Wilkinson is a geologist and journalist who has been writing about the petroleum industry around the world from London and Melbourne for over 30 years.

In London he was exploration editor for The Oilman magazine and then editor of Offshore Engineer magazine during the 1970s.

In Melbourne he was oil & gas correspondent for The Australian, The Australian Financial Review and Australian Business magazine during the 1980s.

He was editor of Petroleum Gazette magazine and APPEA’s Flowline magazine in the 1990s and is now a freelance energy writer contributing to Australian and overseas publications.

Rick Wilkinson has also written 13 books, seven of them about the Australian petroleum and resources industries. These include:

• A Thirst For Burning – the story of Australia’s oil industry. David Ell Press 1983 & revised 1988.

• Speaking of Oil & Gas- a handbook of the petroleum industry. for BHP Petroleum 1988 revised 1995 & 1997.

• Where God Never Trod – Australia’s oil explorers across two centuries. David Ell Press 1991 & revised Christopher Beck Books 2000.

• Rocks to Riches – the story of Australia’s geological survey. Allen & Unwin 1996.

• Well, Well, Well – behind Australia’s wildcat names. Christopher Beck Books 1997.

• Once Upon a Wildcat – images from Australia’s petroleum story. Christopher Beck Books 2004.