WPC Energy

Yesterday was a historic day for WPC Energy as a signing ceremony took place in London between the Secretariat and the Kazakh National Committee granting the right for the 26th WPC Energy Congress in 2028 to be held in Astana.

The MOU was signed by Pedro Miras, President of WPC Energy and Magzum Mirzagaliyev, Chairman of the Kazakh National Committee of WPC Energy and Chairman of the KAZENERGY Association.

The 26th Congress is significant as it signals the move from a triennial to biennial cycle. This change forms part of a wider strategic plan, along with the ongoing re-organisation of the London based Secretariat and adoption of a new brand and identity (in 2023) which is designed to strengthen our purpose and position with the global energy industry.

More details are available here: https://www.wpcenergy.org/index.php/component/content/article/wpc-energy-announces-the-host-for-its-26th-congress-in-2028-alongside-transition-from-triennial-to-biennial-congress-cycle?catid=37:press-releases&Itemid=101

In an exciting development for WPC Energy and as part of our strategic growth plan, we are undertaking a significant expansion of our Secretariat team, which is based in London. We are currently recruiting for the new roles of Director of Operations and Stakeholder Management Director.

And as a final reminder, we are also recruiting for the role of Director General (CEO) due to the imminent retirement of Dr Pierce Riemer.

Further details of all three roles are available here https://wpcenergy.org/index.php/about-us/jobs and please note that CVs should be sent to the below email addresses.

Director General (CEO) - [email protected] (deadline 31 May 2024)
Stakeholder Management Director - [email protected] (deadline 14 June 2024)
Operations Director - [email protected] (deadline 14 June 2024)

Thank you.

** Director General of WPC Energy **

Exciting opportunity to lead our organisation into its next chapter!

Please do share where appropriate!

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3925605506

All resumes should be sent to [email protected] by 31 May 2024.

WPC Energy is delighted to support ARPEL-Naturgas Week 2024, taking place from 8-12 April 2024 in Cargagena de Indias, Colombia.

This event will create a unique space for the exchange of ideas and collaboration in the oil, natural gas and renewable energy sector within this region and its central theme will be: Driving just energy transitions for Latin America and the Caribbean.

On Tuesday 9 April, our President, Pedro Miras will be hosting a panel titled 'Rethinking Work' which will include Edson Bouer, Managing Director of Energy Industry, Accenture Brasil, Marcela Vaca, Member of the Board of Directors, GeoPark, Florencia Tiscornia, Vice President of People and Culture, YPF and a senior representative from SLB (TBC).

The full agenda, registration details and video overview of this event can be found here: https://semanaarpelnaturgas.com/english/

Join fellow energy young professionals from our UK National Committee next Wednesday March 20 for an insightful panel discussion featuring industry experts from sustainable finance and energy financial services. Their panelists will delve into the topic of 'The Road to Net Zero: How can we sustainably finance the energy transition?'. Gain insights into the pivotal themes and challenges shaping our journey towards a sustainable future.

Full details and registration here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-road-to-net-zero-how-can-we-sustainably-finance-the-energy-transition-tickets-858405141887

We hope that the spirit of Ramadan will illuminate your heart and soul, guiding you towards peace, joy, and blessings during this special time.

Today, as we applaud the incredible achievements, contributions, and resilience of the women around the world and the decisive roles which they play in shaping businesses, families and communities, we also bear in mind that we work in a sector where women are significantly underrepresented on a global scale.

Our 2023 Untapped Reserves 3.0 Survey, conducted alongside Boston Consulting Group (BCG), uncovered that women make up 23% of the global energy workforce, which is just 1% more than when WPC Energy and BCG started tracking this in 2017. Furthermore, this survey revealed that energy is currently the second worst performing sector in this regard with only construction employing a smaller percentage of women.

(You can learn more on this in the full Untapped Reserves Survey report here:
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/untapped-reserves-3-0-advancing-dei-in-the-energy-sector)

Our urgent call to the industry is to take decisive action to dismantle the systemic barriers, such as lack of flexibility, persistent gender stereotypes and bias, glass ceilings and the gender pay gap, and create pathways for women to thrive, advance and increase their visibility, particularly in leadership roles (as the saying goes, you can’t be what you can’t see).

WPC Energy recognizes that achieving gender equality is not just about the fairness of assembling a diverse and inclusive workforce, it constitutes an essential component for driving economic growth and will underpin the delivery of the ongoing global energy transition.

With this in mind WPC Energy has decided to expand its focus and activities around gender equity in energy and will be making an announcement shortly. Watch this space for details!

The WPC Energy Congress Programme Committee (CPC) chaired by Jim McFarland also assembled at the offices of the Ministry of Energy in Riyadh last week, marking their first meeting in the cycle leading up to the 25th WPC Energy Congress in 2026.

The Committee, comprising 17 different nationalities, took part in a full day of collaborative brainstorming to identify central theme and session topics for the next Congress. During the afternoon, the Committee broke into small working groups to allow for more in-depth discussions and for the freer exchange of diverse perspectives.

All in all, a very productive day where significant progress was made in the planning of the content and structure of this triennial event, which for the first time in its 90 year history, will be held in Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Committee of WPC Energy convened last week at the Ministry of Energy in Riyadh for the second meeting of this cycle, which will culminate in the 25th WPC Energy Congress in 2026.

Discussions included a comprehensive overview of the successful 24th World Petroleum Congress which took place last year in Calgary and reports from each Vice President sharing their vision and proposed activities for the coming three years. The President Pedro Miras detailed his roadmap for the future of WPC Energy, outlining the strategic planning and adaptation required to ensure the long-term relevance and success of our organisation in the ever-evolving energy environment.

Throughout the discussions there was a sense of engagement and drive among the meeting’s participants along with a shared commitment to supporting our Saudi Arabian National Committee – who were very accommodating hosts - as they prepare for the next Congress.

Senior Vice President of WPC Energy, Dr Pinar Yilmaz took centre stage earlier today in the opening ceremony of International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC), taking place this week in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

IPTC 2024 themes include innovation fuelling the world and the power of knowledge to illuminate pathways toward sustainable energy solutions.

In opening the event, Pinar was joined by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia and Nasir K. Al-Naimi, Executive Committee Chair - IPTC 2024 - Upstream President, Aramco.

WPC Energy President, Pedro Miras took part in the first Executive Dialogue Session earlier today at International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC), taking place in Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The panel for the session - Energy Investments Towards a Stable Global Economy - included Ashraf A. Al Ghazzawi, Executive Vice President Strategy & Corporate Development - Aramco, R. Blair Thomas, Chairman & CEO - EIG and Khalid M. Nouh, CEO - TAQA. The panel was moderated by Saugata Saha, President - S&P Global Commodity Insights.

As we approach the holiday season, we are reflecting on this exciting and busy year which marked the 90th anniversary of when Thomas Dewhurst, the then President of the Institute of Petroleum in the UK, organised what was to become the first World Petroleum Congress in London. 2023 has been a milestone year for our organisation. In July we redefined our identity, purpose and brand, and our new name, WPC Energy was born. September brought the hugely successful 24th Congress in Calgary, delivered by our Canadian National Committee, where insights, expertise and pioneering technologies across the full spectrum of the energy sector were debated. Themed Energy Transition: The Path to Net Zero, we believe the Congress created momentum for the changes needed to transition to a global energy system which meets its social, environmental, and economic challenges.

We send our warmest seasons greetings to our industry peers and friends, may the coming year be filled with joy, health, success, and prosperity for you and your loved ones 🎉✨

We are looking back at our 23rd Congress which commenced two years ago today in Houston. Delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic and challenged by restrictions on travel and latterly the Omicron variant, this was one of the first major global events to be held entirely live and safely (no reported infections) since March 2020.

Despite all the challenges and with the US opening its borders to doubly vaccinated foreign travellers who were willing to undergo testing and contact tracing only a few weeks before, we were delighted to welcome over 5,000 attendees from 85 countries, who enjoyed the full programme of Strategic and Technical sessions, exhibition, tours and other special events.

The 24th Congress, held in Calgary in September 2023 and themed ‘Energy Transition: The Path to Net Zero’, was a similar success, creating considerable momentum for the changes needed to deliver a low carbon global energy system.

The 25th Congress will be held in Riyadh in 2026, surprising marking the first time that the Kingdom has hosted this event, and only the second time that it has taken place in the Middle East, the first being the 20th WPC Congress in Doha in 2011. More details to come shortly!

Research has shown that the benefits of remote, hybrid and flexible working models include:

* Creating a more equitable work environment and thus ensuring access to a more diverse talent pool
* Increasing ability to attract, retain and motivate high-performing and experienced employees, reducing recruitment and training costs
* Leading to higher productivity as employees work during their most productive hours and in environments that suit them
* Boosting employee engagement, wellbeing and sense of belonging and the perception of being fairly treated

More information on how energy leaders can utilize these working models to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces can be found in the third version of the Untapped Reserves DE&I Survey report, conducted alongside Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The full report (44 pages), Infographic and Maturity Assessment Tool (which provides parameters to help companies assess their DE&I progress) are available to read and download here: https://untappedreserves.wpc.bcg.com/

WPC Energy will also be presenting the key findings of the most recent Untapped Reserves Survey and hosting a workshop on flexible working models at LEWAS - Leadership Excellence for Women Awards & Symposium taking place from 21- 22 November 2023 in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Full programme and registration details can be found here: https://lewa-symposium.org/.

WPC Energy are delighted to support LEWAS - Leadership Excellence for Women Awards & Symposium 2023, a not-for-profit programme which celebrates the women (and men) who have consistently pushed boundaries to raise the bar for gender diversity and found new avenues to address inclusion challenges in the Middle East.

Here is what you can expect at this groundbreaking event.

· Location: For the first time, we are taking the stage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a hub of energy excellence
· Theme: "Powering Tomorrow" - Explore the future of the energy industry with visionary leaders
· Diversity & Inclusion: Be part of a movement promoting an inclusive culture in the energy sector
· Networking: Connect with 6000+ attendees from 50 countries, spanning diverse industries
· Knowledge: Gain insights from experts in oil and gas, academia, utilities, and construction
· Inspiration: Elevate your career and break down barriers with like-minded professionals

Find out more about the LEWAS and GrwX Workshops and Masterclasses here: https://bit.ly/3PXjQuJ

Registration details here: https://bit.ly/3Q63QIm

The shift to actively creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, particularly in well-established sectors like energy, means addressing many habitual ways of working.

These are often difficult to see clearly and even more difficult to change. Our research shows that companies need to take action along four key levels to build effective DE&I strategies and diverse and inclusive organisations.

Learn more in the latest Untapped Reserves report developed in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group.

https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/untapped-reserves-3-0-advancing-dei-in-the-energy-sector

We are delighted to partner with LEWAS - The Leadership Excellence for Women Awards & Symposium. Their aim is to recognize outstanding individuals working in the energy sector across the Middle East who have excelled professionally and personally through their unmatched contributions in the areas of leadership, innovation, talent, research, and outreach.

More information available here: https://www.lewa-symposium.org/

We look forward to attending next month in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia!

Diverse organisations outperform their less-diverse competitors in terms of revenue, profits and employee satisfaction. Yet in 2023 the energy industry still lags behind most major sectors, with female employees representing less than a quarter of its workforce.

The recently released third edition of the Untapped Reserves Survey, the only global, recurring DE&I Survey within the energy sector, (jointly conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and WPC Energy), gives a detailed and updated picture of gender diversity within our sector, assesses the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and highlights the actions which successful companies are taking in order to attract, retain and advance females within their organisations.

Download the full report here: https://untappedreserves.wpc.bcg.com/

“We are part of the solution and there is no solution without our participation”.

This is the second main conclusion of our President Pedro Miras from the 24th World Petroleum Congress. The world is consuming 600 exajoules of energy and more than 50% is coming from oil and gas and more than 80% when including coal.

The companies that are delivering most of the energy that the world demands will find solutions to continue delivering sustainable, secure and affordable energy using technology and innovation.

We are delighted to introduce the new Chair of our Young Professionals Committee, Shamus Hardie, who will guide the team across multiple projects throughout the next cycle which culminates in the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2026.

Shamus was introduced to WPC Energy in 2019 after attending a number of local Canadian events, including the announcement that Calgary had won the rights to host the 24th World Petroleum Congress and the annual Ignite Talks held by the WPC Canada Future Leaders. He later joined the Future Leaders Board in early 2020 and was able to get involved with the talented team that organized informative energy panels and networking events for young professionals, just in time to pivot to online through the pandemic.

“While I have found community with our local young professionals groups in Calgary, Canada, WPC Energy has unlocked international connections for me, enabled me to learn about international developments, and practice leadership skills beyond my day job at Inter Pipeline. Over the last three years, I have been fortunate to work alongside many ambitious and driven counterparts from around the world on a number of exciting projects and events.”

Through his involvement with WPC Energy, Shamus has led the publication of four YP Magazines as Editor-in-Chief, attended and contributed to two Congresses (in Houston and his hometown Calgary), participated in mentorships with an experienced industry veteran, and currently represents Canada on the Young Professionals Committee.

Shamus says that he has cherished the relationships built over his time with WPC Energy and continues to be engaged by learning from others’ ways of life around the world and taking on a role in the energy transition: “although I am of the view petroleum has, and will continue to have, a critical role in our daily lives, the industry is undergoing change and has a number of realities it needs to face. I am proud to be one of the young professionals in this industry seeking to grow, do better, and to make a difference.”

Shamus, we know that you will be an incredible ambassador for our organisation and we look forward to working more closely with you over the next three years.

Full details on the activities of our Young Professionals Committee can be found by joining the WPC YP Connect group on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8189962/

The 24th World Petroleum Congress has begun! Delegations connecting the Women in Industry Breakfast. A key social responsibility pillar of the Congress continues to be the inclusion and promotion of Women in Industry. The Congress will also feature WinSETT Leadership Skill Builder Workshop, a Women Leading the Way panel and a Women in Industry Mixer.

Alaa Al Zarafi
Reservoir Navigation Services Lead
Baker Hughes

Alaa is a key founding member and the President of the National Young Professionals Committee (NYP) in his country of The Sultanate of Oman. He has established and led many local projects such as the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show YP Forum, Energy-Olympics Competition, Spark by NYP magazine, The Green Hydrogen Challenge Programme, and many other activities. He also serves as a Technical Advisor for the upgrade programme for young entrepreneurship development at The Research Council of Oman.

Alaa started his journey with WPC Energy in 2018 as a mentee in the Young Professionals Committee Mentoring Programme. Since then he has been involved in several YPC projects and events. He was one of the Project Leaders for the WPC Energy Global Youth Survey for both the 2021 and 2023 editions, a Session Moderator at the 6th WPC Future Leaders Forum and a Programme Committee Member and keynote speaker at the 7th WPC Youth Forum. In 2021, Alaa was elected as the Co-Vice Chair of the (international) Young Professionals Committee.

“Empowering the younger generation to contribute to the development of my community and to lead my country towards further prosperity, is a cause that I greatly care about and feel passionate about. WPC Energy has showed me how I can do this and more. It is a platform that provides an opportunity for enthusiastic Young Professionals to connect with many other YPs from across the globe who share the same goals, concerns, and career aspirations. It has given me an opportunity to engage with all levels of seniority, with differing experiences from numerous segments of the energy industry setting the perfect environment for career boosting and ‘leadership development.’”

Thank you Alaa for bringing your passion, time and expertise to our projects which support other YPs within our industry.

The 24th World Petroleum Congress commences next week in Calgary. Full details of the Young Professionals Programme at this event, please visit.

https://www.24wpc.com/wpc-young-professionals

Join us as we welcome Jann Brown, CEO of Pharos Energy. With over 25 years of experience in the industry paired with a financial background, we feel privileged to have her as one of our many leading energy industry voices!
Make essential connections with global experts at . Register today: www.24wpc.com/registration

Maram Al Belushi is one of WPC Energy’s committed and inspiring Young Professionals. A Geologist with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Muscat, she represents the Omani National Committee within the (international) Young Professionals Committee (YPC) and also sits on the WPC Energy Mentoring Programme Committee.

“I have been involved with WPC Energy YPC for five years, the organisation provides a great set of programmes and events for YP's to learn and grow professionally. The WPC Energy Youth Forum is an excellent platform for YPs to share their experiences, engage with industry leaders and build their network. YP Programmes such as the Magazine, Mentoring and Survey continue to add tremendous value and can be worked on at a local level; the great Spark by NYP Magazine Project is a fantastic example in Oman. My own experience with the Mentoring Programme has provided me with a great opportunity to connect with and learn directly from energy industry leaders. The 6th cycle will be launched shortly so I encourage you to keep an eye on WPC Energy social accounts and apply!

Lifelong learning is a powerful tool to upskill, grow and succeed, particularly at a time when our industry undergoes a radical transition. Be ready, you never know when new opportunities will arise!”

Maram, we thank you for the amount of time, focus, and commitment you have given to WPC Energy projects.

The 24th World Petroleum Congress commences in 11 days in Calgary. Full details of the Young Professionals Programme at this event, please visit.

https://www.24wpc.com/wpc-young-professionals

We’re proud to welcome Sinopec’s Deputy President, Dr. Guangfu Wang as a speaker at . He brings over 36 years of experience in the petroleum industry, and is leading technical service for overseas projects for Sinopec.
Reserve your spot to learn more from Dr. Wang and many other industry leaders: www.24wpc.com/registration

The Women in Industry Programme at the 24th World Petroleum Congress is a platform for sharing experiences, celebrating achievements, and advocating for gender diversity in the energy industry. Join us for engaging discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities focused on fostering gender diversity and inclusion in the energy sector. Learn more.

https://www.24wpc.com/registration

Join us at to hear from WestJet Group CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech about how innovative technology is shaping the energy transition. Before providing leadership at WestJet, Alexis spent 16 years as CEO and CFO of Lufthansa. His vast expertise will bring essential insights to all attending.

Register now to hear from this global energy leader: https://www.24wpc.com/registration

Connect with the leaders shaping our at the 24th World Petroleum Congress in ! Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your experience and grow your network by participating in a curated suite of complimentary B2B activities supported by Bennett Jones and powered by GLOBE Series which include:

👉🏼 Challenges
👉🏼 Knowledge Connect Sessions
👉🏼 Pitches
👉🏼 Themed Speed

As a WPC delegate, indicate your interest in the Programme during registration to receive the exclusive sign-up link directly or contact [email protected] for more information.

Learn more and register today to secure your spot: https://www.24wpc.com/registration

Read more:
https://www.24wpc.com/b2b-programme-page