Board of Directors

MR NORMAN ZILLMAN
Non-Executive Chairman

Norman Zillman was a founder and the inaugural managing director of Queensland Gas Company Limited, responsible for the acquisition of all of the company’s coal bed methane (CBM) areas in the Surat Basin in Queensland and the discovery of its first CBM gas field with Arqyle No 1 well flowing CBM at more than 1 million cubic feet per day. He was also responsible for the successful IPO of the company, raising $12 million.

Norm was also a founder and non-executive chairman of Great Artesian Oil and Gas Limited, Blue Energy Limited, Hot Rock Limited and China Yunnan Copper Australia Limited; a founder and non-executive director of Planet Gas Limited and a founder and significant shareholder of Bandanna Energy Limited.

With 40 years' experience, Norm is non-executive co-chairman of Chinalco Yunnan Copper Resources Limited and a non-executive director of Earth Heat Resources Limited (ASX: EHR).

MR MICHAEL SANDY
Managing Director

Michael Sandy is a geologist with more than 35 years’ experience in the resources industry.  He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) majoring in geology from the University of Melbourne and is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He is the principal of consultants Michael J Sandy and Associates Pty Ltd, which provides services to energy companies in Australia, USA and internationally.  He commenced his career as a minerals geologist with various mining exploration companies as well as the Australian research organisation, CSIRO.  In 1982 he moved into petroleum geology, initially with the PNG government and later with Oil Search and as a consultant to various oil and gas exploration companies.

In 1994 Michael helped establish Novus Petroleum Limited and held various senior roles including executive committee member, Business Development Manager and President of Novus USA, the latter based in Houston, until Novus was taken over in 2004. He is a non-executive director of three ASX-listed energy companies, Caspian Oil & Gas Limited (ASX: CIG), Tap Oil Limited (ASX: TAP) and Hot Rock Limited (ASX: HRL).

MR JOHN MCALWEY
Non-Executive Director

John McAlwey is a lawyer with more than 40 years' experience in the resource, finance and property sectors.  He holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Western Australia.

John operated his own legal practice J.B.McAlwey & Co and practised as a commercial lawyer for 15 years.  He has been involved in the establishment of numerous companies and businesses including the roles of chairman and director of a number of mining and exploration listed companies. No directorships were held in listed entities for the past three years.

DR ANDREW KUGLER JR
Non-Executive Director

Dr Andrew Kugler Jr is a geologist and geophysicist with more than 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.  He holds a Bachelor of Science Geology from Yale University (USA), a PhD in Geology from University of Tasmania and is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and a registered Certified Petroleum Geologist (#4912).

Andrew is currently the President and CEO of AKG Oil Company, AKG Operating Company and a General Partner of AKG Energy, L.P. all of which are involved in oil and gas exploration, development and operations in Texas.  Although based in Austin, Texas since 1980, his companies have had offices in the USA, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.

Andrew has many years of geological and geophysical experience both internationally and in the USA.  He began his career in the petroleum industry with Continental Oil Company in 1965 and joined Gulf Oil Company in 1968, working on international projects with both companies.  In 1974 he left Gulf Oil Company to enter the oil and gas industry independently.  His companies and partners have drilled, or caused to be drilled, wells both onshore and offshore in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and hundreds of wells in the onshore continental USA.

MR KHIB KUGLER
Non-Executive Director

Khib Kugler graduated from The University of Texas with degrees in Geology and Business, and a graduate degree in Geophysics. He has more than 30 years of geological and geophysical experience both internationally and in the US, including eight years with Texaco. In 2001, Khib joined AKG as Vice President of Geology and Geophysics.