Andrew Meaney - Chair

RAM Services, General Manager NT

Andrew Meaney has served on the board of the Energy Club NT since 2019 and as Chair of the Board since 2021. With over two decades of experience in leadership roles in the energy industry across Australia, Andrew brings a wealth of expertise to his role on the Energy Club NT Board. Since becoming an Energy Club member in 2016, Andrew has been a consistent and passionate participant in sponsorship and events and he remains influential in leading the continued growth and success of the organisation.

Andrew has a wide range of experience within the energy industry having led the pursuit of strategy and tenders and managed significant LNG maintenance contracts. Andrew also held a senior role with a key Sub-Contractor on the Sundrop Farms project in South Australia which is a concentrated solar power (CSP) tower facility with 23,000 mirrors to supply electricity, heat and desalinated seawater.

Currently the General Manager at RAM Services, Andrew leads with a strategic focus on safety, people, strategy, growth and profit and loss (P&L) management. Andrew's leadership is built on a strong commitment to growth, both in business and in the development of individuals and teams.

Andrew's community involvement extends beyond the Energy Club NT. Since relocating from Adelaide with his family in 2016, Andrew has been a dedicated volunteer at Nightcliff Football Club serving both as a Board Member and coach. Andrew is currently a senior assistant coach with the Women's Premier League football team, showcasing a passion for leadership, volunteering and mentoring.

As a passionate leader, community volunteer and coach, Andrew exemplifies a commitment to excellence, growth, and the development of those around him. His leadership within the Energy Club NT and the broader Darwin community continues to have a positive impact.

Cassy Schmidt - Vice Chair

Program Director, National Decommissioning Research Initiative - CODA

Cassy is an Environmental Scientist with a background in Environmental Impact assessment and compliance monitoring in the marine and nearshore environment. Cassy is a scientist at heart who can articulate the energy sectors demands locally and internationally and understands the importance of the energy transition along with the community needs and expectations.

Cassy has recently moved into the offshore decommissioning role, which is a perfect example of how a growing Australian industry can provide a fantastic opportunity for NT Energy club members to expand into a new industry which is just on our doorstep. Opportunity and potential, so much of it here in the Territory

Sarah Hohnholt - Secretary

Principal Commercial Adviser (Growth), INPEX

Sarah is a Principal Commercial Adviser with INPEX, focusing on hydrogen, decarbonisation and backfill opportunities for Ichthys LNG in Darwin.  As a Senior Lawyer for INPEX, Sarah is also engaged on an environmental offset conservation project in West Arnhem Land with Aboriginal Traditional Owners.

With a legal and commercial background, Sarah has extensive experience in subsea construction, offshore drilling, LNG sales and marketing, resource asset acquisitions and divestments, and HSE matters.  Sarah has negotiated multi-billion dollar contracts and works collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes. 

Sarah is skilled in advising boards and executive management and managing complex project matters from a legal and commercial perspective.

Prior to joining INPEX in 2010, Sarah worked for subsea contractor Technip in Perth, Paris and Malaysia, and in private practice with law firm, Minter Ellison.

Sonia Harvey - Treasurer

Community & Government Relations, Empire Energy Group

Sonia is an experienced board member, business manager and leader with a significant focus on working within the resources and energy sectors and is currently the Vice President Community & Government Relations with Empire Energy Group. Sonia is the founder of Energy Club NT and held the position of CEO from 2015-2021.

Sonia's professional focus involves stakeholder engagement working with senior executives, government representatives, and local businesses facilitating symbiotic relationships across the energy sector. While being actively immersed in working with stakeholders in remote regions of the Territory, Sonia has also developed an avid focus on developing positive relationships with pastoral, regional and indigenous communities.  

In her current role, and as a long-term Territorian, she works with these various stakeholders to assist in progressing industry development and onshore gas exploration and appraisal. Sonia has a strategic passion for responsible resource development and social performance to contribute to positive outcomes for industry and the wider community.

David Green - Director 

Group Manager Commercial and Business Development, Senex 

Dave has 25 years experience in the energy and petroleum industry and joined the Energy Club NT Board as a director in 2020.  He has Bachelor’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Commerce.  Dave started his career as a Mechanical/Projects Engineer at Exxon Mobil subsidiary Qenos where he worked for 10 years, initially in engineering and process roles before moving into strategy and commercial management.

Dave spent 15 years at energy infrastructure company, Jemena, running the Gas Pipeline business unit before moving into the role of GM Strategy and Business Development.  In this role he was responsible for pursuing and leading multiple successful asset development and M&A bid teams as well as strategy development for the gas business. In particular, Dave led the successful bid team for the Northern Gas Pipeline working closely with the NT government and Territory businesses to invest $800M connecting the Northern Territory to the East Coast gas market.

More recently Dave worked for Tamboran Resources, developing the of energy and midstream infrastructure for Tamboran’s Beetaloo Basin project, and has just joined Senex Energy as Group Manager Commercial and Business Development, Senex   .

Prior to working with Tamboran Dave was General Manager Strategy & Business Development, responsible for pursuing and leading both asset development and M&A opportunity teams and strategy development for the gas business. In this role Dave lead the successful bid teams for the Northern Gas Pipeline working closely with the NT government and Territory businesses to invest $800M connecting the Northern Territory to the East Coast gas market.

Andrew Saxelby - Director

Operations Manager Northern Australia, GHD

Andrew has 29 years’ experience working in the energy and resources industry. He started his career as an electrical apprentice in 1994 at Ergon Energy, Queensland, before joining multi-disciplinary consulting firm, GHD in 2001. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers.

During his time, he has worked in the energy space in Brisbane, Mackay and Darwin with 16 years’ experience as a consultant in the Northern Territory. Andrew is currently GHD’s Operations Manager for Northern Australia, covering offices from Gladstone to Cairns in Queensland and all of the NT. During this time, Andrew has played a key role in the delivery of energy projects supporting the energy transition to private and public sector clients in the NT.

A selection of these projects include:

• Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct
• Darwin-Katherine Battery Energy Storage System
• INPEX Ichthys Combined Cycle Power Plant
• Various large Solar PV facilities
• Gas-fired Generation projects at Weddell, Channel Island, Katherine, Tenant Creek, Owen Springs and Yulara power stations
• HV transmission projects including Frances Bay, Archer, Woolner, Lovegrove and Owen Springs substations

Andrew is an active member with Engineers Australia and has previously participated on the Consult Australia Committee and Minerals Council Australia Economic Sub-Committee.