NOIA AWARDS: Jim Thistle and Richard Mandeville

Noia, (Newfoundland Oil Industries Association) is pleased to announce James (Jim) Thistle, QC, formerly of McInnes Cooper and Richard Mandeville of TechnipFMC Canada Ltd. as recipients of the Outstanding Contribution Award and Rising Star Award, respectively.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION

The Outstanding Contribution Award recognizes exemplary individuals who have influenced the development of our local oil and gas industry and who have demonstrated qualities of vision, integrity, and leadership through their work and lives.

Noia is pleased to award this honour, posthumously, to Jim Thistle in honour of his 30 years’ experience in the Newfoundland and Labrador oil and gas sector, including his key role in the negotiation and drafting of the Atlantic Accord and acting as General Counsel for the Hibernia Project where he played a leading role in negotiating and drafting the Hibernia Joint Operating Agreement. Following a successful career in the oil and gas and legal industries, Jim passed away on March 3, 2016, after a brief battle with ALS.

REMEMBERING JIM THISTLE

Jim was a friend and bright light with his co-workers in our St. John’s office and throughout the McInnes Cooper firm.  Jim was respected both locally and nationally as a leading practitioner in public law litigation and resource development, with his immeasurable experience in energy and natural resources, aboriginal, and environmental law. Jim served as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General for Newfoundland and Labrador.  He played a key role in the 1985 Atlantic Accord that set the stage for the development of this province’s offshore oil and gas industry.  He was subsequently appointed as General Counsel for the Hibernia offshore oil project.  In private practice, Jim worked on several major resource projects, in North America and internationally.

Every major oil and gas and mining company doing business in Newfoundland and Labrador had the privilege of working with Jim. As a highly respected litigator, Jim served as counsel before all levels of court and tribunals in Canada.  He was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Jim adored spending time with his family, running with his dog, and promoting his political party.  He was a wine aficionado like no other, a philosopher, a poet, an engaging story teller, a natural comedian, a straight shooter, and a true intellectual.

Jim’s legacy includes the dozens of lawyers he mentored throughout his career.  He has enriched the lives of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.  We have been privileged to know and work with Jim during his all too short life. He will be greatly missed.

THE RISING STAR AWARD

The Rising Star Award was launched in 2014 to recognize the talents of an impressive individual who is 40 years old or younger and has made remarkable strides in their role in the local oil and gas industry. As this year’s award winner, Richard Mandeville, P.Eng, certainly fits the bill. Since joining Technip Canada Ltd. in 2005, he has made a significant contribution to the company through his multi-project experience both onshore and offshore in the Grand Banks, Gulf of Mexico and North Sea markets. Currently working an internal secondment as Asset Manager for TechnipFMC’s five construction and s-lay vessels with TechnipFMC’s Marine Operations Services department in Aberdeen, he manages more than 900 individuals when the vessels are in operation. In this role, he also serves as an ambassador for the province and the country.

Both Jim Thistle and Richard Mandeville will be celebrated at Noia’s Industry Achievement Awards luncheon in February. The event will also acknowledge organizations marking 30 or more years as Noia members and contributors to the local oil and gas industry.

In honor of 2017 marking Noia’s 40th anniversary, the event will also celebrate the industry’s important milestones and contributions of former Noia Board Chairs and previous Industry Achievement Award winners.

Source: NOIA & McInnes Cooper, CBC