Geoff Wake is an accomplished environmental engineer and scientist with over 20 years’ professional experience, holding positions across academia, the offshore petroleum industry, private consulting, and with the Commonwealth offshore energy regulator. His extensive expertise and diverse career background make him a trusted authority in metocean and environmental engineering.
With a proven track record for delivering projects within budget and schedule, Geoff consistently works to identify and implement opportunities for improvement. His technical acumen and strategic approach to projects have made him an invaluable asset to the teams he has led.
Geoff has an excellent understanding of onshore and offshore petroleum legislation as well as all other Western Australian and Commonwealth environmental legislation. He has successfully gained environmental approvals for major capital projects, including preparing environmental impact assessments, environmental management plans, and undertaking technical modelling studies for various marine discharges/emissions.
Driven by a commitment to excellence, Geoff leverages his expertise to deliver sustainable solutions that align with regulatory requirements and best practices in environmental management.
What do you find most rewarding about the work that you do?
I enjoy mentoring our junior team members, helping them grow and develop their skills. It’s rewarding to know that I’m preparing the next generation to lead environmental management with confidence and care. And perhaps one day I’ll pass the baton and enjoy a well-earned retirement in the South of France!
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I’m developing a number of Environment Plans (EPs), which are secondary approvals required by Australian Commonwealth Regulations prior to any activity being undertaken in Commonwealth waters (waters further than 3 nautical miles off the coast). The EPs are assessed by the Commonwealth offshore regulator, National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA, also my former employer), to assess whether the impacts and risks to the environment associated with the activity are going to be appropriately managed.
How can our clients benefit from this service/particular innovation?
One of the key parts of these documents is the commitments made to ensure that the impact to the environment is minimized (as low as reasonably practicable). Once an EP has been approved, the commitments will be inspected by the NOPSEMA to ensure they are in place and are effective in achieving their goals. Having worked for both NOPSEMA and the Oil and Gas Industry prior, we are better placed than most consultants to ensure commitments made in an EP can be effectively implemented and managed by the Client to ensure compliance and achieve the expected environmental outcome during the life cycle of the offshore activity.
What is a little-known fact about you?
As an avid skier, I have been lucky enough to ski in seven different countries…but never in Australia!
