Jillaroo to CEO: Liz Westcott’s unusual journey to the top of Woodside

Tom Rabe and , Angela Macdonald-Smith
Mar 20, 2026 – 8.00pm

Liz Westcott was a 17-year-old Presbyterian Ladies’ College student in Melbourne when she decided to fly north and take up a summer job as a jillaroo on a distant relative’s property in outback Queensland.

“They were astounded I didn’t have my licence or my L plates coming to the outback. Here I was, a city slicker, there was a lot of contrast,” Westcott tells AFR Weekend.

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• Executive shake-up
• Woodside Energy Group
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• Richard Goyder
• AFR Weekend

Tom RabePolitical correspondentTom Rabe is the Western Australia political correspondent, based in Perth. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at tom.rabe@nine.com.au

Angela Macdonald-SmithSenior resources writerAngela Macdonald-Smith writes on the resources industry with a focus on energy, including gas, oil, electricity and renewables. Connect with Angela on Twitter. Email Angela at amacdonald-smith@afr.com

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