From left, Neil Gordon (Global Underwater Hub), Councillor Steve Delaney (Aberdeen Deputy Lord Provost), Dr Francis Norman (Centre of Decommissioning Australia), Angela Kelly PSM (Agent General of Western Australia) and Brett Jackson (Granite PR).
It was lucky number seven for a popular business event dedicated to creating and fostering links between the North-east of Scotland and Perth, Western Australia, as it held its largest ever gathering on Tuesday, January 28.
A record attendance of almost 100 delegates turned out for the seventh annual Aberdeen-Perth WA Gateway which was hosted by Granite PR and held in association with the Government of Western Australia and the Centre of Decommissioning Australia at Aberdeen’s Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel.
The lunchtime session kicked off the 2025 series of Granite PR’s Gateway events which link key global hubs and provide platforms for international networking, knowledge sharing and discussion.
With an area covering one third of the Australian continent and surging interest as an investment destination, the packed session explored some of the opportunities in Perth and Western Australia including decommissioning, renewables and the transition to net zero.
Chairing the event was Dr Francis Norman of the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) who introduced keynote speakers Neil Gordon, CEO of Global Underwater Hub and the Agent General of Western Australia, Angela Kelly PSM.
The new addition of a panel discussion, chaired by David Burrows from the Government of Western Australia, included contributions from the likes of Cut UK Ltd, Saturn Fluid Engineering, the Net Zero Technology Centre, Scottish Enterprise and BlueOcean Marine Technology Systems.
The busy schedule also featured a “fireside chat” session, led by Dr Norman and Shozey Jeffari from the Department of Trade & Industry.
Commenting on the event, Angela Kelly PSM said: “Western Australia is committed to continuing its relationship with the Aberdeen-Perth WA Gateway and I was thrilled, as Agent General, to attend the seventh year of the event. This year’s theme highlighted the evolution of the event and the focus on offshore support services.
“Subsea technologies will be a key focus of the Energy Exchange Australia (EXA) event to be held in Perth in mid-March and will include a subsea forum. The gatherings in Aberdeen and Perth to discuss key energy issues will only further enhance the relationship we share.”
Event creator Brett Jackson added: “Perth WA is an exciting and vibrant place to do business, and has opened the door to the skills and knowledge we have here in the North-east of Scotland.
"For example, with an estimated $60 billion needed to decommission Australia’s offshore infrastructure and the signing of a partnership agreement between the UK and Australia to strengthen co-operation in this area, opportunities now and in the future are abundant – the Gateway provides an important platform to explore the potential for doing business there.”
The Aberdeen-Perth, WA Gateway 2025 was supported by Aberdeen City Council, BlueOcean Marine Tech Systems, Centre of Decommissioning Australia, Cut UK, Department for Business & Trade, Energy Transition Zone, Global Underwater Hub, Government of Western Australia, Net Zero Technology Centre, Saturn Fluid Engineering, Scottish Development International, OGV and Qantas.
For more information about the Aberdeen-Perth, WA Gateway, visit www.granitepr.co.uk