Strategic Programme
Day 1 - Monday 8 June
Part of Opening Session
BP Leadership Interview
Speaker: Ariel Flores, SVP Subsurface, BP
Moderator: Carole Nakhle, CEO, Crystol Energy
Meeting energy demand in a fractured world
Geopolitical volatility continues to reset the energy agenda. Our panel will address the priorities of global suppliers of energy in their investment strategy to meet future demand in this unpredictable market with the implications for energy transition a major factor.
- Simon Flowers, Chairman, Chief Analyst, WoodMackenzie
- Gorbul Gonzu, Director Country Partnerships, IRENA
- John UnderHill, Interdisciplinary Director for Energy Transition and Professor in Geoscience and Energy, University of Aberdeen
Day 2 - Tuesday 9 June
Hall 2
Next chapter in the offshore Europe story
Offshore Europe has the makings of the world’s first model energy hub combining conventional hydrocarbons exploration with renewable energy exploitation and carbon capture and storage initiatives. Our panel will discuss what is needed to keep this prospect on track including international collaboration, government policies, industry investment, technology innovation and meeting environmental priorities.
- Doris Reiter, SVP North Sea, BP
- Carel Hooijkaas, EVP Marine Data Acquisition, TGS
- Andy Brooks, Director New Ventures, NSTA
- Erling Frantzen, SVP EAME, Earth Data, Viridien
- Ian Conway, Executive Director, Upstream Strategy, S&P Global Energy (Moderator)
Where now for exploration? - How Do We Replace the Reserves the World Needs?
As the industry looks to the future, exploration sits at the centre of the upstream equation – but under increasing pressure to deliver material discoveries in a more constrained and complex environment. Our panel will examine where exploration is actively taking place, the basins and plays attracting real momentum, the countries attracting investment, and how advances in data, technology are shaping decision-making. On the agenda will be how the next generation of resources will be found, developed and brought forward to underpin long-term global supply.
Global Upstream Leaders Panel (organised by Frontier Energy): Rebalancing the New World Order in an Age of Fragmentation - Where Is Upstream Really Heading?
As the global energy system becomes even more fragmented and less predictable, the upstream industry is being forced to rebalance in real time. Our panel will examine how companies are navigating shifting geopolitical dynamics, evolving exploration and production priorities, risk, and operational realities on the ground. On the agenda will be where upstream is genuinely moving forward, the role of exploration in securing future supply, and how leading players are positioning portfolios in a world where the old assumptions no longer apply.
Day 3 - Wednesday 10 June
Hall 2
Shooting for the Moon Together: Collaboration as a Catalyst for Transformational Value (SEM Breakfast by Invitation Only)
Faced with oil-price volatility and a preference for fast-payback digital tools, E&P organizations are underinvesting in capital-intensive, long-cycle capabilities like subsea processing and EOR. To bridge the widening gap between technical potential and investable reality, the industry must move beyond incremental gains. This session positions structured collaboration—through consortiums and JIPs—as a strategic necessity. By sharing risks and costs, leaders can turn ambitious “moonshot” concepts into bankable, scalable deployments that ensure long-term recovery, resilience, and transformational value.
Rachael Moreland, VP, Head of Energy Software & Technology Solutions, S&P Global Energy (Facilitator)
Is the seismic sector ready for an upturn?
For at least a decade global marine seismic services have struggled to survive persistent low demand. Our panel will explore how this scenario might change, and how the sector can respond to a recovery in the market. One consideration will be the likely focus of future oil company exploration. But crucially industry clients will be looking to continuing cost and efficiency improvements in acquisition technology and operations, subsurface imaging and the potential of AI. Can the industry deliver is the question.
Geoscience: adapting to a new professional landscape
It is no secret that career opportunities for the geoscience community are in flux. The traditional skillset is in less demand in sectors such as oil and gas, with fewer academic courses being offered in many regions. However, geoscientific expertise is needed in many different areas beyond resource extraction. Our panel will discuss what the next generation of geoscientists can expect, the studies that may be relevant, and also lay out the options for professionals in mid-career wanting to change course.
- Carla Riddell, Chief Technical Officer, Serica Energy
- John Stephenson, VP Subsurface and Wells Technology, BP
- Gautier Baudot, VP Exploration Excellence and Transformation, TotalEnergies
- Rachael Moreland, VP, Head of Energy Software & Technology Solutions, S&P Global Energy (Moderator)
Day 4 - Thursday 11 June
Hall 2
Maintaining transition momentum
There is no magic wand. At every level of government, industry and even local communities, there is a new realism about how the energy transition will unfold, its timing and the practicality of phasing out fossil fuels. Our panel will assess what this shift in sentiment means, if anything, for ongoing investment in renewables, carbon capture and storage and other energy transition initiatives and how this might impact the geoscience community.
- Samantha Humphreys, Upstream Digital Lead, S&P Global Energy (Moderator)
- Susan Krumdieck, Chair in Energy Transition Engineering, Heriot-Watt University
Day 1 - Monday 8 June
Part of Opening Session
BP Leadership Interview
Moderator:
Speaker:
Power Plays - The Geopolitics of the New Energy Era
The ongoing shift towards a multipolar world is fundamentally reshaping approaches to the energy transition as geopolitical volatility impacts energy policy and investments. Meanwhile a rapidly growing energy demand looks to result in an energy addition scenario rather than a sudden and complete replacement of hydrocarbons. The AI technology race and fierce competition for critical minerals are also emerging as strategic battlegrounds for global influence and national security. This opening debate will take a strategic look at how shifting global alliances, AI demand, and mineral dependencies are rewriting the rules of the energy transition.
Day 2 - Tuesday 9 June
(Room Strauss 2-3)
Collaborating for a Resilient North Sea
The nations that share the North Sea face the challenge of extending the productive life of one of the most successful hydrocarbon basins in history whilst accelerating clean energy and carbon capture and storage developments and possibilities. The scale of investment opportunities in this transition and the future technology requirements will be the focus of the panel, along with how government and industry at both national and international levels can collaborate to maximise energy security, job and revenue creation, and meeting decarbonisation goals.
Building a Winning Strategy - Navigating Uncertainty in Exploration
Replacing depleted reserves to meet both commercial objectives and global energy demand may soon see a change in the oil industry’s disciplined approach to exploration spending. The questions for the panel are how and where will oil companies focus their investment. Will there be a breakout from current productive locations, for example, to frontier deep water or even the Arctic? What are the barriers to where the industry can go? Can current technology meet the cost and efficiency requirements of next generation exploration? Does current practice meet environmental protection standards or need refinement?
Women Leading in the Energy Transition: Resilience for a Sustainable Future
This session explores the pivotal role of women in advancing technological innovation and leadership within geoscience to tackle contemporary energy challenges. It highlights the resilience demonstrated by women as they navigate career transitions in a dynamic industry. Furthermore, it showcases their significant contributions toward fostering a resilient and sustainable future for the energy sector.
Day 3 - Wednesday 10 June
Plenary Room
The Future for Seismic: Maximising Value while Ensuring Innovation
For at least a decade the global market for seismic services has been problematic with a history of persistent low demand and industry consolidations. The panel will consider how this scenario might change. Possible cause for optimism is that major oil companies are edging towards increased exploration spending, also investment in transition technologies with associated seismic applications is increasing every year. In question, therefore, is the capacity of a fragile marine seismic business to meet these more positive scenarios. Can advances in acquisition and interpretation technologies, plus promising applications of AI, answer the need for more cost-effective operations? Could innovative financing and new partnership models also play a part? More broadly, how can seismic companies maximise their contribution to developments in carbon capture and storage and renewable energy initiatives?
Future of Geosciences and the Promises of AI
Companies are aggressively investing in digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the entire value chain with hopes of maximizing recovery, efficiency gains and enhancing safety. This shift positions AI beyond a simple automation tool to a core strategic driver for business transformation. This panel explores the critical integration of digital technologies and AI into geoscience applications, focusing on strategy, operational efficiency, and people. What are the practical strategies for deploying AI in subsurface workflows, moving beyond pilots to enterprise-wide scalable applications? As the industry’s use of agentic systems expands, what impact will it have for the role of geoscientists and other domain experts?
Day 4 - Thursday 11 June
Plenary Room
Breaking In and Standing Out: Young Professionals Navigating a Changing Energy Landscape
The energy sector is navigating political, fiscal, and technological change. Windfall taxes, fluctuating investments, and the energy transition make entering or advancing in the petroleum industry increasingly challenging. Opportunities are evolving — from traditional oil and gas roles to emerging sectors such as CCUS, hydrogen, geothermal, and digital energy. This session will provide young professionals with practical guidance, mentorship, and insights on career pathways, skills development, and networking.
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