BP young professionals selected as future energy leaders
Five up-and-coming BP leaders were chosen to participate in the Future Energy Leaders program at CERAWeek by IHS Markit, the energy industry’s annual international gathering of executives, innovators and government officials
Annette Andersen, Allison Crane, Michael Porter, Kegan Rodrigues and Catherine Vo were nominated by BP leaders for this year’s program, which brings together high-potential individuals from companies, governments, academic institutions and other organizations to help empower them to meet current and future energy challenges.
During the conference, which took place March 5-9 in Houston, Future Energy Leaders had opportunities to network with peers and engage in discussions led by industry executives and experts.
Here, BP’s delegates share their favorite moments — and lasting impressions — from CERAWeek:
Annette Andersen
Performance engineering manager, BP Wind Energy
What was the most surprising or interesting thing you learned at CERAWeek?
“There was consensus on the need to reduce carbon emissions across much of the power sector and the majors in oil and gas, but ultimately a diverse, low-cost energy mix is required to get us there, and although wind is a low-cost option, now my industry must continue to drive efficiencies to stay competitive.”
How has participating in the Future Energy Leaders program influenced your career ambitions?
“Hearing directly from world leaders was incredible and inspiring. My career goals remain the same as before the conference — to continue learning and challenging myself while seeking assignments where I can have a positive impact.”
Allison Crane
Liability business manager, remediation management
What was your favorite session that you attended, and why?
“I enjoyed several sessions but mostly found it fascinating to listen to politicians discuss ongoing policies, such as NAFTA or the tariffs, and then to hear private-sector CEOs discuss the potential implications for industry. The real-time impact that some of these conversations had on the market was exciting to witness.”
How has the Future Energy Leaders program given you new perspective on your career at BP?
“I appreciated the availability of leadership to openly discuss lessons learned from their careers. Some key takeaways included the importance of maintaining a balance between work and family; of not being in too big a hurry to get where you’re going; and of maintaining a certain level of discomfort in order to grow, but not staying in a job you don’t enjoy for too long.”
Michael Porter
Director, Gulf Coast/mid-continent producer services, North America gas and power
What was the most surprising or interesting thing you learned at CERAWeek?
“I think the technological breakthroughs and efficiency gains in the Upstream have been well publicized, but I was not aware of the scale of innovation that is already occurring — from artificial intelligence to robotics to blockchain — that will have a profound effect on the entire energy value chain.”
What was your favorite session that you attended, and why?
“I enjoyed hearing perspectives from executives from the exploration and production companies that I deal with on a daily basis. I also appreciated listening to viewpoints on the opportunities and challenges facing the global energy industry from international governmental energy leaders from countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Saudi Arabia and Australia.”
Kegan Rodrigues
Wells senior completion engineer, Gulf of Mexico
What was your favorite session that you attended, and why?
“The Global Oil Dialogue offered interesting perspectives on the current state and future of the energy industry from a very diverse panel. It reiterated that hydrocarbons are not going away and that fuel diversity, through an integrated portfolio of energy types, was the way forward to achieving energy security for all nations.”
How has the Future Energy Leaders program given you new perspective on your career at BP?
“I feel empowered more than ever to play a leading role in delivering reliable and sustainable energy for future generations. With global energy consumption continuing to increase over the next two decades, there is an immense opportunity for all of us to be future leaders in this transition. Networking here at CERAWeek has reinforced that people are our greatest asset, and fostering meaningful relationships should underpin how we live and work every day.”
Catherine Vo
Project controls lead, remediation management
What was your favorite session that you attended, and why?
“My favorite panel was ‘AI & Energy: Revolution or Evolution?’ featuring BP’s own Morag Watson. The session highlighted our energy and excitement for what’s to come in this new era of digital transformation. Morag was especially visionary, and I am thrilled to see her ‘have no fear’ attitude as she leads the charge for BP.”
How has the Future Energy Leaders program given you new perspective on your career at BP?
“The Future Energy Leaders program inspires me to widen my learning networks across geographical divides, cultures and industries. Innovation comes from all sources and in many different forms, and we should truly keep open eyes and minds to fully harness that knowledge for the betterment of BP.”