Frances Morris-Jones has today (10 April) been confirmed as the interim chair of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).

Frances has served on the OGA board as a Non-Executive Director (NED) since October 2015 and has over 35 years’ experience in the international energy sector, including senior executive positions with oil and gas majors BP and ConocoPhillips.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) appointed the interim chair to serve for the next 12 months, until 31 March 2019, while a competition takes place to recruit a permanent successor. Frances replaces Sir Patrick Brown whose tenure as chairman ended in March, after three years of service. 

She will work closely with Chief Executive Andy Samuel who welcomed the assignment, saying: “Frances brings a wealth of experience to this role and provides continuity to the OGA board, where she has been a great member for the past two and a half years. Frances’ leadership and dedication are most welcome as we continue to work closely with industry and government to deliver the significant value outlined in Vision 2035.”

Frances added: “I am very pleased to be taking up the role. I look forward to building on Sir Patrick's achievements, supporting the board and addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the sector.”

The Oil and Gas Authority was created in 2015 and its role is to regulate, influence and promote the UK oil and gas industry in order to maximise the economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources (MER UK). 

Brief biography of Frances:

  • Frances has over 30 years’ experience in the energy sector, largely in international oil and gas. She started her career in BP, holding a series of senior roles before moving to a global business development leadership role in ConocoPhillips, and then becoming executive director for an independent shale exploration company. She was a non-executive director of Det Norske Veritas (now DNV-GL).
  • Frances also holds non-executive roles in the public sector: she is a member of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee of BSI Group and a governor of the University of Portsmouth, where she sits on the Audit and Quality Committee.
  • Frances is a trustee of Anti-Slavery International and of Public Concern at Work.

Ends

For more information, please contact Tracey Miller, communications manager at the OGA:

Tel: 0300 020 1072 ¦ Email: Tracey.Miller@nstauthority.co.uk