Meet our Executive Team
Brett Woods
MANAGING DIRECTOR &
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BSc (Hons) Geology and Geophysics, AMP Harvard
Mr Woods is a leading senior executive in the energy sector with over 25 years of professional experience.
He has an outstanding record of delivering major energy projects, cost and operational discipline and growing businesses in the UK, Africa, Australasia and North America.
Mr Woods began his career with Woodside Energy and has held senior technical roles in Australia and Africa. In 2007, Mr Woods became Managing Director and CEO of African start-up Rialto Energy.
In 2013 Mr Woods joined Santos and led the Western Australia and Northern Territory Operating Division, playing a pivotal role in the successful transformation of the Cooper Basin and Gladstone LNG assets.
Mr Woods subsequently assumed responsibility for Santos’ operated infrastructure (LNG, domestic gas, oil fractionation facilities and pipelines) and developed decarbonisation, clean fuels and CCS opportunities whilst leading Santos’ Energy Solutions business. He also played key roles in the successful acquisitions of Quadrant Energy, ConocoPhillips’ Northern Australian business and Oil Search by Santos.
He was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Beach Energy in January 2024, where he has led a transformation of the company by engaging employees to take an owner’s mindset throughout the business.
Brett Woods
Anne-Marie Barbaro
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
B Com, CA (ANZ)
Ms Barbaro is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ of professional experience, including more than 15 years in the energy sector.
Ms Barbaro has held various finance leadership roles since joining Beach in 2018 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in July 2022. Ms Barbaro is responsible for the finance, corporate planning, tax, treasury, IT, contracts and procurement, insurance and investor relations functions.
Prior to her commencement at Beach, Ms Barbaro has held roles at Santos across finance, marketing and trading, as well as finance roles at Australian Naval Infrastructure and PwC.
Anne-Marie Barbaro
Glenn Watt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
BEng (Petroleum), CP Eng
Mr Watt has over 25 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, having held various drilling and completion management and asset executive roles during his career.
Mr Watt has extensive experience in Canada, the USA and Australia while actively championing safety and performance improvement initiatives with companies including PennWest, Enerplus Resources and Santos. Prior to Beach, Mr Watt was at Santos in the role of Vice President Upstream QLD/NSW.
Mr Watt is a chartered engineer with Engineers Australia and joined Beach in September 2024 in the role of Executive Vice President Onshore Assets. He was subsequently appointed to the role of Executive Vice President Onshore and Offshore Assets in December 2024 and Chief Operating Officer in September 2025. In the role, Mr Watt is accountable for improving asset value including safety, production and financial performance as part of the overall group portfolio.
Glenn Watt
Bill Ovenden
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
EXPLORATION & SUBSURFACE
BSc (Hons) Geology and Geophysics
Mr Ovenden has over 40 years’ experience in the upstream oil and gas industry.
He has been instrumental in the delivery of successful exploration and development projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and South America, with companies including Santos, ExxonMobil, Kufpec, Ampolex, and Sun Oil.
Mr Ovenden’s experience includes eight years of exploration and subsurface executive accountability at Santos.
Mr Ovenden holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), majoring in Geology and Geophysics, from the University of Queensland.
He joined Beach in April 2024 in the role of Executive Vice President Exploration and Subsurface. In the role, Mr Ovenden’s responsibilities include group exploration, new ventures, subsurface assurance and the vitality of the subsurface community.
Bill Ovenden
David Ross
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
SAFETY & TECHNICAL
BEng(Mech)(Hons), GradDipMgmt, FIEAust, GAICD
Mr Ross has over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas sector, covering all aspects of the oil and gas supply chain, both upstream and midstream.
Prior to joining Beach, Mr Ross held various leadership, safety, project, technical, maintenance and operational roles in Australia, Canada, South-East Asia, Europe, America and Japan. He is a driven leader renowned for his delivery-focused approach and ability to drive positive change in business outcomes.
Mr Ross holds a Bachelor Engineering Mechanical (Hons), and Graduate Diploma Management. He is a Registered Engineer (QLD and VIC) and Fellow Engineers Australia, Engineering Executive and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Mr Ross joined Beach in 2021 in the role of General Manager Victoria and was subsequently appointed to the role of Executive Vice President Safety and Technical in April 2024. Mr Ross is responsible for technical safety, efficiency and governance.
David Ross
Christian Paech
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
LEGAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS and RISK
LLB (Hons), B.Com, GAICD
Mr Paech has over 30 years of legal and advisory experience, specialising in corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, governance and risk management, government policy, environment and sustainability and litigation. He is also a highly regarded public company executive and independent non-executive director.
Mr Paech has significant oil and gas industry experience, having held various senior roles at Santos Limited including as General Counsel from 2010 to 2019. During his time at Santos, he was instrumental in the execution of several large-scale transactions including the PNG LNG debt financing and the sell down of Santos’ interests in GLNG to Petronas, Total and Kogas.
Mr Paech holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commence from the University of Adelaide and is a member and graduate of the AICD. He has also completed Harvard Law School’s Leadership in Corporate Counsel Executive program.
Mr Paech joined Beach in August 2024 in the role of Executive Vice President – Legal and Corporate Affairs and Joint Company Secretary. Mr Paech is responsible for group Legal, Risk, External and Community Affairs, Regulatory Approvals and Internal Audit.
Christian Paech
Melanie Rudloff
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
PEOPLE & CULTURE
BMgmt(LabRel), DipBus(HRMIndRel)
Ms. Rudloff is an experienced HR leader with more than 25 years of expertise, including 15 years in the oil and gas sector. She has significant experience in workforce optimisation, executive coaching, and leading large-scale transformation initiatives across diverse industries.
Prior to joining Beach, Ms Rudloff was with RAA, where she led the Employee Experience team, overseeing Organisational Development and Operational Business Partnering. Her passion lies in building strong workplace cultures that drive innovation and enhance employer brand and organisational success.
Ms Rudloff holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of South Australia and joined Beach in October 2024. She is responsible for leading the company’s human resources, organisational development, and remuneration functions.
Melanie Rudloff