Youthful energy adds to winning formula

Weekend Australian
Saturday 18/10/2008 Page: 5

Impeccable green credentials are helping one company attract Australia's best and brightest.

Origin Energy is growing in energy exploration, production, retailing and renewables. As one of the leading providers of energy electricity, LPG, natural gas and appliances - to households and businesses throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific - it needs recruits in almost every area of its activities: technical, operational, administrative and retail. Its general manager for oil and gas production, Paul Zealand, says the company's growth is very strong. This was increased with the recent 50 per cent joint venture with ConocoPhillips in an LNG project. ConocoPhillips is the third largest energy company in the US and the fifth largest refiner in the world.

Mr Zealand, who has been with Origin Energy for three years after 25 years with Shell, says the company would keep growing for the next five years at least. It has nearly 4000 employees in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. It has more than three million customer accounts in Australia and the Pacific and more than 105,000 shareholders. He says that many graduates and non graduates are attracted to the company because of its attitude to sustainability. "Our 100 per cent wind and 100 per cent solar government accredited Green Power products are rated Australia's best in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by Green Electricity Watch, the independent review by leading Australian environmental groups," he says.

The company likes to point out that collecting solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to produce clean electricity and heat the household boiler. The selling point is that, by choosing solar energy, consumers are not only helping the environment but also saving on their energy costs. It stresses that solar energy systems are now more affordable than ever. It is this environmentally responsible culture that makes Origin Energy attractive to many young recruits, according to Mr Zealand. In South Australia, the company is working on revolutionary Sliver technology to create innovative and cost-effective systems.

It says its Adelaide Solar Cities project, which it is leading, will deliver significant benefits to the South Australian community. "Origin Energy's rapid and sustained growth is the element that gives a youthful feel to the company," Mr Zealand says. "People joining us find that their values are our values. They find themselves aligned with what we are doing. It's our character, that's who we are." The company is moving ahead with a range of new projects across the supply chain from coal seam gas and offshore exploration and production projects to the expansion of its generating and retailing capabilities. It takes pride in being one of Australia's 25 leading listed companies. Its expansion is across Australia and internationally.

It is an equal opportunity employer and Mr Zealand stresses that it aims to provide a safe environment for people to work. It wants it people to be motivated to achieve. Origin Energy also helps guide people to study further in order to enhance their employment prospects. It provides mentoring and encourages the professional and personal development of each individual it employs. "We are committed to the continuous improvement in the sustainability of the environment, and in social and economic activities, and offer great career opportunities and attractive benefits," Mr Zealand adds.

Graduates across a variety of disciplines work within the company because of the varied nature of its business in Australia and New Zealand. Origin Energy also promotes vacation and work experience opportunities. Mr Zealand says that one of the attributes of a young expanding company was that new recruits achieved positions of responsibility very quickly after they joined the organisation. "We have a strong graduate development program and our people soon reach positions of responsibility giving a great sense of worth," he says.

Origin Energy came about in February, 2000, when shareholders of Boral approved a de-merger of its energy business from its building and construction materials business. In the next couple of years, it increased its customer base and electricity retailing with the acquisition of the Powercor and Citipower electricity retail business in Victoria. It has Otway Basin investments and substantial interests in Queensland, especially around Roma. It was responsible for the construction and commissioning of the SEA Gas pipeline linking Victoria and South Australia's gas markets. It crossed the Tasman in 2004 when it acquired a 50 per cent interest in the Kupe gas field and acquired Edison Mission's 51.4 per cent interest in Contact Energy.