For this edition of On The Ground Intel, we’re delighted to sit down with Liz Westcott, CEO and Managing Director at Woodside Energy. Drawing on a career that has taken her from Australia to Italy and the UK, Liz shares her perspective on Perth’s global competitiveness, the future of STEM leadership, and why creating opportunities for women will be essential to WA’s next chapter. She also reflects on the importance of community, lifelong learning and the qualities that will define tomorrow’s leaders.
You’ve worked across Australia, Italy and the UK. What makes Perth a compelling place to build a career and attract global talent?
Perth offers a fantastic lifestyle and the opportunity to do really interesting work, particularly in energy and resources. My best pitch to anyone considering a move here is that you can do a hard day’s work and be at the beach watching the sun go down over the Indian Ocean in under an hour.
Woodside operates at the intersection of engineering, technology and innovation. What skills do you think the next generation of leaders will need to thrive in WA’s future economy?
Technical expertise will always be important in a company like Woodside. What I’m also looking for in the next generation of leaders, is the ability to work alongside AI and adapt to new technologies. Leaders who can help their teams embrace new ways of working, while also making good decisions and bringing people together, will be invaluable.
What can we learn from Italian cities?
You can really feel the connection to community, family and culture in Italy. No matter how modern a city has become, there’s still room for people to sit outside, play cards and share a meal. The village atmosphere, where people of all generations look out for each other, is well and truly alive.
You are a role model and advocate for young women considering careers in STEM. Who inspired you early in your career?
I was drawn to a career that allowed me to get out of an office. I loved maths and was also keen to do something a bit different. Engineering ticked the box. When I joined the industry there were few senior women and so I knew that I was going to have to be that leader for others. I’ve always enjoyed mentoring and supporting women in the workplace and l know that even after 30+ years in the industry there is still a lot of work to do. The number of senior women in these great professions is still too few.
Perth has the opportunity to become a global hub for energy, technology and innovation. How can we ensure that women and girls are fully part of that story from the very beginning?
Women and girls need to be able to see a place for themselves in our industry, whether that’s in the control room or the boardroom. So, we need to have visible female leaders, and we need to champion them. Early opportunities to experience science, technology and engineering in practical ways are also important. But attraction is only part of the story. Actually retaining women in STEM means making sure our workplaces are flexible, inclusive and places where women have clear pathways for growth.
Large, complex projects often take years to deliver. How do you keep teams motivated and focused when success requires such a long-term perspective?
Engineers love solving puzzles and complex, long-term projects offer them in spades. When the finish line is a long way off, which it often is in our industry, it’s important to celebrate the little wins as well as the big milestones.
How do you wind down after a work-day?
I try to get out and exercise a couple of times a week. I also love cooking and entertaining. There’s something about preparing food that really helps me wind down after a day’s work.
What is the next city you would like to visit and why?
I love exploring new places and recently added Tokyo and Seoul to my list of great cities visited! These are unique and special places. Having lived in Milan and London I’ve been spoilt with the ability to visit many great European cities. But in general I like getting out of the cities and exploring the towns and villages; exploring nature, chasing great local food and soaking up the surroundings.
Looking ahead 20 years, what would you most like to see Perth become?
I’d love to see Perth retain its relaxed charm and great quality of life, while becoming a centre of excellence for the industries of the future. Western Australia is blessed with the energy and resources to become a leader in data centres, artificial intelligence and critical minerals processing. The time for WA to seize this opportunity, by developing natural gas projects like Browse, and building out renewables, is now.
