A leading international business event this week explored how stronger links between Scotland and Western Australia can unlock new opportunities for growth through collaboration.

The eighth Aberdeen-Perth WA Gateway was hosted by Granite PR and held in association with the Government of Western Australia at Aberdeen’s Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel. The lunchtime session kicked off the 2026 series of Granite PR’s Gateway events which link key global hubs and provide platforms for international networking, knowledge sharing and discussion.

Thanks to established capability and future-looking ambition, Perth is a globally recognised hub for the energy sector which already has strong links with the North East of Scotland. The packed session explored some of the opportunities to deepen these links through collaboration in areas such as decommissioning, renewables, and the transition to net zero including skills transfer.

The forum was chaired by Global Underwater Hub Strategy & Policy Director Steve Fernie who introduced keynote speakers Rebecca Tomkinson, Agent General for Western Australia in the UK and Europe, and THREE60 Energy Senior Operations Director Stuart Gregg.

A panel discussion, chaired by David Burrows from the Government of Western Australia, included contributions from the likes of Rebecca Allison from the Net Zero Technology Centre, Robert McWilliams from Deepsea Technologies and Sam Long from Decom Mission.

Commenting on the gathering, Rebecca Tomkinson said: 
“I was proud to attend the eighth Annual Aberdeen-Perth WA Gateway in Aberdeen. This event celebrates the long partnership between Aberdeen and Perth on energy-related business, including renewables and the decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure and related industries including CCS. 

“The MOU on decommissioning between Australia and the UK is another avenue to take this partnership forward. The UK Department of Business and Trade and SDI are bringing a UK and Scottish delegation to Energy Exchange Australia in Perth from 10-12 March and the conversation will continue there.”

Stuart Gregg added: 
“With a significant pipeline of late-life and end-of-life assets in Australia, there is a clear opportunity to apply lessons learned from mature basins such as the UK North Sea, while developing solutions tailored to the Australian environment. As THREE60 continues to grow globally, initiatives like the Aberdeen-Perth WA Gateway play a vital role in building relationships and sharing capability that will support long-term, sustainable growth across the sector.”

Event creator Brett Jackson added: 
“Perth WA continues to be a dynamic and attractive environment for business, underpinning existing strong links between North East Scotland and Western Australia.  That is evidenced by the fact that the Aberdeen-Perth WA Gateway has doubled in size since its inception with delegates attracted by its ability to provide a valuable route for companies looking to explore, establish or grow their presence in that part of the world.”

KeyFacts Energy news: Aberdeen Focus