The PESGB is delighted to welcome a mix of familiar and new faces on the PETEX 2016 Organising  Committee.

The PESGB would like to thank the committee members for volunteering their time to ensure the success of PETEX, and the companies who have released them to serve in this way.
Richard Fox, Dana Petroleum
PETEX Chair
Acting as PETEX chairman for the first time is industry veteran Dr Richard Fox, the global Director of Exploration for Aberdeen-based Dana Petroleum, part of the Korea National Oil Corporation.

Dr Fox joined Dana in 2012 from BP where he worked for 23 years, starting his career at the company Research Centre after completing his PhD in Geoscience. He has a rich depth of international business, leadership and technical experience and has led and engaged in a large number of projects across the entire Exploration, Development and Production value chain.

In the course of his career, his work has focused on many of the world’s major oil and gas producing areas: the UK North Sea, Norway, WoS, GOM, Brazil, Alaska North-Slope, Onshore North America, Colombia, West Africa and the Middle East.

At the core of his professional philosophy is the role that people, technology and innovation play in delivering impactful results. Combining this with strong leadership, underpinned by deep technical expertise, is, he believes, the pathway to successfully finding and exploiting hydrocarbon resources.

Maria Iredale, PESGB
PETEX Director
Maria Iredale is the new PESGB Executive Director and a new Director of PETEX.  This will be her first time sitting on the PETEX Organising Committee and so brings a fresh approach and a new viewpoint.  Maria also represents the PESGB Executive Council on the Committee, ensuring that PETEX remains a “by the members, for the members” show and continues to generate funds which will be used by the PESGB to support the charitable objectives of the Society.   The PESGB supports a wide range of projects and most significantly sponsors the next generation of geologists and geophysicists studying their MSc.  Thanks to the success of PETEX 2012, this academic year the PESGB have been able to sponsor 28 students making us the UK’s largest sponsor of MSc students.

Neil Frewin, BG Group
Technical Co-chair – Exploration
Neil Frewin of BG Group returns to the PETEX Organising Committee this time in the capacity of Technical Co-chair focusing on Exploration. Having worked overseas for some years, he is looking forward to supporting the PESGB both as a member of the PETEX Organising and Technical Committees, and contributing in other ways to the work of the PESGB.  His experience in global exploration will bring a wealth of experience to the wider reach that PETEX now has.

Mike Branston, Schlumberger
Technical Co-chair – Technology
Mike Branston of Schlumberger returns to the PETEX Organising Committee this time in the capacity of Technical Co-chair focusing on Technology.  He comments that although he has been involved in many conferences around the world in his career, he always enjoys coming back to PETEX.  “It was an honour to be asked to contribute to the technical committee this year” he said, “and I am looking forward to building on what was achieved in 2014, whilst maintaining that unique PETEX atmosphere”.  The Committee is very grateful to be able to call on his fifteen years as a geophysicist, with both Schlumberger (WesternGeco) and NORSAR prior to 2010.  Mike holds a BSc and PhD in Geophysics and was awarded Chartered Geologist status by the Geological Society of London in 2006.

Maurice Dicks, Zebra Geoscience
Current treasurer of the PESGB, Maurice Dicks of Zebra Geosciences joins the PETEX committee in a similar role. He recognises the pivotal role PETEX plays in allowing the PESGB to continue its low-cost program of field trips, courses and evening lectures as well as allowing the PESGB to offer MSc student sponsorship.  Each year the PESGB also supports several other projects which are felt to be in line with the brief “To promote, for the public benefit, education in the scientific and technical aspects of petroleum exploration” which would not be possible without a successful PETEX.  This will be Maurice’s first time on the committee and he is looking forward to being part of an event which, he believes, has a growing reputation for its technical content while retaining its unique and distinct character.

Simone Silcock, Statoil
New to the committee for 2016 is Simone Silcock, a reservoir geophysicist for Statoil Production UK.  Having attended the last 5 PETEX conferences she is really looking forward to being part of the PETEX 2016 organising committee.  For the last two years Simone has been involved with several industry committees (PESGB YP, Petroleum Group and DEVEX) and will draw on experience gained from these.  She says that “PETEX has always been my favourite conference which always manages to balance a top class technical programme, together with lively exhibition hall making this a fantastic conference for learning and networking”.

Rhydian Williams, Ikon Science
This is Rhydian’s third time on the PETEX Organising Committee as he looks to consolidate the Business Development of the show.  Following on from the growth of PETEX over the past few years, Rhydian is responsible for developing existing relationships with industry and securing new opportunities for companies with regards to the benefits and value in PETEX participation.

Nick Cribbens, Exprodat
Nick Cribbens returns to the PETEX Organising Committee for a second time.  His previous role as Treasurer of the PESGB gave him an insight into how vital PETEX is to the success of the PESGB in providing MSc sponsorship, as well as the other projects they are involved in.  Nick has attended PETEX since the early 90’s, watching it grow to be a “fantastically well-organised, well-attended event”.

Tracey Dancy, Making Waves Marketing
Tracey Dancy serves on the Organising Committee for the sixth successive time in 2016.  Her focus this year will be on the International Pavilion and developing Data Management involvement, as well as continuing with marketing activities. Tracey comments that each event has been different, building on the previous event to make each one unique and enjoyable.

Graham Harman
Graham Harman has served the PESGB as Exhibition Manager for PETEX since its inception in 1989, and has seen the show grow from a handful of delegates and exhibitors to being the success it is today. He is perhaps the most familiar face on the PETEX floor, and has served the PESGB on Council as Treasurer in 1990 and 1991, and as PETEX Chairman in 1992. Graham continues to serve on the PETEX Organising Committee in an advisory capacity.

 

The success of PETEX is down to the contributions made by everyone involved, not least the PESGB team based in Croydon who include:

Ben Gardner, PESGB
Ben has been with the PESGB for just over five years and is the event manager for PETEX 2016.  This is Ben’s third time managing PETEX and second time at ExCeL, London.  Ben represents the PESGB Office on the PETEX Organising Committee.

Ben King, PESGB
Ben King is the main point of contact for all the PESGB Exhibitions.  This is his second time on the PETEX Organising Committee and is looking forward to the challenge of putting together another successful exhibition.