Josie’s life journey began in Geelong, Victoria, where she was raised in a large family with very conservative views, including strictly defined gender roles. Josie enjoyed the academic and extra curricular opportunities offered to her at school and, with funding support via scholarships, she was able to move to Melbourne to study Chemical Engineering at RMIT.
Embarking on a 25-year career in upstream energy, Josie earned recognition for her achievements in engineering, operations management, and business leadership. She became the most senior woman in offshore drilling in Australia, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. Her commitment to inclusive leadership reshaped teams, enhancing safety, culture, and performance.
Josie’s journey at Woodside included pivotal roles like Pluto Maintenance Superintendent and Head of Wells Australia. Notably, she has led ground-breaking projects, such as the Enfield well abandonment and the contracting of a world class, modern drilling rig for the Australian decommissioning, drilling and well completion programs – the first of its kind to work in this region, equipped with industry leading safety technology.
Beyond her professional success, Josie actively contributes to the industry, holding leadership roles on industry committees and mentoring others. She advocates for inclusivity, spearheading initiatives to improve offshore facilities and contracting standards. In her community involvement, Josie serves on the board of Diabetes Research WA and engages in charitable activities.