I accepted the invitation to be a candidate for President-Elect because of the opportunity to "give back" to our profession. This may seem a trite and over-used response, but it reflects my sincere commitment and dedication to our Association, its members and to the profession of petroleum geoscience.

Let me explain: My career comprised several of the roles in which many of our members are engaged. These include working for three different oil and gas companies, a government geological survey, as a consultant, and an academic. I am very fortunate that these roles provided me the opportunity to live and work in six different countries, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Indonesia and Australia. This global experience allowed me to work with and understand the views of many of our members around the world, and to gain a broad perspective of the issues faced by both U.S. and non‐U.S. members. In addition, by having worked in several different professional roles, I have an understanding of some of the drivers and challenges faced by our membership, especially in these times of downturn. I myself was retrenched in the downturn of 1986-87. I wore several different "hats" during my career of living and working around the world. However, there really was only one that I wore consistently, since 1982, when I joined AAPG. This hat provided the technical stimulus, organisational diversity and social interaction that transcended the various "jobs" I held.

Besides AAPG, I was an active member of affiliated societies wherever I lived, including the Geological Society London, Saskatchewan Geological Society; CSPG (Canada), Dallas Geological Society; Indonesian Petroleum Association and PESA (Australia). I am an active member of DPA, DEG and EMD, as well as of SPE and EAGE.

Serving AAPG as President-elect, then President would be another leadership step for me, as I have served our Association in leadership roles already, including the Executive Committee, (VP-Regions, 2013‐15); Advisory Council, (President, Asia Pacific Region, 2002‐05); and as chair of the International Regions Committee (2008‐11). I have been an HOD delegate since 1999, and served on numerous committees. I represented AAPG twice as Distinguished Lecturer, was one of the organizers for the Bali 2000 ICE, Technical Program co‐chair for both Perth 2006 and Singapore 2013 ICEs, and technical advisor to Melbourne 2015 ICE. Thus I have a sound understanding of how AAPG works at the technical, organisational and social levels.

I feel that in a small way I can help the Association achieve a viable future as a truly international geoscience organisation going forward to our next 100 years. AAPG has provided me with great opportunities, and I look forward to meeting the inevitable challenges should I be elected President‐Elect and then serve as President. Lastly, I have a supportive wife, employer and a great network of friends and colleagues (and a pretty good sense of humour) to help me through the years of commitment that this position requires.