Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) board members have endorsed Bruce Lake and Richard Owen after the pair were re-elected to their respective positions of chairman and vice chairman.

Lake, the managing director of Vermilion Oil and Gas Australia, has been a long-term director on the APPEA board and is acknowledged as an industry leader in health, safety and operations.

The board also voted to extend Owen’s tenure as vice chairman. Owen currently holds the position of chairman for ExxonMobil Affiliates in Australia.

Lake and Owen were first elected to their positions after APPEA’s November 2014 AGM.

APPEA’s annual general meeting was held in Perth on Thursday.