Our Team

John McLellan

Director

John established J&S Drilling in 1982 after moving from Queensland and starting as a sole trader installing water bores by hand. Under his leadership, the company has evolved into a leading multidiscipline drilling company with offices in Perth, WA; Central QLD; and Darwin, NT, offering comprehensive drilling services on land and over water. As Director, John maintains overall responsibility for safe, efficient operations while overseeing ESHMS & QMS development, sustainability initiatives, and corporate governance. He holds Class 3 drilling licences across WA, QLD, and NT, along with trade qualifications in carpentry/joinery and marine certifications.

Sheryl McLellan

Director

Co-founder of J&S Drilling alongside John in 1982, Sheryl oversees company accounts, financial management, and employment relations, including EBA development and contract implementation. Throughout the company’s evolution into a leading drilling operation, she has maintained financial oversight while fostering a motivated team environment focused on client needs and company deliverables. Her qualifications include a business college education and multiple financial database and IT system certifications.

Glenn Summerfield

General Manager

Glenn brings a lifetime of drilling industry experience to his new role at J&S Drilling as the newly appointed General Manager, May 2026. Starting his career at just 15, he has worked across a wide range of drilling methods, including rotary mud, water boring, diamond drilling, and reverse circulation (RC). With a strong operational background and a practical, results-driven mindset, Glenn transitioned into senior management roles where he focused on improving safety, quality, and performance standards. Since joining J&S Drilling in 2025, he has supported business development, marketing, and tender processes while actively contributing to continuous improvement initiatives and sharing industry insights with the broader team.

Brian Bawdon

Support Manager

Brian has been with J&S Drilling since 1994, progressing from driller’s assistant/mechanic to General Manager in 2018 and recently stepping down to be the Support Manager, May 2026 to enjoy a better work-life balance. He manages client relationships, project quotations, subcontractor relationships, and contract compliance while identifying new business opportunities. His extensive experience includes drilling licences in WA, QLD & NT; a Diploma in Management; and trade qualifications as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic. Prior to J&S, Brian conducted geophysics work for oil and gas exploration across Australia.

Dale McLeod

Contracts Manager

Dale joined J&S Drilling in 2017, bringing over 30 years of drilling industry experience across oil & gas (onshore/offshore), coal bed methane, deep water wells exceeding 1000m, and mine site dewatering programs. He manages tender preparation, contract review, financial performance monitoring, and business development while leading teams on remote projects across Australia. His qualifications include an Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, trade certifications in toolmaking, fitting, and welding, plus ISO 9001 auditor credentials and IGHSPA membership.

Craig Foster

Operations Manager Perth

Craig has been with J&S Drilling since 1999, advancing from driller’s assistant to Perth Operations Manager in 2018. He supervises multiple drilling operations across exploration, marine, geotechnical, environmental, and water well sectors. His extensive on-land and over-water drilling experience spans Australia and overseas, supported by Class 2 Water Well licences across WA, NT, QLD & SA, plus management and training certifications.

Gregory Franklin

QLD Regional Manager

Greg joined J&S Drilling in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience as owner and director in construction and mining businesses, with 15 years focused on drilling industry operations, including water bores and blast hole drilling. He manages Queensland operations, tender preparation, contract review, financial performance monitoring, and team leadership while maintaining J&S company standards. His qualifications include a QLD Class 1 Driller’s Licence, Certificate III Drilling Operations, and licensed shotfirer credentials.

Paul Gibson

Workshop Supervisor

Paul joined J&S Drilling in 2010 as an apprentice boilermaker and was promoted to Workshop Supervisor in 2018. He manages all maintenance, repairs, and fabrication of drilling plant, equipment, and facilities while designing customised drill rigs to meet OEM Australian standards and client requirements. His leadership promotes a safety culture and workplace excellence, building on trade qualifications in boilermaking, cabinetmaking, and fine furniture making, as well as a Certificate 3 in engineering and fabrication.

Ben Levis

Drilling HSE Supervisor

I am an experienced Water Well Driller who is production-driven, with a strong commitment to Health & Safety, and team focus a priority. I’ve spent decades of my drilling career self-employed at A. Levis & Sons Water Well Drillers, where I have honed my skills from childhood on a multipurpose drill rig, specializing in hard rock water well drilling. The Geotechnical Drilling sector also exposed me to civil engineering projects which allowed development of precision drilling techniques and bore-hole measurement to deliver products to high-grade specifications.

A further feather in my cap was the expansion of my business to provide test pumping services which led to a series of Groundwater Investigation projects where I developed and enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

In my career as a Water Well Driller I have developed a large skill set to achieve desired results in a variety of circumstances, using Continuous Flight Auger, Rotary Air, Rotary Mud, Downhole Hammer, Dual Rotary, Directional Drilling & Large Diameter Flooded Reverse drilling methods on projects throughout Western Australia. I have a multitude of experience with a range of certs including Certificate III & IV in Drilling and a Class 1 Drillers Licence.

Michelle Hicks

HR & Payroll Administrator

Michelle has been with J&S Drilling since January 2022, bringing over a decade of payroll experience and recently completing a Certificate IV in Human Resources Management. She manages the complete employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding, handles payroll processing and benefits administration, and serves as the company’s in-house recruitment specialist. Her role includes maintaining the HRIS, ensuring compliance, managing employee relations, and fostering continuous learning while contributing to organisational success.

Janine Nel

Accounts Payable Clerk

Janine has brought comprehensive accounts processing and data management expertise to J&S Drilling since April 2023. Having immigrated from South Africa in 2008, she manages accurate invoice processing, payment scheduling, vendor account maintenance, and monthly reconciliations while maintaining precise financial records. Her recent completion of Certificate III in Accounts Administration, combined with her first aid certification and specialised skills in Excel dashboards and Power BI, strengthens her contribution to the company’s financial operations.

Tahnee Mews

Quality Control Officer

Tahnee ensures operational standards and compliance across J&S Drilling’s projects. She has 14 years’ experience in business administration. Her career began in reception until she progressed to accounts. Her qualifications include Certificate II in Business, Certificate III in Business Administration, and Certificate IV in Bookkeeping. Tahnee is currently enjoying some well-deserved maternity leave with her second child.

Allyra Millward

Junior Receptionist

Allyra is the face of J&S Drilling. Allyra started with us in January as our Junior Receptionist, graduated from school and started with us to gain experience in an office environment. Her qualifications include Certificates III & IV in Business Administration.