Among other awards given at the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Conference & Exhibition in June, Reg Nelson took home the medal named after his former mentor, Reg Sprigg.

APPEA Chairman Eric Streitberg presented the award, paying tribute to Mr Nelson’s lifetime involvement in, contribution to, and significant success in Australia’s oil and gas industry.

“Reg Nelson is a giant and a true gentleman of our industry. He is a sought after industry expert and a highly successful business leader who inspires everyone around him to share his passion for exploring and achieving the full potential of Australia’s oil and gas industry,” said Mr Streitberg.

“Reg’s contribution has not been limited to his business activities; during his career he advanced the development and success of the industry as a whole through his involvement with APPEA. He was elected a councillor of APPEA in 2001 and served as Chairman from 2004–06. His success advocating key industry issues to government owes much to his co-operative, statesman-like approach,” he said.

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Mr Nelson’s background in electrical engineering, geology, maths and physics led him to begin his career as a geologist. In 1992, he joined Beach Petroleum as a Director, and by 1995 had become Managing Director.

Before Beach, Reg worked in the field as a geologist and spent a very successful part of his career as Chief Geophysicist and Director of Mineral Development for the South Australian Mines Department in Adelaide.

Accepting the award, Mr Nelson spoke warmly of his good friend Reg Sprigg and told the story of how he came to be involved with Beach and Mr Sprigg. In the mid 1980s, the company fell into the hands of “fraudsters who were systematically stripping it of its wealth and assets. Reg [Sprigg], who had been ousted from the board, was watching from outside with grave concern and he shared those concerns with me,” said Mr Nelson.

In the early 1990s, Mr Nelson became aware of a move to replace the Beach “board fraudsters” with a new independent board. “And I can say that in 1990, at APPEA here in Darwin, on the esplanade I was shanghai’d by Reg and his wife Griselda [Paterson]. That night was yet another Sprigg catalyst which resulted in a change in my career direction.

“So it was when the newly elected board at Beach was seeking another independent director, I agreed to leave a very secure and quite senior position and launch into unchartered waters,” he said.

“To me, APPEA, Darwin and the name Reg Sprigg have always been a felicitous combination.

“I really am truly honoured to accept this award in the memory of a good friend, an oil man, a great Australian and founding Chairman of this organisation.”

Mr Nelson also paid tribute to his wife and the “dedicated team of people sharing the same personal risks” as himself who had been involved in building Beach into the substantial company it is today. “This award is as much for you as it is for me,” he said.

Mr Streitberg said “Reg Nelson takes out the award named after his great mate Reg Sprigg and the reputation of the Reg Sprigg award continues as an honour for those legends who have made an exceptional contribution to our industry.”