Tumble Out of Bed, Pour a Cup of Courage: How Meg O’Neill Leads the Energy Industry with Grit and Vision

In an industry defined by doing big and difficult things, one value stands out for leader Meg O’Neill: courage. It is the fundamental requirement for making a meaningful impact. It is the thread that connects her personal history, her leadership philosophy, and her vision for the future of energy. We sat down with her to talk more.

What part of “GRIT” (growth, resilience, innovation, and transformation) resonates with you most personally? Professionally? And why?

"Three attributes are imperatives for me: trust, transparency, and courage. Of these, perhaps the most important is courage."

"Our industry is an industry where we do big and difficult things – we undertake technically complex, risky activities, making massive investments. We work around the world, in harsh environments and different cultures. We do this to make people’s lives better – through the jobs we create, the revenue we generate for governments and shareholders, and ultimately through the energy we produce that powers the world.

So the work we do is meaningful — but it is hard — and that’s where courage comes into play. At a company level, we need the courage to see the vision and to persevere in pursuing that vision when we encounter obstacles. At an individual level, we need courage to speak up, to bring our ideas forward, to stand up for what’s right."

At ALLY, we believe role models are important. Who in your work and life have been role models of GRIT? Can you tell us who they are and what you learned from them? 

"In life, my grandmother was my inspiration. She grew up in a village in County Mayo, in western Ireland, and left home at the age of 16 in 1921 to pursue a better life in America. I can’t imagine the courage it took her to leave home, get on a boat, and sail off into the great unknown as just a teenager. She made her own way, working hard in a variety of jobs to build a life that would not have been possible in her village. She worked into her late 70s — not because she had to, but because she enjoyed having purpose and she enjoyed being part of a team. She always had a positive attitude and a sense of humour."

"At work, I’ve been lucky to have many mentors and role models, and I continue to learn from people throughout the industry who have generously shared their time, their advice, and sometimes direct coaching. I’m regularly inspired by what our Woodside team is doing — pursuing new opportunities with a pioneering spirit — and I try to grow and get better as I watch and support what they do."

The energy transition is the single largest challenge of our lifetime. As a Lifetime Achievement Award winner, if you look at what the end of your career might look like when you retire, what will you be most proud of in our quest for a lower-carbon future?

"The scale of energy poverty in the world today remains significant, with billions of people denied modern living standards that we in developed nations take for granted. Countries experiencing energy poverty cannot decouple their quest for energy security from the quest for global decarbonisation. The world will have more success in achieving a lower-carbon future if energy companies like Woodside work *with* our customers and their governments to find the balance that works for each nation. Developing natural gas and LNG enables us to offer those customers safe, reliable, and affordable energy that can enable economic and social development while being part of longer-term decarbonisation pathways."

What does that look like for the industry/you?

"Natural gas can serve as a lower emissions alternative to coal when used to generate electricity, and to help stabilise power grids during periods of decreased renewable energy production. It’s a key reason why Woodside is developing new natural gas projects, like the Scarborough Energy Project and Louisiana LNG."

"We also expect demand for new, lower-carbon energy products to increase over time, as customers seek to reduce or avoid emissions. This is why Woodside is also developing the Beaumont New Ammonia Project in Texas and working to develop lower-carbon services, including carbon capture and storage."

Rapid Round / Getting to Know You 

Favorite Band or Song and why? 

"I love country music, and Dolly Parton is the Queen of Country! 9-5 has been my wakeup alarm for about a decade — I love the opening line “tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition”. The song also calls out gender inequality and outright sexism that existed in many workplaces in the 1970s ... so it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come since those days."

The cost of gasoline when you got your first car.  

$0.89 per gallon

A person you would be keen to have dinner with (dead or alive) and why?

"That’s easy, Dolly! Aside from being my musical hero, I love her motto about work-life balance. Dolly famously says, “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life!” She also seems like a genuinely fun and engaging person."

Can you give us something about you that people wouldn’t know?

"I am a sports junkie – when I was younger, I would try any sport. Now, I’ll happily watch any sport. I love the strategy, the teamwork, and the physical and mental grit that’s required for success. There are great business learnings that we can get from sports around how to achieve peak performance."

Meg's recognition as the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winner stands as proof of her lasting courage and impact—leadership that sets the standard for the industry and inspires others to follow.