Advisory Panel

Barbara Jinks

Former President, Queensland Petroleum Exploration Association

Barbara has worked in the gas industry for 28 years, on both onshore and offshore gas pipelines projects in the North Sea, Europe and Australia, and various coal seam gas projects in Australia.  She has depth of understanding across commercial, design, construction, project management, environmental and social issues relating to the development of natural gas. She has completed a Masters Degree in Commercial Law.

Barbara is currently Business Leader coal seam gas with GHD. She is the immediate past president of the Qld Exploration and Production Association QUPEX and also leads two international research teams with the International Gas Union in the fields of gas distribution and transmission.

Shane Charles

CEO of Toowoomba Regional Enterprise and Surat Basin Corporation

Shane has been interested in the economic development of the Toowoomba region since his tenure as President of the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. Shane has, since its inception, sat on Toowoomba Regional Council Economic Development Advisory Board, and was appointed in October 2011 as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed independent economic and infrastructure development organisation, Toowoomba Regional Enterprise. 

In March 2012, Shane was appointed the temporary CEO of Surat Basin Corporation and in April 2012, the members voted for Surat Basin Corporation to merge with Toowoomba Regional Enterprise.  The merger of the companies will be instrumental in promoting Toowoomba and the Surat Basin Corporation as a fantastic place to live and do business.

With solid agricultural and manufacturing  sectors, strong and well respected educational facilities, and an emerging energy and resource sector the region is well positioned for growth and prosperity.

Dr Paul Massarotto

Principal Research Fellow in Coalbed Methane (CBM) and Geosequestration at University of Queensland

Dr Paul Massarotto holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Queensland where he is a Principal Research Fellow in Coalbed Methane (CBM) and Geosequestration. There he develops and leads research programs to maximise CBM production and reserves, including Enhanced CBM with CO2 or Flue Gas sequestration. 

Paul has acted as an expert witness and consultant to the international CBM industry and has published over 60 papers. His broad 40+ years experience covers senior technical, drilling and operational management in the international oil & gas industry in Canada and the USA, and infrastructure power industries, including M&A.

He is a graduate of McGill University, where he obtained his Chemical Engineering degree, and has graduate management qualificationsfrom the Wharton School of Finance and the Banff School of Advanced Management. He has been a long-standing memberof the Society of Petroleum Engineers, currently on the Executive Committee of the Queensland Section.

James Plumb

James Plumb is a partner in Carter Newell’s Resources group. James is a specialist lawyer in the field of Resources law. He regularly advises clients on the sale and acquisition of mining and petroleum projects, the impact of various state-based petroleum and mining regulatory regimes, project development, the negotiation of infrastructure and transportation arrangements, operating and joint venture negotiations, land access and compensation requirements, royalty arrangements and overlapping tenure negotiations.

James often liaises with regulatory bodies and government departments on behalf of his clients.  James is currently the president of the Queensland Petroleum Exploration Association and a Queensland committee member of AMPLA.  James also regularly presents at industry conferences and has been published in academic journals on topics relating to his area of expertise.