia and overseas on corporate governance issues. Peter is a former President and current Life Member of the Governance Institute of Australia and is the Immediate Past President of the global Chartered Governance Institute.

Peter’s senior executive roles over 30 years involved significant experience in very large publicly listed organisations with global operations, particularly South East Asia, Europe and the USA. This experience included over a decade in energy markets and the resources sector including as Company Secretary of Newcrest Mining Limited, Company Secretary and General Counsel of BTR Nylex Limited and General Manager, Legal and Corporate Affairs with Energex Limited.

In June 2020, Peter was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to business and corporate governance institutes.

Current directorships of other listed companies include: Chair, Calix Limited (ASX: CXL), since its ASX listing on 20 July 2018.

Chair of the People and Culture Committee.

Member of the Audit, Risk and Governance and the Sustainability and Operational Risk Committees. Mr Turnbull was re-elected to the Board on 23 May 2024.

Appointed 26 August 2016.

Luciana has over 35 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry in both technical, commercial and senior leadership roles in Brazil, including 20 years in the Exploration and Production Division of Petrobras.

Luciana also has a range of Board experience in Brazil. She has represented Petrobras as Chairperson of Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil S.A, and Gás Brasiliano Distribuidora S.A as well as a Director of Transportadora Associada de Gás, Companhia de Gás de Minas Gerais and Companhia Paranaense de Gás.

Luciana has technical experience across project evaluation, development and management roles. Specific experience includes Marlim Leste Asset Manager, the design of the first offshore platforms in the Campos Basin, the production, handling and processing of natural gas onshore and offshore, the coordination of the Petrobras E&P Deepwater Strategic Project and a variety technical and economic feasibility studies on major projects including participation in the first Petrobras project finance deals.

Luciana has also held positions in the Petrobras commercial team including Executive Manager of Investor Relations, Executive Manager of Financial Planning and Risk Management, General Manager of Corporate Affairs, General Manager of Marketing and Trading, Executive Manager for Logistics and Investments in Natural Gas and Chief Executive Officer Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolivia Brazil and most recently Chief Executive Officer of Transportadora Associada de Gas SA.

Appointed 26 August 2022

Mr Fraga has 40 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, including 23 years as an executive at Petrobras. Mr Fraga held various positions at Petrobras over his career, including as Campos Basin Production General Manager, Gulf of Mexico E&P Operations Manager, Board Member Petrobras Argentina SA, General Manager – Domestic Oil and Gas Production, Executive Manager – E&P Brazil – South and Southeast Regions, Executive Manager – Research and Development and E&P Executive Manager – Pre-Salt Developments.  During his career at Petrobras, Mr Fraga led the team involved in the development of various technologies applied on pre-salt fields and played a vital role in the development of pre-salt discoveries, being responsible for the implementation of several projects, from conceptual design to first oil.

Mr Fraga is a former CEO of Prumo Logistic and of the Porto do Açu,  a former Chief Technology Officer at Gran Energia, as well as a former Board member of Gran Bio, GranIHC, Ultrapar, MRO Logistics, Ferroport, Gás Natural do Açu and Porto do Açu (being the Chairman in the last three). Mr Fraga has also served as a board member of several technology institutions in Brazil, where he made substantial contributions to technological development at universities and research institutes.

Mr Fraga currently serves as a board member at Vast Infraestrutura (formerly Açu Petróleo) and PetroReconcavo.

During his career, Mr Fraga has received recognition from various institutions, including “Brazilian Oil Industry Personality of the Year” (2008) from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), “Commander Degree” (2010) from the Brazilian National Order of Scientific Merit, “Industry Achievement Award” (2012) from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), “Personality of the Year for Innovation” (2017) from the Brazilian National Agency of Oil, Gas and Biofuels and “Distinguished Individual Award” (2019) from the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).

Mr Fraga holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and is a post-graduate in Petroleum Engineering from Universidade Petrobras. He has also attended executive education programs at University of Alberta (Management and Regulation in the Petroleum Industry), Columbia University (Executive Education in Business Administration), INSEAD (Technology Management), London School of Economics (Strategic Leadership), and Brazilian Institute for Corporate Governance – IBGC (Board Member).

Appointed 19 April 2024

Ms Palmer has over 27 years of professional experience providing audit and assurance services, with 19 years working at EY in various positions and ultimately holding the position of equity partner before becoming an Executive Director (Partner) at Pitcher Partners. Ms Palmer’s experience spans across UK and Australian companies operating in Africa, Europe, America and Australasia.

During her executive career at EY, Ms Palmer worked primarily in the assurance practice and additionally led EY’s Financial Accounting Advisory Services (CFO Advisory) Team in Perth. Mainly working in the resources sector, she assisted multinational companies, mid-caps and junior explorers by providing external audit services, technical accounting, regulatory advice and finance function support services with a focus on transactions and M&A.

Ms Palmer currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of listed company St Barbara (ASX: SBM), and publicly unlisted NextOre, as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committees of these companies, as well as various additional Committee memberships.

Appointed 19 April 2024

Ms Holzberger is an experienced independent Non-Executive Director and Commercial, Energy and Resources Lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in the international energy and resources sector.

Ms Holzberger is currently a Non-Executive Director of Argo Investments Ltd (ASX: ARG), Intermodal Terminal Company owned by Aware Super (including as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee), and a member of the Federal Government’s Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s Radiation, Health and Safety Advisory Council.

She brings a deep understanding of energy operations and projects, having previously worked with BHP (including with BHP Petroleum assets), Rio Tinto and as a trusted adviser to multinational and Australian companies. Her substantial experience extends to highly regulated industries, legal, risk and compliance oversight together with a focus on sustainability, environmental, social and governance matters.