CODA Connect • July 2021
Welcome to this third edition of CODA Connect, our key communications tool to share CODA's progress with interested stakeholders. This edition provides an update on:
- a 'change of guard' for CODA
- CODA’s foundation projects
- the CODA supervisory board
- upcoming stakeholder workshops
- the National Decommissioning Research Initiative (NDRI)
New NERA General Manager Decommissioning
After many years driving collaboration on decommissioning, Andrew Taylor has passed the CODA baton to NERA's Dr Francis Norman, who now becomes General Manager Decommissioning to continue to pursue definition and implementation of CODA’s work program.
As part of his role, Andrew worked with eight operators over 18 months to design a single contract to establish the National Decommissioning Research Initiative (NDRI).
“I’ve been privileged to lead NERA’s decommissioning agenda for the past few years, firstly on the design and implementation of the NDRI and then on conceptualisation of CODA,” said Andrew.
“The NDRI process required patience, but the rewards of a single contract that enabled us to move ahead and establish the NDRI was invaluable. The NDRI is now a mature initiative, with six world-leading research projects, and this collaboration provided the bedrock for our work on establishing CODA.”
“I couldn’t be more comfortable with the direction that CODA will take under Francis’ stewardship. I know he’ll bring a detailed understanding of engineering and the service sector to CODA’s journey.”
Dr Francis Norman joined NERA as the General Manager Strategy and Innovation in 2016 and will now lead CODA into its next phase of development.
Francis can be contacted on francis.norman@nera.org.au.
CODA's Foundation Projects
Following the assessment of 52 proposals, 10 were shortlisted and invited to present their proposals to the selection panel. We commend all proponents on the high quality of proposals in a highly competitive and varied field.
After an extensive evaluation process, each project now has a successful tenderer, and CODA is currently putting the contracts in place. We look forward to sharing outcomes from the projects as they emerge.
If you would like to know more about the projects, please contact us at coda@nera.org.au.
CODA Supervisory Board
By the close of submissions, we had received 21 applications from people interested in joining CODA’s Supervisory Board. This body will provide strategic oversight of CODA’s direction to ensure it remains aligned with the objective of maximising value to Australia from late-life planning and decommissioning activities.
As interim Chair of the Supervisory Board, Dr Ross Waring will interview shortlisted candidates in the coming weeks, with the aim of having the Supervisory Board appointed in time for the upcoming stakeholder workshops.
Stakeholder Workshops
We have appointed an independent facilitator to support delivery of the upcoming CODA stakeholder workshops. These workshops will seek to deliver the following outcomes:
- Validate CODA’s key objectives.
- Define specifics of short-term work program (next 12 months) and indicative medium (1–3 years) and long term agenda (5 years+).
- Understanding of analogues that might inform CODA membership structure.
We remain committed to involving a representative selection of stakeholders in the workshops, to ensure that a wide variety of views can inform the design of CODA as this early stage of our journey. As a result, participation will be by invitation, with these distributed in the coming weeks.
National Decommissioning Research Initiative
New Program Director
With the departure of Andrew Taylor from NERA and the NDRI, Samantha Jarvis has taken over the role of NDRI Program Director. Sam brings extensive experience working with operators and the research community across collaborative projects, and also draws from her own significant experience working on environmental impact with Chevron, Santos, Woodside and Alcoa.
Sam can be reached on Samantha.jarvis@nera.org.au.
NDRI Science Symposium
The inaugural NDRI Science Symposium was held on 23 June as an online event. We were delighted to have around 100 people join us to view a star keynote from Dr Milton Love from the University of Santa Barbara California, followed by two panel sessions of NDRI Researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Murdoch University, Deakin University, the University of Newcastle and Curtin University.
Feedback from attendees was very positive.
If you missed the session, you can view the recordings on the NERA website.
