Our structure

Sue McCarrey, Chief Executive Officer

Sue joined NOPSEMA as the Chief Executive Officer in February 2023 following eight years as the Chief Executive and National Rail Safety Regulator at the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.

In a career spanning more than 40 years in government, Sue has held a range of roles across education, including time as a school principal, the Public Transport Authority and as Deputy Director General of Policy, Planning and Investment at the WA Department of Transport. In these roles, Sue developed experience and expertise in government policy and regulatory frameworks and risk management in safety and environmental management, which she applies in her current role.

Sue holds a Bachelor of Law from Murdoch University, a Master of Education from Edith Cowan University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a member of the National Association of Women in Operations, National Women in Transport, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration.  

Graham Blair, Deputy CEO - Regulatory Operations

Graham leads NOPSEMA’s workforce of subject matter specialists spanning Environment, Safety and Well Integrity disciplines. His Regulatory Operations teams ensure NOPSEMA’s legislated functions are fulfilled by undertaking structured assessment, inspection, enforcement, promotion and advisory activities across all duty holders. Graham’s teams administer the regulatory functions that ensure a protected offshore workforce and environment. These functions are provided across the entire industry lifecycle, from exploration through development, production and eventual decommissioning. 

Graham joined NOPSEMA in late 2023, having previously worked for more than 20 years with energy company Shell, both internationally and in Australia. He brings with him extensive leadership experience at an executive level in the oil and gas industry, where roles have included driving regulatory compliance of new offshore ventures and high-level stakeholder management. Graham has a technical background across subsurface and engineering, plus broad understanding and experience of managing risk. 

He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons, Geology) from the University of Glasgow (UK) and a Master of Science (Petroleum Geoscience) from the University of Aberdeen (UK).

Cameron Grebe, Deputy CEO - Strategic Regulation and Improvement

Cameron heads NOPSEMA’s Strategic Regulation and Improvement Division, leading analysis, longer term planning and strategy development across the agency’s regulatory functions. This includes strategic inspection programs and satisfying National priorities for improvement in industry performance, while also providing strategic advice to internal and external decision-makers regarding early-stage approval decisions, such as new offshore petroleum projects, and carbon capture and storage licencing.

The Strategic Regulation and Improvement Division also has oversight of NOPSEMA’s investigation framework and major investigations, supporting the agency’s technical skills needs through development and maintenance of expertise across key subject matter disciplines.

Cameron has extensive industry experience, with more than 16 years as an environmental engineer, adviser, and general manager at BHP, Woodside Energy and Shell Global Solutions International. He was first appointed as NOPSEMA’s inaugural Head of Environment in August 2011 and then in May 2021 the division was expanded to include decommissioning as part of the Australian Government’s agenda to increase focus on aging offshore infrastructure. Since 2021, Cameron has also been responsible for leading NOPSEMA’s support to the government’s establishment of the framework for the offshore renewables sector, culminating in the commencement of the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator in June 2022.

Cameron is Australia’s representative and current Chair of the International Offshore Petroleum Environment Regulators forum (IOPER) and a member of the National Committee for the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement Network (AELERT). He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering) from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Energy Studies from Murdoch University and he is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Charmain FitzGerald, Executive General Manager - Corporate and Business Transformation 

Charmain was appointed as Executive General Manager Corporate and Business Transformation in August 2023, following eight years at RAC WA where she held various roles including General Manager Strategy and Planning. 

She brings to NOPSEMA significant experience across a number of organisations and industries, including Bankwest (banking and finance), Ernst & Young (consulting to public and private sector organisations), and Downer EDI (transport and infrastructure, utilities, social infrastructure and citizen services, rail and transit systems, and industrial and energy services). 

Before joining NOPSEMA, Charmain held senior leadership roles across various areas including corporate services, strategic and business planning, portfolio, program, project and change management, organisational and digital transformation, financial management, business performance and process improvement, culture and capability building, risk management, governance, assurance and compliance.  

As the Executive General Manager, Charmain is responsible for overseeing NOPSEMA’s corporate functions, including human resources and safety, finance and procurement, information management and technology, planning and business services, risk and internal audit, and transformation programs. She is the Chair of NOPSEMA’s Corporate Management Committee and an Advisor on NOPSEMA’s Audit and Risk Committee. 

Charmain holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Cranfield University in the UK and is a certified PRINCE2 Project Management Practitioner. She is also a Non-Executive Director (Board Deputy Chair) and Council Member at Disability Assembly WA, driving improved and sustainable outcomes for people with disabilities, their families and carers.

The NOPSEMA Advisory Board may provide advice and recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NOPSEMA about operational policies and strategies to which the CEO must have regard.

Under the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act), the Board is established as a separate entity to NOPSEMA and does not have a role in decision-making matters, nor may it direct the operations or individual decisions of NOPSEMA. 

As specified in s654 of the OPGGS Act, the Board also provides advice, and makes recommendations to the responsible Commonwealth Minister; relevant State Ministers and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), on various “policy or strategic matters relating to:

• the occupational health and safety of persons engaged in offshore petroleum or greenhouse gas storage operations;
• the structural integrity of facilities, wells or well related equipment that are in NOPSEMA waters;
• offshore petroleum or greenhouse gas storage environmental management, and performance by NOPSEMA of its functions.

Considering its functions under the OPGGS Act and allowing for any ministerial and CEO requests for specific advice during the coming year, the Advisory Board’s work programme includes monitoring and advice on:

• improvements in relation to the transparency of the regulatory approvals process and stakeholder engagement
• the outcomes and recommendations arising from the review into decommissioning, late life asset transfers and cross-over alignment with other agencies and regulators
• the implications of changes to NOPSEMA’s scope of responsibilities
• industry performance in:
  • the four strategic compliance areas of preventing major accident events, preventing loss of well control, effective oil pollution emergency preparedness and responsible asset stewardship
  • process safety, environmental management and the EPBC Act, executive accountability and maintenance and removal of property.

Board members

The responsible Commonwealth Minister has appointed the following members to the Advisory Board. The Board members have been appointed for terms of up to three years, as recommended by the COAG Energy Council. Should you wish to contact any of the Board members please email the Board Secretariat board@nopsema.gov.au.

Ms Anthea Tinney
A/Chair

Anthea Tinney has more than 30 years of experience in the Australian public service. Ms Tinney was a former deputy secretary of the Federal environment portfolio and occupied a number of other roles within the portfolio. It was here where she had oversight responsibility for the operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Ms Tinney also spent many years in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Federal Treasury and as head of the cabinet office. Ms Tinney was awarded a Public Service Medal in 1995 for services to the Australian Cabinet System.

Ms Tinney has served on a number of boards and advisory committees and has extensive experience in public policy advising. Ms Tinney is currently Chair of the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel (NSW) and a member of the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority. Previously, Ms Tinney chaired the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, the Australian National Commission for UNESCO and Land and Water Australia.

Ms Tinney is an experienced international and government negotiator and has led several reviews for the government.

Mr Christopher Blackmore

Christopher Blackmore has more than 25 years of experience in a variety of senior management roles in the offshore oil and gas industry. Christopher entered the maritime industry in 1968 as a cadet marine engineer, and since then has worked on a number of vessels in the Australasian region. He has an advanced diploma in marine engineering and a Class 1 Unlimited Chief Engineers Motor Certificate of Competency from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

In addition to this, Christopher has served as the branch secretary, the federal vice president and the federal council member for the West Australian branch of the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers. Mr Blackmore was also part of the major project to tow the world's first FLNG facility (Prelude) from South Korea to Australia's north west shelf, including positioning the Prelude on the seabed. Mr Blackmore is still actively involved in the marine industry.

Ms Victoria Jackson

Victoria Jackson has more than 30 years of experience in diverse resources sector roles, with extensive public sector experience including in the Northern Territory as Executive Director, Energy, Victoria held oversight of the Petroleum Act NT, the Petroleum Environment Regulations and for energy policy. 

As director of major project approvals in the West Australian State Development portfolio, Victoria managed state environment and indigenous heritage approvals, social impact assessment, including community engagement, for the development of onshore oil and gas major projects.

More recently Victoria served as Executive Director – Western Australia for the Minerals Council of Australia.

Victoria holds a BSc. (Geology), a Dip. Cartography and Engineering Surveying and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Postgraduate education includes public policy, environmental law, business law and business, continuity.

Victoria is Chair of the CDU Energy and Resources Institute Advisory Board and a Non-Executive Director, Deep Yellow Limited. Victoria has also served on other not-for-profit, university and government boards and committees.

Mrs Wendy Kennedy

Wendy Kennedy OBE, has more than 30 years’ leadership experience in offshore oil, gas, and environmental regulation for the UK Government including negotiating and representing government interests at an international level. She held several senior positions prior to retiring from the UK Civil Service in March 2024.

Mrs Kennedy was the former Chief Executive Officer of the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), where she held responsibility for the environmental regulation of offshore energy developments including their decommissioning. In particular, she provided leadership across areas including international and domestic offshore environmental policy, inspection of platforms and drilling rig, assessment of environmental impacts of oil and gas and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

Her role at OPRED included the assessment of oil spill contingency plans, including financial provision for remediation in the event of an accident/incident, emergency response to offshore environmental incidents, assessment of oil and gas and CCS platform and pipeline decommissioning plans.

Mrs Kennedy was also responsible for the consideration of legal obligations and financial security for decommissioning of offshore installations and pipelines, and strategic environmental assessments of the UK Continental Shelf prior to licensing.

She has also previously served as Chair of the International Offshore Petroleum Environmental Regulators (IOPER) and Chair of the European Commission’s Offshore Authorities Group.

Ms Robyn Glindemann

Robyn Glindemann is a projects lawyer with specialist expertise in environmental and Aboriginal law. She has 30 years' experience advising resources and energy companies, banks and government agencies based in Australia and overseas.

In Vancouver, Canada, Ms Glindemann worked with the Nisga'a Lisims Government Department of Transportation in relation to the upgrade of the Kincolith Highway in Nisga'a Territory pursuant to the Nisga'a Treaty and regularly lectured on the Australian Natie Title regime.

In 2018, Ms Glindemann was appointed by the WA Department of Premier and Cabinet as a member of the Independent Panel reviewing the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Perth and Peel regions under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).

Ms Glindemann is the Chair of the Law Council of Australia's Climate Change Working Group, a member of the Law Council's Legal Practice Section Executive and a former Chair of the Law Council's Australian Environment and Planning Law Group. She is a regular guest lecturer on environment and ESG issues at the Centre for Mining, Energy and Natural Resources Law at the University of Western Australia. She is also the Consulting Editor for the Australian Environment Review.