Advertisement

BRETT WOODS

Brett Woods. Picture: Ben Crabtree/The West Australian.

Good leadership is all about giving people the space to deliver, the Santos WA and NT boss tells Peter Klinger.

Biggest or best career break?

Joining Woodside Petroleum on the graduate program in 1995. It gave me that fast-track through their system and the education associated with that. A graduate program anywhere is something that I strongly believe in.

Describe your leadership style?

I like to empower people to have a space to work in and deliver upon. Sometimes that needs me to step away and give them the opportunity to deliver. And sometimes it needs my input a little bit more. I try to be adaptive based on what the situation requires. Over my career the biggest criticism of me has been I have been too much into the detail and that is something I am now consciously aware of. (Santos predecessor) John Anderson always used the phrase “step up and step out”. Give people space.

Most memorable executive experience?

I was in the Congo (while working for London-based Sterling Energy) travelling from a hotel to a restaurant about 150m up the beach and I accidently walked across the president’s front lawn. I had no idea. Shots were fired, very large men in berets came running at us and yelling. I thought I was going to die. Eventually a passing French national stopped and communicated with the army representatives and we ended up running down to the local restaurant and had several gin and tonics. We never walked anywhere again in the Congo.

Are executive remuneration levels excessive?

With the new ASX listing law changes, shareholders have a clear voice in complaining about executive remuneration. There are parts that are excessive. But I think the oil and gas market does self-moderate.

Best way to improve productivity?

Productivity falls when people are stepping over each other’s toes and are not aware of how to collaborate better. Give people respect, trust and authority and allow them to live in their space, to execute on their problems and to deliver.

Do you use social media?

I catch up with friends and family on Facebook and stay connected through LinkedIn. It works for me.

What do you do in your spare time?

My two wonderful children take up the majority of my time outside work. It gives me an opportunity to wind down and throw the Santos part of my brain out for a while and be present. Also, I am rebuilding a 1969 FJ-40 short-wheel-base LandCruiser with a friend. And I love my football. I leave work early on a Friday afternoon and I go across to South Perth where I catch up with about 20 friends and for an hour we run around and kick the football. Then we have a few beers and tell stories. It’s the best wind down I could imagine and keeps me connected with my friends.

Best Australian holiday destination?

Bunker Bay. I love that area. It’s pristine, it’s clean.

Last book you read?

Steve Biddulph’s Raising Boys. It was a gift from a friend. Part of the balancing act of having a heavy work schedule is making sure you areproperly present at home. You kind of think in your mind that you have a picture of what a good father would look like. But it’s good to get some anecdotes, some experiences.

Biggest challenge facing offshore oil and gas exploration?

Cost. There are still so many exciting opportunities to explore across northern Australia and the Bight. But where a few years ago with our budget we could have drilled 15 to 20 wells, that money now gets you five to seven wells. You have to be much smarter, you have to acquire ore seismic data, you have to employ the smartest people.