WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LTD Current Report (Foreign Issuer)
Woodside Energy Group Ltd has appointed Elizabeth (Liz) Westcott as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
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Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Woodside Energy Group Ltd has appointed Elizabeth (Liz) Westcott as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. She had been Acting CEO since the departure of Meg O’Neill in December 2025 and previously led Woodside’s Australian Operations, including the Scarborough Energy Project and the Bass Strait operator transition.
The Board highlighted her more than 30 years of global energy experience at Woodside, EnergyAustralia and ExxonMobil, citing her strategic leadership and operational track record. An accompanying initial director’s interest notice records her appointment as a director on 18 March 2026 and shows no registered interests in Woodside securities.
Insights
Woodside confirms a planned leadership transition by appointing its acting CEO as permanent CEO and MD.
The company has elevated Liz Westcott from Acting CEO to permanent CEO and Managing Director, emphasizing succession planning and internal executive depth. Her background covers major operational roles at Woodside, EnergyAustralia and ExxonMobil, including responsibility for large projects and portfolio operations.
The filing also includes an initial director’s interest notice stating Westcott holds no Woodside securities as a registered holder at appointment. This clarifies her starting equity position; future disclosures in company filings may outline any subsequent share-based alignment with shareholders.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of March 2026
Commission File Number: 001-41404
Woodside Energy Group Ltd
(ABN 55 004 898 962)
(Registrant’s name)
Woodside Energy Group Ltd
Mia Yellagonga, 11 Mount Street
Perth, Western Australia 6000
Australia
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☑ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1 | A copy of the registrant’s ASX Announcement, dated March 18, 2026, entitled “Liz Westcott appointed Woodside CEO”. | |
| 99.2 | A copy of the registrant’s ASX Announcement, dated March 18, 2026, entitled “Appendix 3X”. | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 18, 2026
| WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LTD | ||
| By: | /s/ Damien Gare | |
| Damien Gare Corporate Secretary | ||
Exhibit 99.1
| Announcement |
| |||
| Wednesday, 18 March 2026 | Woodside Energy Group Ltd ACN 004 898 962 Mia Yellagonga 11 Mount Street Perth WA 6000 Australia T +61 8 9348 4000 www.woodside.com
ASX: WDS NYSE: WDS | |||
LIZ WESTCOTT APPOINTED WOODSIDE CEO
The Board of Woodside Energy has appointed Elizabeth (Liz) Westcott as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
Ms Westcott, who has served as Woodside Acting CEO since the departure of Meg O’Neill in December 2025, has a proven track record of outstanding leadership and achievement across more than 30 years in the global energy industry.
Since joining the company in June 2023, Ms Westcott has led Woodside’s Australian Operations, including the Scarborough Energy Project and Bass Strait operator transition, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Australia.1 She was previously the Chief Operating Officer at EnergyAustralia, following a 25-year career at ExxonMobil working in Australia, the United Kingdom and Italy.
Through these roles Ms Westcott has developed deep industry expertise across a range of areas including strategic planning, commercial and business development, operations, project execution, government and regulatory engagement, sustainability and stakeholder relationships.
Woodside Chair Richard Goyder congratulated Ms Westcott on her appointment, which followed a comprehensive recruitment process involving exceptional internal and external candidates.
Mr Goyder said Ms Westcott’s appointment reflected the depth of executive talent at Woodside, the result of considered succession planning overseen by the Board.
“I am delighted with the appointment of Liz as Woodside’s next CEO and Managing Director.
“Liz’s proven track record of outstanding strategic leadership and disciplined delivery distinguished her as the Board’s top candidate for this role.
“Liz’s extensive industry experience and strategic vision will be invaluable in leading Woodside at this significant moment in its history, as we position the company to meet growing global energy demand and deliver long-term shareholder value.”
Ms Westcott said she was honoured to lead Woodside.
“Woodside is a great company with highly talented people and a proud track record of delivery for our customers and stakeholders.
“My focus as CEO is on sustainable value creation for Woodside shareholders, operational excellence and disciplined execution of our growth projects.
“I look forward to working closely with the Board and Woodside’s strong leadership team to continue building a leading global energy company that delivers long-term value for shareholders, underpinned by a consistent focus on sustainability and high performance.”
| 1 | Completion of the transaction is subject to conditions precedent. See “Woodside strengthens its Australian Operations” announced on 29 July 2025. |
Page 1 of 2
Appendix
Summary of material CEO employment terms for Liz Westcott
| • | Employment is ongoing, subject to termination on 6 months’ notice by either party. Woodside may, at its discretion, make payment in lieu of part or all of the notice period. Employment may be immediately terminated for defined causes. |
| • | Ms Westcott’s Fixed Annual Reward (FAR) on appointment will be A$2,300,000, which is inclusive of base salary, benefits and allowances, statutory minimum superannuation contributions, directors fees for all Woodside Group companies and salary continuance benefits. |
| • | Ms Wescott is eligible to receive Variable Annual Reward, which from FY2026, comprises a short-term incentive (STI) and long-term incentive (LTI) component. |
| • | The STI opportunity is 180% of FAR at target, with a maximum of 270% of FAR. The STI will be delivered in two equal components: cash and Restricted Shares, with the Restricted Shares subject to a two-year deferral period. Any portion of the STI award above target will be delivered entirely as Restricted Shares. |
| • | The LTI opportunity is 300% of FAR, and will be delivered in Performance Rights. Performance Rights will be tested over a three-year performance period, and will be subject to an additional two-year service condition after the end of the performance period. |
Liz Westcott Biography
Liz Westcott has served as Acting CEO of Woodside since December 2025.
Liz joined Woodside in 2023 as Executive Vice President Australian Operations, and in 2024 was appointed Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Australia, leading Woodside’s Australian projects and business operations.
Prior to joining Woodside, Liz most recently held the role of Chief Operating Officer at EnergyAustralia, where she had broad leadership responsibilities across EnergyAustralia’s generation portfolio.
Liz had a 25-year career at ExxonMobil working in Australia, the United Kingdom and Italy, including a secondment in 2013 to Adriatic LNG as Managing Director. Her roles spanned strategic planning, operations, project management, and safety, technical and commercial leadership.
Liz serves on the Board of Australian Energy Producers. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Melbourne University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
| INVESTORS | MEDIA | |
| Vanessa Martin M: +61 477 397 961 E: investor@woodside.com |
Christine Abbott M: +61 484 112 469 E: christine.abbott@woodside.com | |
This announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside’s Disclosure Committee.
Page 2 of 2
Exhibit 99.2
| Announcement
Wednesday, 18 March 2026 |
|
Woodside Energy Group Ltd
ACN 004 898 962
Mia Yellagonga
11 Mount Street
Perth WA 6000
Australia
T +61 8 9348 4000
www.woodside.com
ASX: WDS
NYSE: WDS
APPENDIX 3X (INITIAL DIRECTOR’S INTEREST NOTICE)
In accordance with the Listing Rules, please see attached announcement relating to the above, for release to the market.
| Contacts: | ||
| INVESTORS Vanessa Martin M: +61 477 397 961 E: investor@woodside.com |
MEDIA Christine Abbott M: +61 484 112 469 E: christine.abbott@woodside.com | |
This announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside’s Disclosure Committee.
Appendix 3X
Initial Director’s Interest Notice
Rule 3.19A.1
Appendix 3X
Initial Director’s Interest Notice
Information or documents not available now must be given to ASX as soon as available. Information and documents given to ASX become ASX’s property and may be made public.
Introduced 30/9/2001.
| Name of entity | Woodside Energy Group Ltd | |
| ABN | 55 004 898 962 |
We (the entity) give ASX the following information under listing rule 3.19A.1 and as agent for the director for the purposes of section 205G of the Corporations Act.
| Name of Director | Elizabeth (Liz) Morton Westcott | |
| Date of appointment | 18 March 2026 |
Part 1 – Director’s relevant interests in securities of which the director is the registered holder
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (i) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.
| Number & class of securities
220, 394 Performance Rights |
+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.
| 11/3/2002 | Appendix 3X Page 1 |
Appendix 3X
Initial Director’s Interest Notice
Part 2 – Director’s relevant interests in securities of which the director is not the registered holder
In the case of a trust, this includes interests in the trust made available by the responsible entity of the trust
| Name of holder & nature of interest Note: Provide details of the circumstances giving rise to the relevant interest. |
Number & class of Securities | |
| Held by CPU Share Plans Pty Ltd as trustee of Woodside Equity Plans Trust | 123,109 Restricted Shares | |
| Woodside Equity Plan Rights held by J Westcott | 422 | |
Part 3 – Director’s interests in contracts
Note: In the case of a company, interests which come within paragraph (ii) of the definition of “notifiable interest of a director” should be disclosed in this part.
| Detail of contract | Nil | |
| Nature of interest | ||
| Name of registered holder (if issued securities) |
||
| No. and class of securities to which interest relates |
+ See chapter 19 for defined terms.
| Appendix 3X Page 2 | 11/3/2002 |