It is a great honor to be asked to run for vice president-Regions. I view this as an exceptional opportunity to repay the Association for everything it has given me during my career.
A member since receiving my master’s degree from Cambridge University (England) in 1979, I owe the AAPG a great deal for my technical and professional development, and for the lifelong friendships that I have forged with many of you. I am excited by the opportunity of again serving the organization and motivated to “give back” more to our profession.
Forty years living and working in different countries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle and Far East have given me an appreciation of how to interact with people around the world, and I see great global opportunities for the AAPG.
Four tours as a Distinguished Lecturer and Educator, as well as being on the technical committee of six international conventions and on 10 other AAPG standing and HoD committees, have given me further insights into both the business and science side of the Association.
In the last 10 years I have taught 150 industry classes to young professionals and business people in 28 countries across the globe, interfaced with about 100 student chapters and been heavily involved with industry outreach programs. I hope to use the contacts I have made to the benefit of the AAPG.
While living in the United States from 1987 until 1995, I was impressed with how the AAPG’s domestic Sections functioned. The model of working closely with the various local affiliates, encouraging their most energetic and capable volunteers to be part of the leadership, and using their ideas to set up the right technical programs, is very attractive.
It worked well overseas when I was AAPG president for the Asia Pacific Region (1999- 2002) and I saw it gain traction when I was AAPG vice president (2002-03) and later as a HoD representative and committee chair for the Europe Region. My goal will be to sustain this model in the Regions.
I am committed to help transition student members into young professionals. For the last three years I have been chairing the EAGE’s student activities committee, which has achieved a very credible record of moving students (mostly geophysicists) to full member status. It will be very rewarding to represent the Regions on the EC to help assure similar success in getting geology graduates to join the AAPG.
Further, I expect to work with the AAPG Foundation to increase international funding into the Association. There is certainly no shortage of international oilfield revenues, and the Foundation always has been extremely generous to the international community and ready to “seed” global initiatives.
My commitment to our society is demonstrated by my DPA, DEG and EMD memberships, my work in the HoD and my chairing four different AAPG standing and HoD committees. Further experience comes from serving on both the Advisory Council and Executive Committee, and three times to the worldwide board of the SPWLA.
My contributions have been recognized by my receiving AAPG’s Distinguished Service and Honorary Member awards, a DEG award and recognition for helping to develop professional societies in Malaysia and India. This background will help me better represent our global membership. If elected, I shall not disappoint!