"Young talent, knowledge and perspectives are vital for the world to solve our future energy challenge," says WPC President Dr. Randy Gossen, "and I am vey pleased that the World Petroleum Council voted to set up a Global Petroleum Youth Committee at its annual meeting on 16th November 2007.
Youth is one of the key issues for the 60 member countries of the World Petroleum Council (WPC). WPC recogises their significance to the future of the petroleum industry and the importance of giving the young generation scope to develop their own ideas, talents and competencies to create viable solutions for the future of our world. We believe that young people are our industry's greatest spokespeople and must be involved in crafting the future, not just inheriting it"
At its annual Council meeting in Calgary, Canada, WPC established a Global Petroleum Youth Committee as part of the WPC's efforts to increase the representation and involvement of young people in its organisation and the oil and gas industry. On the introduction of the new Youth Committee, the President of the World Petroleum Council said: "We have brought together a group of excellent young people from 17 countries around the world who will be giving their creative input to the major goals and challenges for the WPC's work in the petroleum industry and society at large."
In May, Dr. Randy Gossen chaired a workshop hosted by the UK National Committee in London to define a youth engagement roadmap for the WPC. The main conclusions of this workshop were presented and discussed during the last EC meeting held in Budapest in July. Following the recommendations of the workshop's participants, it was decided to add a "Youth Committee" to the WPC organisation.
Dr. Jacqueline Lecourtier, who serves on the WPC's Executive Committee, and was earlier this year appointed as the new Director of the French National Research Agency (ANR), was tasked by the WPC to take on this vital project within the organisation. She stated: "The creation of this WPC Youth Committee supports our vision that the international petroleum sector is a strong magnet for a diversity of talented young people who find rewarding opportunities to contribute towards innovative solutions to broad global challenges." The 17 members of the Youth Committee will start work at their inaugural meeting on January 8th, 2007, in Madrid, the host city for the 19th World Petroleum Congress in 2008.
Mishal Jabor Al-Thani from Qatar Petroleum expressed his delight at being appointed to the new Global Petroleum Youth Committee and said: "I believe in the Council's objectives for providing an opportunity to facilitate dialogue between all oil and gas industries leading towards a better tomorrow and I am committed to making the WPC vision a reality". Leor Rotchild, another of the newly appointed members, is a senior analyst with Nexen from Canada and was already involved in the first WPC Youth workshop earlier this year. Cao Hong from China's CNPC was also pleased to become involved in the Youth Committee and promised to do his best to "contribute my efforts and ideas to WPC, and to promote innovations of young people for world petroleum industry." Ingvild Meland from Norway's Petoro SA, one of the 4 female members of the new Youth Committee, summed it up as follows: "Petroleum is important for the world's long term energy supply, and it is an industry with positive outlook and great opportunities. Young people can contribute with new updated knowledge, high motivation and new oil business perspectives, and I believe it is important to secure exchange of such competence. I am very exited to be involved in forming the future path for the worldwide oil industry."
Notes to Editor
About the World Petroleum Council
The World Petroleum Council was founded in London in 1933. It is an international, unbiased, non-political organisation that provides a forum for discussing world issues facing the oil and gas industry. The WPC is dedicated to scientific advances in the oil and gas industries, technology transfer and the promotion of the management of the world's petroleum resources for the benefit of mankind. Every three years, the World Petroleum Council hosts an international oil and gas congress hosted by one of its member countries. The 19th World Petroleum Congress will take place in Madrid in June 2008.
Trends and outlooks integral to the future success of the industry are the focus of discussions, forums and presentations. Delegates explore international business opportunities, exchange ideas on global issues, network and share the latest information on technology, business management and industry developments. High-level government delegations from member countries and thousands of delegates usually attend the congresses.
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