Our Team
Trent Franks
Co-founder, Chairman
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Congressman Trent Franks, our Chairman of the Board, co-founded and previously served as the CEO of Liberty Petroleum Corporation. Trent has over 40 years’ experience in the energy sector having held the office of President for five independent oil and gas companies. Trent was elected to seven terms in the United States Congress (2003 – 2017) where he served as Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, Vice-Chairman of the Strategic (Nuclear) Forces and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittees and as a senior member on both the House Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Budget and the Small Business Committees. Trent also served as Chairman of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Caucus, Congressional Caucus on Adoption, the International Religious Freedom, Congressional Israel Allies and the Missile Defense Caucus.
Lane Franks
Co-founder, President & CEO
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Lane Franks co-founded Liberty Petroleum In 1997 with an international focus and vision of securing large lease concessions with giant impact potential. During the last twelve years Liberty has acquired over eighteen million acres in total exploration rights in regions around the world. The acreage portfolio is made up of 17 distinctive exploration blocks predominately located in Australia and Africa. Lane has spearheaded the farm-in partnerships on these various blocks which has resulted in the drilling of over twenty wells with expenditures exceeding $1.4 billion US dollars. To date these efforts have resulted in four major field discoveries, one onshore and three offshore.
Travis Franks
Partner, Vice President of Administration
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Travis Franks has over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. As a third generation working in the family business, he has worked for Liberty Petroleum for the last 20 years, serving as the Vice President for the last twelve years. Prior to joining Liberty he had various drilling and completion companies which resulted in generated several drilling prospects.
Duncan Nuttall
Vice President, Australia Operations
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Duncan Nuttall joined Liberty in 2014 as Vice President for Australia. He has a MSc in Petroleum Engineer from Imperial College, London. He has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in various technical, senior management and director roles with Mobil, BHP, Upstream Petroleum, AGR Group, Triangle Energy as well as various consulting and advisory positions.
Neale Call
Office Manager
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Neale has over 15 years of experience with Liberty Petroleum and is our current Office Manager. Prior to transitioning into this role she had an extensive banking background. She graduated cum laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Graphic Design. She moved to the US from Argentina and is fluent in Spanish and English; therefore she is the appointed contact for assisting in interpreting many of our international Spanish transactions.
Trudy Conner
Assistant Office Manager
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Trudy comes from a legal background and has been working in the oil and gas industry for over a decade. She is the leasing and government relations specialist for Liberty Petroleum and its holding Companies. Key responsibilities include managing the relationships and resources related to the bid process for oil & gas exploration permits with governments all around the world.
Ken Grieves
Project Geophysicist
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Ken is the principal geophysicist at In Depth Geophysics Pty Ltd and has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 35 years. He’s a specialist in seismic interpretation for both exploration and development with expertise in depth conversion, resource assessment and finding hydrocarbons through the recognition of new plays and prospects. He has consulted to more than thirty companies, including all of Australia’s majors.
Mark Sloan
Project Geophysicist
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Mark holds a BSc. in Geology from Trinity College Dublin and a MSc. in Applied Geophysics from University College Galway, Ireland. He has over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas business as an exploration geologist/geophysicist. His career includes working for seven years as the local Chief Geophysicist for ConocoPhillips Australia and through his own private company Albatross Energy Pty Ltd, assessing oil and gas opportunities world-wide for Liberty Petroleum, INPEX and other international clients. Mark has played a significant role in the founding of ASX listed companies, Bounty Oil and Gas, WHL Energy Pty Ltd and more recently a privately listed entity, OOO Siberia Petroleum.
Cenk Tarhun
Business Advisor
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Cenk Tarhun is a polyglot and an expert in international business development, finance and bilateral negotiations. He is a notable speaker in many conferences around the world ranging from SMI to Global Offset Conference. As a valuable team member of Liberty ever since 2009, he is also playing a supportive role in the potential expansion plans in Somalia as well as Guyana. He was invited to be part of the advisory board of One World for Life, which identifies and empowers First Responders worldwide by fundamentally changing the International Disaster Paradigm. Recently, he was assigned as Commercial Attaché, a diplomatic post by the Central African Republic. He is well known and recognized with his charitable work contributing to “Just for Kids” and “Its All About Kids” Foundations as well as Ecumenical Order of St. John Knights of Malta.