CO2CRC Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff O’Brien, has been awarded the prestigious Lewis G. Weeks Memorial Gold Medal, recognising a lifetime of excellence and leadership in petroleum geoscience and exploration across Australia.
Presented on 28 May at the Australian Energy Producers (AEP) 2025 Conference, the Lewis G Weeks Memorial Gold Medal honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to petroleum exploration and production. It commemorates Dr Lewis G. Weeks, whose pioneering work in the Bass Strait helped shape Australia’s modern energy landscape.
Dr O’Brien, a distinguished geoscientist and petroleum geologist, was celebrated for a career spanning more than four decades, during which he has significantly influenced exploration practices, regulatory reform and scientific mentoring in Australia’s energy sector.
With over 100 technical papers and a similar number of abstracts to his name, Dr O’Brien is widely respected for both his academic and applied contributions.
Dr O’Brien’s work has been repeatedly recognised by peers: he was the senior author on three Best Technical Paper awards— in 1995 for high-resolution depositional zones (HRDZs), 2009 for petroleum system success factors in the Otway Basin, and in 2024 for advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) regulatory frameworks.
Beyond technical achievements, Dr O’Brien has mentored generations of early- and mid-career geoscientists and has been instrumental in building successful scientific teams and programs. His career has included senior roles at Geoscience Australia, Geoscience Victoria, and NOPTA, alongside industry and consulting positions.
“It is phenomenal and a well-deserved recognition for Geoff,” said CO2CRC Chief Executive Officer Dr Matthias Raab. “The Lewis G Weeks Memorial Gold Medal honours a lifetime of contributions Geoff has made to Australia’s prosperity as a geoscientist throughout his distinguished career.”
The Lewis G Weeks Memorial Medal represents the third award CO2CRC received in May 2025, following an award of SGD$100,000 at the liveability challenge, and the win at the Excellence in Innovation Award.
About the Lewis G Weeks Memorial Gold Medal
The Lewis G. Weeks Gold Memorial Medal not only acknowledges individual achievement but also pays tribute to the legacy of innovation and collaboration that drives progress in the sector.
