Bill Patterson is a chemical engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry. He started his career at Geelong Refinery and has worked for Shell and later Viva Energy in various roles that have taken him from Australia to Oman and Singapore. He is passionate about the future of the refinery and its role in the energy transition.
A homecoming for Bill Patterson
Bill Patterson has come a long way since he started his career as a chemical engineer at the Geelong Refinery in 2001. He has worked for Shell and later Viva Energy in roles that have taken him from Australia to Oman and Singapore. Most recently, he was the CEO of Liberty Rural, Viva Energy’s growing regional and rural fuel business.
Now he is back at the refinery as the General Manager, freeing up Dale Cooper to oversee the delivery of a slate of development projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 18 months. These projects include three 30-million-litre diesel storage tanks, the Ultra Low Sulphur Gasoline plant, a renewable hydrogen refuelling station, and a refinery turnaround planned for 2025.
Bill said he is excited to return to the refinery where he began his career and to work with Dale and the project teams to ensure the successful delivery of these critical projects that represent a huge investment in Geelong’s economy and the future of the refinery.
“Like so many others, I found the refinery was a great place to work while I learnt new skills, and I hope that it will continue to provide opportunities to other generations for years to come,” Bill said. “I am very proud of what we do at the refinery in Geelong, producing fuels and other vital products which are supplied to every state in the country. We play a big role in Australia’s energy security – our ability to turn raw materials into high-quality products means we are providing resilience to the nation’s fuel supply chains while keeping value-add and skilled jobs onshore.”
He is optimistic about the future of the refinery and its role in the energy transition. Viva Energy, with the support of the federal government, is investing in Australia’s strategic storage capacity and cleaner fuels production. Bill said the refinery is at the centre of Viva Energy’s plans for the Viva Energy Hub, which will explore emerging opportunities in renewable energy and reprocessing waste plastics.
“The energy transition presents important opportunities for Geelong,” he said. “We are already making progress on our renewable hydrogen refuelling station, which will be one of the first in Australia. We are also committed to electrifying key parts of the refinery to reduce our emissions. We are working with Cleanaway to investigate the potential for reprocessing waste plastics through the refinery, that could see the production of lower carbon fuels, recycled food-grade plastic and a reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill. The future is genuinely exciting.”
A commitment to the Geelong community
Bill has family roots in the Geelong region, where he lives with his wife and three children. He said he appreciates the regional lifestyle and the vibrant, active community in Geelong. He is a keen cyclist and enjoys riding his bike three or four times a week with the local cycling community. He is an avid reader and a fan of music, admitting to having eclectic tastes.
He also recognises the importance of the refinery’s role in the Geelong community, especially its northern suburb neighbours. He said the refinery is committed to running safely and being a good neighbour to the people and businesses in the north of Geelong. He said the refinery will continue to actively work with local community organisations at a grass roots level.
“We are grateful for the support and trust that the Geelong community has shown us over the years,” he said. “We want to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of the people who live and work here. We are proud to be part of the Geelong Manufacturing Council and to collaborate with other local industries and stakeholders to promote the growth and prosperity of the region.”