Woodside appoints non-executive director

PERTH, Australia -- The Board of Woodside has appointed Ann Pickard as a non-executive director, effective Feb. 29, 2016. Pickard joins Woodside as an independent director.

Woodside Chairman Michael Chaney said that Pickard had significant international business experience.

“The directors are delighted that we have been able to attract a person of Ms. Pickard's background and experience to the company's Board,” Mr Chaney said.

On Feb. 1, 2016, Pickard retired from Royal Dutch Shell plc, where she held numerous positions during her 15-year tenure with the company. Before her retirement from Shell, she served as executive V.P., Arctic, and was responsible for Shell's Arctic exploration efforts. This followed three years as executive V.P. of Shell's exploration and production business and country chair of Shell in Australia, and five years as executive V.P., Africa. Pickard joined Shell in 2000, after an 11-year tenure with Mobil, prior to its merger with Exxon.

Pickard is a director of KBR Inc. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women, the Global Agenda Council on the Arctic for the World Economic Forum, the Advisory Council of the Eurasia Foundation, and Catalyst. Additionally, she was a director of Westpac Banking Corporation between 2011 and 2014.

Pickard holds a BA degree from the University of California, San Diego and a MA degree from the University of Pennsylvania.