About Us

Management Team

Peter Botten
Peter Botten, Managing Director

Peter was appointed Managing Director in October 1994, having previously filled both Exploration and General Manager roles in the Company since joining in 1992. He has extensive worldwide experience in the oil and gas business, previously holding various senior technical and managerial positions in a number of listed and government owned organisations.

Garea Aopi
Gerea Aopi, Executive General Manager, PNG

Gerea was appointed to the Oil Search management team in August 1998. Gerea plays a major role in managing relationships with the PNG Government and other joint venture partners. Prior to Oil Search, Gerea was managing director of Telikom PNG Ltd, held several very senior positions in the PNG public service and served as the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Planning.

Phil Bainbridge
Philip Bainbridge, Executive General Manager, PNG LNG

Phil joined Oil Search in early 2006 after a 22 year career with BP in the operating business units, project development, commercial management and gas development. Phil is responsible for managing Oil Search's participation in the PNG LNG Project, working closely with the other joint venture partners in the Project. Prior to his current role, Phil led Oil Search's operating businesses in PNG and Middle East/North Africa as well as HSES and Procurement Projects and Subsurface functions.

Philip Caldwell
Philip Caldwell, Executive General Manager, Oil Operations

Phil joined Oil Search from British Petroleum in 1998 after a 15 year career which included Drilling Engineering and Production Operations management. He spent his first five years with Oil Search as a Gas Commercialisation representative within the ChevronTexaco and ExxonMobil project development teams which included leading the negotiations of the first PNG Gas Agreement. In 2003 he led the transition of Operatorship in PNG from ChevronTexaco to Oil Search and subsequently moved to Port Moresby to take the role of PNG Asset Manager. He was appointed EGM Oil Operations in January 2009.

Paul Crute
Paul Crute, Executive General Manager, Human Resources

Paul joined Oil Search in May 2008 after a 19 year career with BHP Billiton where he held several Executive Human Resource Management roles and obtained extensive international HR experience within the Oil and Gas industry.  Paul is responsible for establishing and aligning people management strategies, processes and systems to ensure that Oil Search attracts, develops, retains and rewards the right people with the right skills at the right time in order to achieve the strategic objectives of the organisation.

Nigel Hartley
Nigel Hartley, Executive General Manager, PNG LNG Finance

Nigel joined Oil Search in 1991 following extensive involvement with the Company as an Accountant in PNG. Formerly Oil Search's Chief Financial Officer, Nigel is responsible for arranging the very considerable financing required for the PNG LNG Project.  

Bob Marcellus
Bob Marcellus, Executive General Manager, Gas New Business

Bob has worked with Oil Search since 1993. He currently heads the Gas New Business group which seeks to commercialise the balance of the Company’s gas resources in PNG not dedicated to PNG LNG. Bob’s 35 years in the oil and gas industry in Australia and Canada has included roles in gas marketing, joint venture and business development and secondments to majors.

Austin Miller
Austin Miller, Executive General Manager, Investment & Strategy

Austin joined Oil Search in May 2003, after an 11 year career in investment banking, specialising in the energy sector. Austin's role is to lead all commercial aspects of Oil Search’s business including initiating corporate and asset related strategic planning, general commercial matters and the Company's mergers and acquisitions function.

Zlatko Todorcevski
Zlatko Todorcevski, Executive General Manager, Finance & Administration

Zlatko became Chief Financial Officer in June 2009 after a 23 year career with BHP Billiton. He has extensive worldwide experience in the oil and gas business, previously holding executive finance and planning roles within BHP Billiton. Zlatko is responsible for leading numerous group functions. Zlatko holds Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration degrees.