Kevin Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Santos, will Address the National Press Club on “Australia’s energy opportunity in an uncertain world”.
Against a backdrop of ongoing conflict in the Middle East and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, join Kevin to examine how the global energy landscape is being reshaped. With disruptions to critical oil, LNG, refined fuel and fertiliser shipping routes exposing the fragility of international energy supply chains, he will explore the implications for global energy security, climate change, geopolitical stability and Australia’s strategic opportunity as an energy resource-rich nation on the doorstep of the biggest market on earth.
Countries around the world are reassessing their energy dependence and prioritising reliable supply over everything else. Australia must meet this moment by developing more of its energy resources to re-create the domestic energy abundance of the past and to reliably supply our energy import-dependent partners in Asia.
As the world enters a new era where energy security is inseparable from economic, social and regional security, unlocking the wealth of Australia’s abundant energy resources continues to be our comparative advantage. Australia’s opportunity is to grasp this advantage with both hands to drive energy costs down, reinvigorate growth in Australian living standards and foster a stronger, more stable Indo Pacific region.
BIO
Kevin Gallagher joined Santos as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer on 1 February 2016, bringing more than 25 years’ international experience in the oil and gas industry.
Santos is Australia’s second-largest independent natural gas and liquids producer with world-class natural gas, LNG and liquids assets in Australia, PNG and Alaska.
Over the past decade, Mr Gallagher has transformed Santos into a high-performing, low-cost business and more than tripled its market capital through mergers and acquisitions, and more recently, ambitious organic growth.
Mr Gallagher has implemented a disciplined low-cost operating model and capital allocation framework that has returned over US$4.5 billion to shareholders during his tenure, more than the Company’s market capital prior to his commencement in early 2016.
Under his leadership, the business successfully completed development and start-up of the Barossa Gas Project in the Northern Territory, and at the Pikka oil project in Alaska which commenced production in June 2026.
Mr Gallagher also spearheaded the Company’s investment in one of the largest, most successful and lowest-cost carbon capture and storage projects in the world at Moomba in South Australia.
Mr Gallagher began his career as a drilling engineer with Mobil in the North Sea before moving to Australia in 1998 to join Woodside Energy. Prior to Santos, he was Chief Executive Officer of engineering and construction company Clough Limited.
He is one of Australia’s most experienced energy executives and a strong advocate for energy security, and the role of natural gas and carbon management technologies in supporting the energy transition, economic development and decarbonising energy systems.
