WAU Accountants and Business Consultants (WABC) has announced the appointment of experienced audit professional Gai Zhou as its new Audit and Assurance Partner, strengthening the firm’s capacity in the energy, resources and mining sectors.
The appointment, announced on August 6, brings to WABC more than 18 years of auditing and accounting experience gained across China, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Zhou has extensive experience in the oil and gas and mining industries and has worked with international clients, listed companies and major joint venture operations.
His professional experience includes 15 years auditing the Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) Project, one of Australia’s major LNG developments, covering acquisition audits, upstream and midstream joint venture audits, gas sales agreements, pipeline audits and LNG shipping costs.
He has also audited joint venture partner accounts for major LNG projects, including APLNG and Arrow Energy, providing insights into commercial arrangements associated with large-scale LNG ventures.
In Papua New Guinea, Zhou’s experience includes auditing joint venture accounts for PNG LNG and Papua LNG, as well as the Ramu Nico Joint Venture, one of the country’s significant mining operations.
WABC Partner John Wau described the appointment as an important milestone for the firm as it continues to expand its professional audit and advisory capabilities.
“Gai’s appointment is a significant milestone for WABC. His unparalleled expertise in the energy and resources sector, combined with his ability to manage complex international engagements, will provide immense value to our clients and enhance our firm’s capabilities,” Wau said.
WABC said Zhou’s experience in overseeing complex audit engagements and managing client relationships would further strengthen the firm’s commitment to providing high-quality services across a range of industries.
The firm said it looked forward to drawing on Zhou’s leadership and industry knowledge as it continues delivering audit, assurance and advisory services in Papua New Guinea.