There are not many voices in the constantly shifting world of Australian energy that are heard as clearly as the voice of Saul Kavonic. Being a prominent analyst and a guy who has a sense of speaking straight to the point in an unbiased way, Saul Kavonic has become one of the most sought-after specialists on all topics, including LNG exports and renewable transitions. His commentary on government policies or future market changes influences investors, policymakers and ordinary Australians struggling with the increased cost of energy bills. Having worked in the industry for more than 15 years, Saul Kavonic’s journey from an engineer to equity researcher illustrates why the man is a reliable ally in the energy politics of our country.
Saul Kavonic’s Background: From Engineering to Energy Expertise
Saul Kavonic has a long history in the energy industry, not only with scholarly knowledge but also with practical experience. His home city is Melbourne, and he is an honours graduate (Law and Chemical Engineering) from the University of Melbourne, with a blend of the technical and regulatory aspects of energy. In his early career, Saul was in commercial and strategy roles at Woodside Energy, the largest oil and gas company in Australia and was able to gain first-hand experience in upstream activities.
His history is not just on the other side of corporate walls. Saul was the Wood Mackenzie (International energy consultancy) principal analyst covering Australasia, the gas and LNG markets. He has also worked in venture capital at M.H. Carnegie and Co., which is one of the largest funds in Australia, and had a hand in the development policies of the United Nations and the African Union Commission in matters that concerned the economy. These various experiences have made Saul Kavonic a practical mind who is not afraid of going beyond the status quo. He is now a graduate advisory board member at the University of Western Australia’s Oceans Graduate School and co-founder of Refugees Welcome Australia, which demonstrates his interest in larger social problems.
In the case of Aussies, the background of Saul is appealing since it is connected with the issues of the locality. He has seen the boom and the bust of our resources, the LNG projects of WA, and the gas crunch of the east coast. The analysis can be taken from his work at Woodside in the early days, where his analysis of strategy in an industry that contributes so much to job creation in Perth and elsewhere provides a sense of the real-world implications of strategy, such as the employment of people in the region and the security of energy there.
Saul Kavonic at Credit Suisse: Leading Research Down Under
One of the turning points in his career was his work at Credit Suisse, where he became the Head of Integrated Energy, Resources and Carbon Research. In five years, he reported on energy, green metals and carbon markets, and led the polls in Australian industry surveys on his incisive, fact-based stories. Saul Kavonic widely wrote about the energy transition and fossil fuels at Credit Suisse – he has analysed the impact of carbon pricing on miners, and the role of green metals such as lithium in the Australian export future.
Among the best ones is his analysis of the geopolitical risks in energy markets. Saul, in the interviews, emphasised that any situation in the Middle East that raises tensions might lead to oil and LNG prices soaring and urged the Aussie investors to remain on their guard. His analysis of such companies as Santos and Woodside offered some practical recommendations to the local portfolios with references to putting Australia as one of the global LNG sources. Leaving Credit Suisse in 2023 and in the context of global issues, Saul has established his reputation as an analyst who brings global trends and details of the Australian context, such as the effect of federal policies on household power bills in Sydney or Brisbane.
Transition to MST Financial: Saul Kavonic’s Current Role
Saul Kavonic became a Senior Energy Analyst at MST Financial in 2024, and his proficiency became part of MST Marquee. In this case, he is still covering such stocks as Santos (STO.AX), Beach Energy (BPT.AX), and Woodside (WDS.AX), and also adding to his portfolio integrated energy and carbon strategies. MST Financial, one of the major players in Australian equities, trusts Saul to make predictions in a world of uncertainty – be it gas price caps, renewable roll-outs, etc.
Saul Kavonic has been very outspoken at MST on local matters, including the criticism of federal energy policy as discouraging investment. In a recent article in The Australian, he made the case that Australia is becoming a “country of no” rather than “go” due to the “anti-investment ideology” held by the government, citing cases such as the lagging approvals to the North West Shelf in WA. This resonates with the Australian readers: imagine the Victorian manufacturers with gas shortages, or the drive by the Queenslanders to acquire new generators. The MST position keeps Saul on the frontline, speaking at conferences such as Gastech and giving advice on the future of LNG at PNG, which is connected to the Australian regional trade.
Saul Kavonic in the Media: From CNBC to Sky News
Saul Kavonic is not a person sitting behind the desk; he is a media regular who appears in both international and local newspapers. On CNBC, he has deconstructed issues such as lithium price weakness and the oil effects of the Israel-Hamas war, giving the view of the Australians in international arenas. Nearer to home, Saul Kavonic on Sky News has decried “green hydrogen hype”, saying how governments became “sucked in” and that the resultant subsidies were wasted instead of contributing to a robust baseload supply of power.
His Sky News segments frequently connect to Australian news, such as energy security risks with the existing policies. This aggressive approach of Saul, who refers to “ineptitude” in energy leadership, is also interesting to watch in Melbourne or Adelaide, the cities where power outages are looming. He also writes op-eds in The Australian, on Santos board drama, policy failings of the Labour Party, and he always supports it with market data.
Saul Kavonic on Santos and Woodside: Key Industry Insights
In the case of big players, Saul Kavonic, Santos and Woodside are must-reads in the mind of an Aussie investor. On Santos, he has focused on the problems of governance, such as the apprehensions of the removed CFO with regard to valuations, calling on shareholders to insist on superior management. His experience in Woodside tells people about LNG expansions that regulation obstacles might undermine the trust in projects that sustain the economy of WA.
The following information can be applied locally: the Barossa project of Santos will impact NT jobs, and the Train Pluto of Woodside will be able to employ thousands of people in the Pilbara. Saul Kavonic emphasises balanced transitions – gas bridging to renewables – as a way of preventing price spikes that will strike the household of Aussies.
Connecting with Saul Kavonic: LinkedIn and Twitter
To the interested parties, the LinkedIn profile of Saul Kavonic is the place where they can get updated on the latest developments in the profession, conference reports and energy projections. Search for him to get in touch with his circle of industry leaders. He posts real-time on Twitter (@saulkavonic) in posts such as the latest Queensland gas deal or Santos scandals, and he has more than 3,900 followers with lively discussions.
It is on these platforms that Saul is available to the Aussies – be it the Perth engineer or the Sydney investor – to provide unfiltered opinion on our energy future.
Finally, Saul Kavonic is an unconventional figure in the Australian energy scene, who combines knowledge and experience with a demand towards sensible decisions. We are going through the world by net-zero ambitions, and his observations keep us in mind that middle-way and investment-friendly strategies are essential in ensuring the lights and bills are kept on. Keen to dive deeper? Keep up with Saul Kavonic on Twitter, LinkedIn and be informed about how energy defines the success of our country.
