Current Board

I have been on the board of the ADIA since 2009.

As the current president I continue to work hard to:
• Promote the industry.
• Listen to and meet the needs of our membership.
• Ensure the industry is recognised for its professionalism and the service that it delivers to its customers and stakeholders.
• Ensure that the association is well managed and sustainable.
• Support the CEO.

I have also been on the Boards of ADITC, Skill DMC and QGABAC over the past 14 years.
My involvement in the drilling industry has been over the past 35 years. I started my career in Kalgoorlie as a driller’s offsider and have moved through the ranks into senior management positions in both publicly listed and privately owned companies operating in Western Australia, New Zealand and Queensland. This experience has spanned the mineral, coal, CSG and water sectors.
I am currently the owner of Daly Bros Pty Ltd, a leading water bore drilling business based in Brisbane and Western Queensland.
I am very passionate about the drilling industry and its people and bring transparency, strategic thinking, and honest practicality to the Board.
I believe ADIA has a great future in supporting its members with services in an ever-changing environment, with an encompassing voice for the mineral, coal, geotechnical, and water drilling sectors in Australia.

“The thing I have always loved about drilling is the variety of the work and the many places it can take you. No two jobs are the same. No two things are the same. You learn so many different skills.” – Tim Westcott 2017

Tim Westcott got his start in the drilling industry in the early 80s as a driller’s offsider in Perth working with Steve Davis (Top Drive Drilling) and Hayden Egan (Aqua Drill).

From there he’s had extensive exposure to various drilling methods including waterwell, geothermal, and mineral spanning more than 35 years.

He’s been an ADIA member for more than 25 years and an active member in various roles for more than a decade.

Tim is a huge advocate for promoting the benefits and value of the drilling industry and is passionate about advocating the development of the next generation of drillers and any issues that arise for the drilling industry in Australia as a whole.

Tim sits on several committees.

He is currently a member of Australia Geothermal Association, chair of the Drilling Industry Reference Committee Australia representing ADIA and a member of Northern Territory Drillers Qualification Advisory committee.

On top of this, Tim is the owner of TDW Consultants and is the manager of Welldrill.

Paul has been in the industry for more than 30 years’ and felt it was appropriate and looks forward to giving something back to the industry he believes has served him well.  He got his start in the industry while in high school offsiding on waterwell rigs and after some time and numerous jobs later he progressed to running a rig on his own.

Paul decided to start his own business after purchasing a Gemco 210B drilling rig, drilling water bores for himself while he was on break working as a driller. He founded Hagstrom Drilling in 1992 with a vision to create a leading service provider in the industry.

Paul said developing from an offsider to a managing director has afforded him the ability to employ significant individuals from many facets of the industry.

“This includes, but not limited to, active feild members, logistics, administration and finance,” he said. 

“I appreciate the change and advancement in the industry over the last 30 years’ and working nationally with my broad knowledge around all sectors of our industry has provided me the opportunity to understand the varied compliance requirements with clients, equipment, and employees.

“I am positively engaged in several disciplines within the sector and remain involved with RC and diamond exploration, environmental, waterwell, geotechnical, marine and CPT.

“I feel joining the ADIA Board will provide a suitable platform to assist in generating growth within the industry for current, expanding, and emerging drilling service providers.”

Sally has been involved in the drilling industry from a very young age. Her father’s involvement and her family’s business grew her interest in the industry and she joined in as soon as she had the opportunity.

Sally learned of ADIA through the Australasian Drilling magazine, and became a member after seeing benefit from the information and industry knowledge that the ADIA shares with and through their membership.

How would you describe yourself?

Happy, driven and friendly

What made you want to become part of the board?

I became an individual member of the ADIA in June 2017; though our company has been a member since 2006

I wanted to become part of the board to actively contribute to the ADIA and the drilling industry. I also wanted to improve my personal understanding of the industry as a whole.

What do you think typifies a company that belongs to the ADIA?

Companies that belong to the ADIA are interested in professionally advancing the drilling industry by addressing and improving area including safety and training; equipment design and improvement; and compliance.

What’s your outlook for the drilling industry over the next couple of years?

Quite positive. From 2017 onwards, there have been a couple of positive indicators that the drilling industry is moving up and out of the downturn period that we have all suffered from over the last few years.

After leaving school, Bill took a job on a station out of Kununurra in the Kimberly and quickly discovered a love of remote locations and working outdoors. Bill worked throughout Australia and then Brazil before returning to live on his farm in the South West of WA with his wife and three sons. Bill has been with Bunbury Drilling Company for 10 years and has been heavily involved in waterwell drilling for the Iron Ore sector in the Pilbara.

How would you describe yourself?

Enjoys a challenge

Tell us about how you to came to be part of the drilling industry.

I started my drilling career with Swick Drilling Australia on an RC rig in the Northern Goldfields of Western Australia. In these early years I worked throughout Australia on both remote exploration work and mine sites. I enjoyed the geological, engineering and logistical challenges of drilling and have never looked back. My time in Brazil taught me much about planning, negotiating and problem solving. I’m now focussed on continuous improvement in the industry, through equipment, technology and most of all hands-on training for our people.

How long have you been an ADIA member and what made you want to become part of the board?

Bunbury Drilling Company has had a longstanding association with the ADIA, the Linaker family having previously been members of the board. I have come to know a number of past and present board members and feel I have the industry experience to offer value back to the Association. I particularly want to understand what our members want from the Association and how we can deliver positive outcomes for the industry.

What’s your outlook for the drilling industry over the next couple of years?

It’s been a tough year to make any predictions but I certainly think the drilling industry has fared better than many in 2020. Demand for exploration is strong and the mining sector in both Gold and Iron Ore are enjoying record prices. We are again at a point where trained, experienced people will likely be the limiting factor for business growth.

Tim graduated from Lincoln University (NZ) in 2004 with a Bachelor of Agruculture and a passion for private enterprise and business ownership in farming structures.

Shortly after graduating, Tim travelled to Australia and was impressed by the opportunities. He went quickly about establishing Topdrill in 2006 with a single RC rig and two employees operating out of a small yard in Kalgoorlie. Since then, the business has grown into a diversified drilling service provider with over 300 employees and is one of Western Australia’s largest privately-owned businesses.

Tim said at heart, he has an entrepreneurial spirit and looks for innovative solutions to challenges facing the drilling industry daily.

“I am passionate about the drilling industry and ensuring its sustainability and ultimately success into the future,” he said. 

“I bring a wealth of knowledge to all my pursuits in the drilling industry and would provide vibrance and relevance to the ADIA Board. I would also be able to converse with ADIA members on a range of topics facing our industry.

“I promote and market the drilling industry and the opportunities it affords employees in all facets of life.I am not afraid to challenge the norm and work towards finding solutions, with a focus on upholding standards of excellence in both my business and personal life.

“I am a great believer and supporter of the community and work tirelessly for the Goldfields region in both community initiatives and charity work.”

Tim added training for the industry is one of his passions.

“During this time I have championed the development of new and upgraded training programs and advocated for employee recruitment and retention. This has included advocacy with both government agencies and other industry bodies,” he said. 

“I believe I still have plenty to offer as a ADIA Board member, particularly with training and would like to see through the next transition of the VET system as it goes through another restructure in 2023.

“Ensuring that the drilling industry continues to have a strong voice in how we upskill our people is very important.”