Fresh off her appointment as Woodside’s new CEO and Managing Director, Liz Westcott talks about her vision for Woodside, her leadership approach and the experiences that have shaped her.

Liz, congratulations on your appointment. For those who don’t know you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thanks! It’s a real honour to be chosen to lead this great company.

I grew up in Melbourne, where both my parents were academics, so education was always highly valued. My dad was a pure academic and my mum taught music and then English as a foreign language to refugees. We often had students staying with us, which meant I was exposed early to different cultures, languages and perspectives. That had a big influence on me. It sparked a love of travel, food and experiencing different cultures, which I still enjoy today.

I’ve always been drawn to maths and science, and I went on to study engineering and commerce at university, before starting my career as a graduate with ExxonMobil, where I spent 25 years. Over time, I had the opportunity to take on a wide range of roles, both technical and leadership, in the UK, Italy and Australia, where I discovered my passion for problem solving and working with people.

I joined Woodside in 2023, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Australia, leading our Australian Operations, including development of the Scarborough Energy Project on the West Coast and Bass Strait operator transition on the East.

What did you learn from the Acting CEO position? Did anything surprise you?

I learned a lot. I loved the breadth of the role, particularly having visibility across the whole company. I’ve always enjoyed engaging with our people on site, and this role gave me the opportunity to connect with a much broader audience.

As my priorities shifted, I was surprised by how much I relied on the organisation to run the business day to day. Stepping back, our teams have done a fabulous job running our operations safely and reliably, and taking forward our major projects, which speaks to the strength of our organisation.

And what about your leadership style? What qualities and values do you think make a great leader?

I really enjoy working with people and developing talent. I see an organisation as more than a collection of assets – it’s a collection of people and they’re what make a business great.

For me, great leadership comes down to building strong teams, creating clarity and setting people up for success. In all my roles, I’ve focused on motivating teams, being clear on our strategy and priorities and making sure our people are aligned and supported to deliver."

You’re taking on the CEO role at a time of global uncertainty. What do you see as Woodside’s role during a period of such market volatility?

It's an extraordinary period of volatility. While we don’t have operations in the Middle East, it’s a time of significant concern and uncertainty, and we’re monitoring the unfolding events in the Middle East with concern for those impacted.

Woodside plays an important role in global energy markets, and the supply we provide to our customers is critical. Maintaining safe, reliable operations and delivering our products as expected is the most important contribution we can make.

As you outlined on the day of your appointment, Woodside’s near-term priorities are clear and 2026 is a year of delivery. Looking longer term, what’s your vision for Woodside?

My vision is to continue growing Woodside into a leading global energy company that delivers long-term value for our shareholders through high performance and a focus on sustainability.

We have a compelling growth trajectory, with Scarborough, Trion and Louisiana LNG all expected online before 2030. Following a record production year in 2025, these projects are expected to add another step-change in our production over the next five to six years. There’s a lot to deliver and equally a lot to look forward to.

What are your R&R pursuits? And how are you going to make sure you have time to enjoy them while undertaking the huge job of CEO?

Work-life balance has been a big priority all my career. There are times in my life when I've had it and times when I haven't, but it’s always a goal.

That early exposure to different cultures really shaped what I enjoy outside of work. I love cooking, reading cookbooks and planning what I might make. I do have one rule though: it needs to be done in under an hour, or it’s not happening!

I also love to travel and immerse myself in new places, particularly getting outside the big cities. Having my own transport is a must so I can explore small towns, villages and the countryside.

As CEO, it’s about being deliberate with my time and making space for these things, to help me perform at my best.

KeyFacts Energy: Woodside Australia country profile