In a significant move for the global energy sector, Meg O'Neill, the chief executive of Australian gas giant Woodside Energy, has been appointed to lead one of the world's largest oil and gas companies, BP. The announcement comes after a tenure at Woodside marked by environmental protests and outspoken comments on climate activism.
From Perth to London: A Leadership Shift
BP confirmed on Thursday that it had selected O'Neill as its new chief executive, with her role commencing on 1 April 2025. She will succeed Murray Auchincloss. O'Neill joined Woodside, Australia's largest ASX-listed oil and gas producer, in 2018 and was elevated to CEO in 2021.
Woodside's chair, Richard Goyder, praised O'Neill's leadership, stating the company's strong performance had translated into approximately $11bn in dividends paid to shareholders since 2022. He credited her with steering Woodside through major milestones, including the merger with BHP Petroleum and final investment decisions on the Scarborough and Louisiana LNG projects.
Controversial Tenure and Climate Criticism
O'Neill's time at the helm of Woodside was consistently punctuated by controversy and direct engagement with climate campaigners. Her final months saw the company successfully lobby the Albanese government to extend the controversial North West Shelf gas project for an additional 40 years, until 2070. This decision is now facing two separate legal challenges.
She became particularly noted for her criticism of younger climate activists. At an industry conference in May, O'Neill described some young people as holding a "very ideological, almost zealous view" that simplistically framed "fossil fuels bad, renewables good." She suggested hypocrisy, noting they might "happily" order cheap goods from online retailers like Shein and Temu "without any sort of recognition of the energy and carbon impact of their actions."
Protests have been a constant feature, including at Woodside's annual general meetings. In a more personal incident, a group of activists were fined over a foiled protest at O'Neill's family home in Perth in February.
Steering Towards Fossil Fuels
O'Neill's move to BP aligns with a strategic pivot at the British energy titan. Earlier this year, BP signalled a major shift away from its previous net zero ambitions, opting instead to ramp up fossil fuel production. The company announced it would increase investment in oil and gas to US$10bn (£7.9bn) annually, while cutting more than US$5bn from its green investment plans.
The climate impact of the projects O'Neill oversaw at Woodside is substantial. Company documents show the sale and burning of its gas emitted 74 million tonnes of CO2 in 2024. The $16.5bn Scarborough project has been criticised by scientists who warn it could expose over half a million people to unprecedented heat. The recently approved $18bn Louisiana LNG project has drawn warnings from advocates that it "would export harmful gas until the 2070s."
Woodside has appointed Liz Westcott as acting CEO, effective immediately. Westcott will commence on an annual salary of $1.803m including superannuation.
