Blog & News

A Word from Maria

Tue 17 January 2017

Category: Membership

maria-pngNow all the craziness of Christmas and New Year is over (and you guys love a bit of crazy), it’s time to look forward to 2017 and to reflect on the things that 2016 has taught us.
Though 2016 was a downturn for the industry, for me it’s the ‘norm’, as I have only been in this industry for 12 months. I have heard stories of what it’s like to work in the industry during the good times, so I’m very excited to see them for myself as the ‘green shoots’ of an upturn in the industry begin to appear in 2017.

My first year has been brilliant, what a welcome you have shown me and though you still astonish me with your alcohol consumption I have come to see a bigger picture of the industry and those that work within it. I have worked with graduates and students who are optimistic about their future in the industry, I have met wonderful groups of people who have kept their spirits up despite facing an uncertain future. The volunteers, council members and group organisers, astonish me with their commitment and drive as they lead busy lives but they continue to make a big contribution to the society.

PETEX and PROSPEX were fantastic events to both be involved as an organiser but also as exhibitor and delegate. Many congratulations must go to both the organising committees and the office team for making our aspirations a reality. Yes, numbers were down as expected but the energy and levels of engagement on the floor were amazing, you guys really know how to create an atmosphere.

In 2017 we are trying something new with the Stoneley event, for years we have tried to engage people in the discussion about energy, exploration and geoscience, with different levels of success. This year’s Stoneley event goes back to the beginning, to one of the things that introduced many of you to earth sciences all those years ago, dinosaurs! We want to take the public on the same engagement journey that you guys went on, you can’t go straight to petroleum, that’s like going ‘all the way’ on a first date. We want to wine and dine the public, get to know them, introduce them to dinosaur’s and meteors; petroleum discussions are for when we have met their parents!

So please check out the events on the website, they are happening nationally in April, bring your family and friends, introduce them to the joys of earth science, most of the events are free and we have tried to encompass all ages as well as all knowledge levels. These events are really special opportunities for members to engage others in their passion for geoscience, you are the ones who spread the knowledge, these events are a platform to support that.

I will look forward to seeing you there!