At a time when companies are announcing lay-offs, it may seem weird to contemplate the Great Crew Change. But recession doesn’t prevent people from aging, and at best it can only delay retirements. If energy companies are to remain vital, they will continually need to attract and retain key talent from all age demographics.
So I find it interesting that the World Petroleum Council (WPC) is planning its second WPC Youth Forum, to be held Nov. 18-20 in Paris. What, you might ask, is the WPC Youth Forum? I was unaware of it as well. But it turns out that the WPC has been committed to supporting younger industry professionals for several years, recognizing that this age group will be of key importance going forward and that younger professionals have several choices other than energy when they pursue their careers.
“To compete effectively in this race for talent, the energy sector needs to promote its image and the broad range of opportunities open to young people across its many sectors: oil, gas, biomass, new energies, [and] oil-related industries,” the WPC website states.
The first WPC Youth Forum was held in Beijing in 2004 and was considered a success. This year’s forum is titled “Energise Your Future” and has been organized by the very young professionals the WPC hopes to reach. “It will be a highly participative forum relying on state-of-the-art communications tools to allow young people from across the world to debate the major issues facing the energy industry in the coming years with their peers but also with representatives of the academic world, industry experts, and current leaders,” the Web site states.
More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in the event, which will feature three levels of discussion: keynote plenary sessions for strategic thinking, workshops for more in-depth analysis of the overall themes, and networking and sharing areas called “Knowledge Cafes” to facilitate break-out sessions and one-on-one discussions with industry experts.
The audience will comprise four segments: young professionals under age 35, final-year students from universities, academics, and high-level guest speakers providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector. Sponsors include Total, Schlumberger, GDF Suez, CGGVeritas, Maersk Oil, and IFP.
The program will begin with an opening plenary session titled “Is a sustainable future within our grasp?” and feature speakers from Total, Schlumberger Reservoir Characterization, GDF Suez, and WPC as well as Wail Mousa, president of the WPC Youth Committee, and younger representatives from some of the sponsoring companies.
The event continues all day Nov. 19 and 20, with plenary topics that cover the energy picture in the future, an ethical and sustainable energy industry, tomorrow’s leadership, and a roadmap toward sustainability. Numerous workshops and knowledge cafes will also be offered.
For more information, visit www.energiseyourfuture.com.
Recommended Reading
BP Pursues ‘25-by-‘25’ Target to Amp Up LNG Production
2024-02-15 - BP wants to boost its LNG portfolio to 25 mtpa by 2025 under a plan dubbed “25-by-25,” upping its portfolio by 9% compared to 2023, CEO Murray Auchincloss said during the company’s webcast with analysts.
From Restructuring to Reinvention, Weatherford Upbeat on Upcycle
2024-02-11 - Weatherford CEO Girish Saligram charts course for growth as the company looks to enter the third year of what appears to be a long upcycle.
TechnipFMC Eyes $30B in Subsea Orders by 2025
2024-02-23 - TechnipFMC is capitalizing on an industry shift in spending to offshore projects from land projects.
NOV's AI, Edge Offerings Find Traction—Despite Crowded Field
2024-02-02 - NOV’s CEO Clay Williams is bullish on the company’s digital future, highlighting value-driven adoption of tech by customers.
Patterson-UTI Braces for Activity ‘Pause’ After E&P Consolidations
2024-02-19 - Patterson-UTI saw net income rebound from 2022 and CEO Andy Hendricks says the company is well positioned following a wave of E&P consolidations that may slow activity.