In this episode, CEO Francis Norman speaks with Dawn Robertson, Global Director for Oil & Gas at Bureau Veritas, about looking at decommissioning through a different lens.

Dawn has worked across the decommissioning sector for more than a decade, developing Bureau Veritas' global decommissioning offering and working with operators, contractors, regulators and others across the supply chain. With a background in business rather than engineering or science, she brings a commercial perspective to a sector that is often viewed through a technical lens.

Francis and Dawn discuss the changing conversation around decommissioning, including the growing focus on financial exposure, more realistic cost estimates, residual value and the potential to reuse and repurpose existing infrastructure. They also explore why decommissioning should be considered much earlier in an asset's life, including designing new infrastructure with future repurposing opportunities in mind.

The conversation also takes a detour into Dawn's other business, a wraparound childcare service she started to solve a problem she was experiencing herself. What began as a solution for her own family has grown into a business supporting hundreds of children and their families in the north-east of Scotland.

In this final episode of the year, Pawel Rybczynski, Brand and Communications Lead at the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA), is joined by Francis Norman, CEO of CODA, to reflect on 2025 and what it has meant for the Australian decommissioning industry.

The conversation looks back on key milestones for CODA, including the delivery of the Introduction to Decommissioning course, the Waste Disposal Pathways Report and Database, the Northern Territory study, the establishment of Special Interest Groups, and the evolution of CODA’s brand and industry role.

Francis shares his perspective on how Australia’s decommissioning capability is developing compared to global markets, where key opportunities exist, and the importance of collaboration across industry, government and research, including the significance of recent NDRI work and insights gained through partner engagement locally and internationally.

The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on what’s ahead in early 2026 and the opportunities that lie ahead for the sector.

In this episode, CEO Francis Norman and General Manager Rean Gilbert are joined by Kelly Smith, Group Head of Environmental and Decommissioning at ASCO, to explore the complexities of waste management in offshore decommissioning. The conversation covers the importance of early planning, the wide range of waste streams generated during decommissioning, and the risks created by fragmented supply chains and poor handovers. Kelly also shares insights into managing NORM, applying circular economy principles, the hidden costs of waste management, and the lessons Australia can draw from the more mature North Sea market. The discussion also looks at how technology, data and traceability are shaping the future of decommissioning waste management.

Get in touch with ASCO via their website - https://ascoworld.com/

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-jane-smith-crwm-mciwm-02057655/

In this episode, CODA Brand and Communications Lead Pawel Rybczynski asks CEO Francis Norman to share reflections from his recent travels across Europe, including stops in Aberdeen, Bergen, Stavanger and Copenhagen. They explore how international collaboration, particularly through forums like the Perth-Aberdeen Gateway and the UK-Australia MOU, is shaping Australia’s decommissioning landscape. From the transferability of technology and the challenges of qualifications, to the global push for reuse and recycling, Francis and Pawel discuss what Australia can learn from more established jurisdictions, and how the local industry is rising to the challenge.

The discussion also covers circular economy initiatives like Nordic Circles, infrastructure readiness, and the social value drawing people into the sector. With a clear-eyed look at the sunk cost mindset and a call for broader industry recognition, it’s a thoughtful update on how decommissioning is evolving globally and what it means for us in Australia.

In this episode, CEO Francis Norman sits down with Sue McCarrey, CEO of NOPSEMA, to discuss the regulator's role in Australia's evolving offshore decommissioning industry.

The conversation explores the significant progress being made across Australia's decommissioning landscape, the importance of planning and risk management, and how NOPSEMA assesses new technologies and approaches while maintaining safety and environmental standards.

Sue also shares her perspective on major upcoming projects, alternative end states, the lessons Australia is drawing from international experience, and the opportunities to continue building Australia's decommissioning capability into the future.

CEO Francis Norman is joined by Tommy Angell and Rachael Brand from Offshore Network to discuss the evolution of decommissioning conferences and the growing momentum across the offshore decommissioning sector.

The conversation explores how Offshore Network first entered the decommissioning space, the role conferences play in bringing together operators, regulators, contractors, and the wider supply chain, and how industry collaboration has evolved over recent years. Tommy and Rachael reflect on the rapid growth of D&A Australia, the increasing openness across the sector, and the importance of creating environments where organisations can openly share both successes and challenges.

Francis, Tommy, and Rachael also discuss the similarities emerging across international markets, the value of face-to-face engagement in an increasingly digital world, and some of the major themes shaping current industry conversations, including vessel scarcity, ports and infrastructure, and collaboration.

The episode also provides a preview of this year’s D&A Australia conference, taking place in Perth on 23–24 June 2026.