inGauge Energy is redefining the delivery of energy projects through a fully integrated approach to lifecycle well engineering and environmental solutions. Under the fearless leadership of Joanna Groves, the company is committed to caring for its people, partners, andAustralia’s future energy needs.
Wielding a fresh outlook, brilliant engineering, and a deep commitment to well being and safety, inGauge Chief Executive Officer Joanna Groves represents a new type of leader in oil and gas, bringing a unique approach to projects ranging from unlocking gas and decommissioning wells to developing new energy solutions.
Speaking to Petroleum Australia, Joanna described her inclusive leadership style, stating that the best outcomes arise when inGauge’s team members can be their authentic selves.
She said: “From onsite activities to office environments, I want our employees to feel safe, be able to contribute, bring their creative solutions to the table, challenge each other and even our clients.
“This aligns closely with my values – ensuring everybody feels supported and empowered to challenge those norms is central to my focus.”Wellbeing is integral to inGauge’s operations, encompassing flexible work hours, mental health support, and safe field practices.
She said: “Wellbeing goes beyond mental health days. It is about fostering an inclusive culture where people feel seen, respected, and valued every single day.
“The most successful projects we’ve had are those where team culture was strong, safety was embedded, and everyone knew they were contributing to something that would leave an impact.
Joanna’s signature tagline – fresh thinking, brilliant value– reflects her position of challenging assumptions, bringing a different perspective to problems, and consistently delivering value through engineering excellence.
Joanna said: “Fresh thinking isn’t about rebellion – it’s about recognising when the old way no longer serves us and having the courage to change it.“We don’t want to do things because that’s how they’ve always been done – we want to do things because it’s the right, most efficient and best way for everybody.
“Whether technically, commercially, or environmentally, we aim to deliver the right outcomes for the project and provide high value solutions for our clients.”
Joanna’s leadership style is also shaped by her active participation in several industry organisations, with her experiences only reinforcing that leadership is not about power and authority.
As one of the few female Chief Executives in the energy sector, Joanna is proudly Vice President of the Queensland Petroleum and Exploration Association (QUPEX), and Board Member of not-for-profit Safer Together, focused on enhancing safety through simplification, standardisation and sharing. She is also the Co-founder of Queensland Women of Wells (QWOW), a professional network that empowers women through connection, confidence and community.
Pictured – Jessica Wrigley, Senior Well Engineer, inGauge Energy.
She said: “Being part of these industry organisations is about me making a meaningful impact on people and the sector. “I’m one of the three founders of QWOW, which was created to empower women in our industry and remove barriers –helping them build confidence and shift the dial on diversity and inclusion.”
inGauge is also known for removing barriers to expedite project delivery for its clients. This has given the company vast experience in obtaining environmental and land access approvals, and in lifecycle project delivery covering everything from seismic acquisition to civil construction, and from drilling to abandonment and rehabilitation. “I believe what sets inGauge apart is that we’re agile, fearless, practical, and well-established with a fully integrated in-house team, and we deliver brilliant value.”
She continued: “Rather than build a big team for a client, we can flex up and down as required – the advantage of that is we build momentum for our clients, delivering what they need when needed, with a team that’s fit for the project.”
Joanna added: “We are triple ISO-certified and the only well engineering company in Australia to have those three ISO certifications. This sets us apart by necessitating yearly system audits to ensure they are up-to-date and constantly being improved.” inGauge is one of the few businesses operating in theNorthern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin where it has been active for eight years.
During this time, inGauge has supported major operators in securing nine Environmental Management Plan approvals, acquiring 390 kilometres of seismic data, drilling five record-setting wells, and executing record-breaking fracture stimulations.
Joanna described the Beetaloo Basin as a rewarding region due to its exploration potential and the unique and complex environments in which inGauge excels.
Another standout is the Taroom Trough – a new frontier for exploration in Queensland with significant technical and logistical challenges – where inGauge has successfully drilled the state’s deepest well and designed and executed complex fracture stimulations in challenging geological conditions.
Additionally, inGauge has managed plug and abandonment campaigns for state governments, overseen hundreds of legacy wells, conducted thorough environmental assessments, and executed decommissioning and rehabilitation activities.
The flexibility of inGauge’s team puts it at the forefront of innovation through its support of emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage, gas extraction in mining, and alternative energy solutions including helium, hydrogen and geothermal design.
Joanna noted that the energy transition demands fresh thinkers, inclusive leaders, and fearless execution, qualities that inGauge proudly embodies.
She said: “We plug our clients directly into a powerhouse of expertise, with all of our people in-house, delivering exactly the capability they need, precisely when they need it. “inGauge is the lifecycle network of capability every energy company needs in its pocket.” She concluded.