Hannah Brown

Hannah Brown has over twenty years of experience working in environmental management for industry, including in oil & gas, coal and alumina refining. She has extensive experience in the implementation of programs to manage compliance with all aspects of environmental regulatory requirements, to monitor and manage environmental performance and to drive continuous improvement. Her experience spans all phases of development (construction, commissioning, operations and decommissioning) and both corporate and operational roles.

Hannah’s is passionate about demonstrating the potential benefits that can be achieved when industry and biodiversity coexist. Hannah maintains a keen interest in all aspects environmental management and has a strong focus on improving conservation outcomes in relation to industrial development. Hannah has been integral to the development and implementation of many industry-led environmental management plans and programs, including most recently, the development of net zero by 2050 Greenhouse Gas Management Plans for Chevron’s Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities.

Industry and Biodiversity: How Can Industry Contribute to Improving Biodiversity Outcomes?

Western Australia is simultaneously renowned for the scale of its primary resources industry and its rich, diverse and unique biodiversity.  Whilst the mining and resources sector can present significant risk to biodiversity, it can also present a means for financing research, innovation and management measures which could improve biodiversity outcomes over the long term.  Operating the Chevron Australia Gorgon Gas Treatment Plant on the A Class Nature Reserve of Barrow Island is a prime example of this dichotomy between potential risk and benefit.  Chevron Australia’s environment management program strives to minimise the impact and risk associated with its operations here in Western Australia and, at the same time, positively contribute to environmental outcomes.  Significant work undertaken over the last 15 plus years has contributed to knowledge of biodiversity across the areas in which we operate, particularly Barrow Island, led to technological developments in environmental management and set new standards for management options.  But is it enough?  Can industry’s contribution be more effective?  Can industry, regulators and the conservation community work together to better understand each other’s drivers, such that we can align our agendas to improve outcomes for biodiversity?