In this episode of the Arete Executive Podcast, Richard Triggs sits down with Ewan McDonald, Founder and CEO of Spectra, to discuss the realities of building and sustaining a business through some of the most volatile conditions in the oil and gas sector.
Ewan shares the story behind founding the business in 2009 during the coal seam gas exploration boom, and the evolution from its original beginnings as Protest Well Services into the technology-driven engineered services company Spectra is today. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in the energy sector, Ewan reflects on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including surviving multiple industry downturns, navigating the devastating impact of the 2011 Queensland floods, and adapting through periods of declining revenue and uncertainty.
The conversation explores how adversity often forces innovation. Ewan explains how bringing engineering capability in-house during COVID became a major turning point for the business, enabling Spectra to develop proprietary technologies that are now delivering major operational efficiencies and emissions reductions for customers in the gas sector. He also shares the journey from early-stage ideas to securing commercial contracts with global energy companies including Shell.
Richard and Ewan discuss leadership lessons learned over 17 years in business, including the importance of building strong leadership teams, creating alignment around a shared vision, and ensuring the right people are in the right seats. Ewan speaks candidly about managing cultural misalignment, building accountability, and fostering a safety-first environment in a high-risk industry where operational discipline and integrity are critical.
The discussion also touches on the future of oil and gas, Australia’s energy security challenges, the ongoing role of LNG, and why the transition to alternative energy sources must remain grounded in practical realities.
This episode is packed with insights for founders, CEOs, and leadership teams navigating uncertainty, scaling technical businesses, and building resilient organisations capable of adapting through changing market conditions.
Key Timestamps
1:00 – Ewan’s role as Founder and CEO of Spectra
2:00 – Starting a business during the coal seam gas exploration boom
3:00 – Surviving industry downturns and the realities of entrepreneurship
6:00 – Understanding drill stem testing (DST) and coal seam gas exploration
10:00 – Scaling rapidly and the impact of the 2011 Queensland floods
11:30 – Evolving the business beyond DST services
14:00 – COVID disruption and the turning point of bringing engineering capability in-house
16:00 – Developing industry-changing technology and securing contracts with Shell
18:00 – Growth plans, acquisitions, and the future direction of Spectra
19:00 – Oil, gas, LNG, and Australia’s energy security outlook
21:30 – Leadership lessons from 17 years in business
24:00 – Getting the right people on the bus and managing cultural misalignment
26:00 – Safety, accountability, and operational integrity in high-risk industries
27:30 – Building a positive culture and aligning teams around a shared vision
29:00 – Balancing fly-in fly-out leadership, family life, and business growth
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