Leadership and Governance

Charles Randell, Chair

Dr. Randell began his oil and gas career in 1981 on seismic survey vessels. His foray into research and development began as a technician at C-CORE. Serving as President and CEO of C-CORE in 2006, he led the corporation through significant growth and expansion. Dr. Randell retired from C-CORE in 2017 and now consults through his company, Magellan Consulting Ltd.

Dr. Randell has degrees in Electrical Engineering from Lakehead University, and M.A Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering and Computer Science from University of Victoria. He was named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs (2012), and was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2014).

Wayne Chipman

Wayne Chipman started his 35-year oil and gas industry career in Calgary, Alberta before returning to Newfoundland and Labrador to work with the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, where he spent more than 20 years. Mr. Chipman was instrumental in setting up Nalcor Energy’s Oil and Gas division where he worked from 2007 to 2011. While working with Nalcor Energy he was a member of the team that negotiated equity interests in the White Rose, Hebron and Hibernia Southern Extension fields.

Wayne Chipman is a graduate of Memorial University (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering). In 2013, Mr. Chipman was awarded Noia’s Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of his contribution to the oil and gas industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Bernard J. Collins

Bernard J. Collins is the Chair and former President of PF Collins. Tasked with developing PF Collins’ involvement in the emerging offshore petroleum industry, under his leadership the company grew from a small customs brokerage firm into a progressive integrated logistics provider.

Mr. Collins has received Noia’s Outstanding Contribution Award (2005) and the Gardiner Centre Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2012). He has been listed among Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEOs and inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.

Mr. Collins holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University.

Richard J. Daw

Richard J. Daw was a partner with Deloitte for almost 30 years where he was an advisor to oil and gas contractors on tax and organizational matters. After retirement, Mr. Daw became an Executive in Residence with Memorial University’s Faculty of Business and a founding member of the Institute of Corporate Directors – NL Chapter. Mr. Daw is a member of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Atlantic Canada and the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Leslie Grattan

Owner of Leslie Grattan and Associates Inc., Ms. Grattan provides environmental consulting services. Ms. Grattan has held senior environmental management positions and has extensive experience in offshore oil and gas, hydroelectricity generation, civil construction, and aquaculture. Ms. Grattan is Chair of the Oceans Learning Partnership, Director of the Atlantic Regional Board of the Nature Conservancy Canada, and winner of the NEIA 2018 Industry Champion Award. She is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Women in Science and Engineering Newfoundland and Labrador and is an Honorary Member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Shelly Leighton

Shelly Leighton is a graduate of University of New Brunswick (Bachelor of Science and Engineering in Geodesy and Geomatics) and Memorial University (Masters in Oil and Gas Engineering). Ms. Leighton has spent several years working in the offshore oil and gas industry as well as on heavy civil projects in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ms. Leighton is the owner and CEO of Advanced Access Engineering – an engineering firm specializing in autonomous vehicles. Ms. Leighton is an instructor at the Marine Institute and Chair of the school’s Ocean Mapping Program. She is an advocate for women in STEM and is a role model for young women interested in careers in science and technology.

Jennifer Warren

Jennifer Warren is a graduate of Memorial University (Bachelor of Commerce Co-Op) and a Chartered Professional Accountant. Ms. Warren has over 16 years’ experience in finance, risk, and compliance for large, complex and Crown corporations and has extensive experience in the natural resource sector and highly-regulated industries. Ms. Warren has held senior roles with Deloitte, Voisey’s Bay Nickel, Fortis Inc., Nalcor Energy, and RSA Canada. She is currently the Director, Compliance and Governance with Johnson Insurance.

Jim Keating

Jim Keating has more than 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas and energy sector. As CEO of the Province’s oil and gas Crown corporation, Jim oversees the development of the Province’s offshore oil and gas resources, as well as Bull Arm Fabrication. He is accountable on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, for its interests in the Hebron, White Rose Expansion, and Hibernia Southern Extension projects, the potential Bay du Nord Project as well as creating a geoscience-led exploration attraction strategy that has created over $4 billion in exploration work commitments from international oil and gas explorers.

Prior to the establishment of OilCo in 2019, Jim was Executive Vice President at OilCo’s legacy company – Nalcor Energy. During his time at Nalcor, Jim held various roles important to the region’s non-renewable and renewable energy sector. His responsibilities included the executive responsible for the 5,400 megawatt hydroelectric plant at Churchill Falls, Labrador, the engineering division of the Province’s regulated utility Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, as well as leading the team that established the Province’s first large-scale wind energy projects.

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Kris Costello

Currently responsible for OilCo’s existing assets and potential new assets, Kris began working in the oil and gas industry in the late 1990s and has filled a variety of roles in the onshore and offshore sectors. Kris has worked on all producing projects offshore Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) in various phases of development and has been a member of a number of exploration/delineation campaigns.

Kris has had an increasing focus on emissions reduction opportunities since 2016, and strongly believes that new projects in NL’s offshore are not only possible in meeting climate and net zero goals, but can actually enable the province and the country to meet those goals. Kris has an engineering degree, a law degree, and a master’s degree in oil and gas studies. He is a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN), a licensed Professional Engineer, and a board member with econext, the province’s environmental industry association.

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Matthew Balsom

Matthew is an experienced professional with a diverse background in finance and operations management. He currently holds a strategic role in OilCo, where he provides direction on financial planning, commercial activities, and risk management. His responsibilities involve overseeing a team that supports the company’s operations and exploration efforts to achieve a high level of corporate performance.

With more than 20 years of experience, Matthew has worked in various industries, including renewable energy, downstream oil and gas production, mining, aerospace, and retail. This broad exposure to different sectors contributes to his ability to bring unique insights and perspectives to OilCo’s operations.

Matthew is a Chartered Professional Accountant and is an active member in the community volunteering his time as Treasurer of the Dr. Jack Hand Legacy Foundation.

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Steve Emberley

Steve Emberley has over 20 years’ experience working as a geoscientist in various sectors of the oil and gas industry in Newfoundland and Labrador and Western Canada. He joined OilCo in 2014, where he is currently Manager of Subsurface in the operations group overseeing subsurface aspects of the company’s offshore equity stakes.

Steve is also responsible for progressing emerging technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Province’s offshore, where he has been collaborating with the local energy and environment industries. Steve graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Earth Sciences from Memorial University and a M.Sc. in Geology from the University of Calgary focused on the geochemistry of carbon dioxide storage at an enhanced oil recovery site. He is a licensed Professional Geoscientist and is a board member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Karen O’Neill

Karen has worked for more than 25 years in the communications field, with the majority of that time in the renewable and non-renewable energy and electricity sectors. She has worked on many interesting and unique projects, including the Province’s first large-scale wind projects, a wind-hydrogen-diesel demonstration project, environmental assessments, and a public inquiry, to name just a few.

Prior to joining OilCo in 2021, Karen led the communications team during the construction of Nalcor Energy’s Lower Churchill Project. During her 10 years on the hydroelectric and transmission project, Karen was a member of the management team, overseeing strategic communications, public relations, crisis and issues management, and government and Indigenous relations.

Karen is a graduate of Memorial University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) degree. She has a passion for promoting Newfoundland and Labrador’s tremendous energy resources and potential.

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Jonathan Drummond

Jonathan Drummond started work with Bull Arm in 2009 as the Site Superintendent responsible for day-to-day site activities. In 2013, Jonathan transitioned to his current role as Operations Manager, responsible for long-term site operations, tenant/commercial relations, and business development.

Jonathan has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Memorial University and is a licensed Professional Engineer. While at OilCo’s predecessor company, Nalcor Energy, Jonathan worked in several departments, including engineering, operations, and business development on projects related to wind, hydrogen, and hydroelectric energy.

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Mike White

Mike White has been working in the oil and gas sector for 17 years. Mike’s passion for the industry began in 2005 as a Shift Lead Navigator acquiring 3D/4D and Wide Azimuth seismic surveys offshore worldwide. Mike joined OilCo’s predecessor company Nalcor Energy-Oil and Gas in 2012.

As the Team Lead of Technical Services, Information Technology, and Information Management, Mike is responsible for data and information management, GIS mapping, data analytics, and, software and technology management. Mike also oversees the design and development of OilCo’s geographical information application, Insight

Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Memorial University along with a Technical Diploma in Geomatics Engineering from the College of the North Atlantic. In 2014, Mike was awarded Nalcor Energy’s President’s Award for Business Excellence.

When not at work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys, coaching baseball and enjoying the outdoors.

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