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Andrew Gilbert and the Making of an ADIA Life Member

10 February, 2026

Life membership isn’t awarded for longevity. It’s awarded for impact. In the latest edition of Australasian Drilling, we reflect on why former Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA) President and SREPS Pty Ltd Managing Director Andrew Gilbert has been awarded ADIA Life Membership — and why those who served alongside him describe his leadership as pivotal. His presidency coincided with one of the most difficult periods ADIA had faced in decades. The mid-2010s downturn exposed structural weaknesses across the drilling sector and placed sustained pressure on industry institutions.

As former Board Member Phil Spence put it: “The plane was about to crash. Quite frankly, without Andrew, it would have crashed.” Andrew’s contribution wasn’t loud. It was steady.

  • Financial discipline when it mattered most
  • Governance reform over profile
  • Clarifying strategy and stabilising operations
  • Personally making premises available to ADIA rent-free during a critical period
  • Continuing to support the association even after his presidency ended

His leadership style was described consistently by peers: calm, measured, principled, and focused on fundamentals rather than visibility. Beyond ADIA, Andrew’s 35+ years in Australian manufacturing and drilling supply have shaped standards in RC drilling, equipment development and industry professionalism. Life membership is conferred sparingly — reserved for those whose contribution alters the course of the association, not simply adds to its history.

Andrew’s service meets that threshold. His legacy is a reminder that the most valuable leadership is often measured not by expansion or spotlight — but by stability, trust and the ability to weather difficult cycles without losing purpose.

Read the full article in the Australasian Drilling Magazine