Origin Energy has appointed Mr John Akehurst as an independent non-executive director to the Origin Board, with immediate effect.

Mr Akehurst is currently a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia and a non-executive director of CSL Limited, Securency Limited, the University of Western Australia’s Business School and Curtin University’s Sustainable Development Institute. He is Chairman of the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases and of the Fortitude Foundation.

Mr Akehurst has extensive relevant experience as a senior executive in the oil and gas industry with Royal Dutch Shell (1976-1996) and as Chief Executive Officer of Woodside Petroleum Limited (1996-2003).

He is a former director and Chairman of Alinta Limited and of Coogee Resources Limited as well as former senior adviser to McKinsey and Company.

Origin Chairman, Mr Kevin McCann said that the Board is very pleased that Mr Akehurst has agreed to join the Board. Origin has extensive interests in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) through its 50 per cent ownership of Australia Pacific LNG joint venture which is undertaking a study of the feasibility of establishing a LNG project based on its Coal Seam Gas resources in the Surat and Bowen Basins in Queensland.

“John brings a wealth of LNG management and oil and gas industry experience to the Origin Board and this will provide a significant contribution to Origin’s business and future developments,” said Mr McCann.

Tags: Origin Energy