HoD 2011 officer Candidates
HoD Secretary/Editor
It is a great honor to be asked to stand for the position of Secretary/Editor of the House of Delegates. Having been an Active member of the AAPG for over 30 years, I have seen a great many changes to the organization, particularly with respect to globalization. Change will continue as the proportion of non-US membership grows, and the AAPG will have to continue to adapt to this situation. Along with this change in demographics, the AAPG will experience increasing competition for membership from professional organizations around the world. As the premier professional association for petroleum geoscientists, we should not lower our standards for membership; however, we need to have a membership process that does not deter qualified geologists from joining the organization or becoming Active members. We also need to have a system that encourages our Student members to continue their membership when they become young professionals. In order to encourage young professionals to join the AAPG, we need to do a better job of promoting both the tangible (products and services) and intangible (networking, mentoring, etc.) benefits of membership. This can be achieved by sustaining efforts to draw students and young professionals into active participation in conference organizing committees, standing committees, and other leadership roles. We also need to make every effort to have more young people actively involved in the House of Delegates.
When I was elected an officer of the European Region, I began to appreciate more fully how complex an organization the AAPG has become, with Divisions, Regions, and Sections, each to a certain extent autonomous. The relationship between the Regions and Sections with the AAPG is very different, as to a certain extent is the relationship between the Regions and Sections and their Affiliated Societies. It is important that the Divisions, Regions, and Sections do not compete with each other in provision of products, services, and events, but work in an integrated manner to promote the AAPG as being “indispensable to all professionals in the energy-related geosciences worldwide”.
Currently I am President of the European Region and part of a leadership team that is organizing a comprehensive program of AAPG events. I am also actively involved in various standing committees and I have a deep understanding of how the AAPG works which will be advantageous should I be fortunate enough to be elected Secretary/Editor. I look forward to being of service to the House of Delegates. I believe that apart from my AAPG activities, my 31 years’ experience with ExxonMobil in different locations and in various technical and leadership roles, provides a suitable foundation upon which to serve as Secretary/Editor. In this role, I would propose to use The Delegates’ Voice as a vehicle to promote the aims of the Chair, Jeff Lund and the leadership team. I believe that the Delegates Voice can also be used effectively as a means of communication between the Sections, Regions and Divisions.
- Academic Qualifications
- 1976 Doctor of Philosophy, University of St. Andrews, UK, Geology
- 1972 Honors Bachelor of Science, University of St. Andrews, UK, Geology
- Experience
- 1969, 70 Rio Tinto Zinc, UK, Geochemical Surveying
- 1976-78 Esso Exploration and Production UK, Exploration Geologist, UK and Ireland sectors
- 1978-79 Exxon Company USA, Production Geologist, Kingsville, Texas
- 1979-83 Esso Exploration and Production UK, Exploration Geologist, onshore and offshore UK and Ireland
- 1983-85 Esso Exploration and Production UK, Exploration Supervisor, Central North Sea
- 1985-87 Esso Exploration and Production UK, Project Leader, Northern North Sea and Ireland
- 1987-89 Esso Exploration and Production UK, Chief Production Geologist, North Sea
- 1989-91 Exxon Company International, New Jersey, USA, Affiliate Advisor, France, Colombia, Yemen, and Australia
- 1991-93 Esso Indonesia Inc, Jakarta, Exploration Manager
- 1993-94 Esso Exploration and Production UK, Geological Manager
- 1994-00 Esso Exploration and Production UK, Exploitation Projects Manager
- 2000-05 ExxonMobil International Limited, Continental Europe Exploration Co-coordinator
- 2005-07 ExxonMobil International Limited, International Geoscience Recruiting Co-coordinator
- Professional Organizations
- Fellow of the Geological Society of London (Chair of North Sea Fields Update Conference 1996)
- Member of the Edinburgh Geological Society
- Member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (Treasurer 1986, 2nd Vice Chair 1987)
- AAPG Activities
- Active Member since 1977
- President Elect European Region 2007-09
- President European Region 2009-present
- International Regions Committee 2008-present
- Global Corporate Structure ad hoc Committee 2008-09
- Public Outreach Committee 2008-present
- HoD European Delegate 2008-present
- Professional Women in Earth Sciences Committee 2009-present
- HoD Rules and Procedures Committee 2009-present
- Publications
- Various publications on the Paleozoic structure, stratigraphy, petrography and geochemistry of Southwest Scotland.
- Publications on the hydrocarbon potential and exploration of the Goban Spur, offshore Ireland.
- Presented papers at the World Petroleum Congress (1983), the Northwest European Continental Shelf Symposium (1987), the Offshore Technology Conference (1988), and the Eastern Indonesia Exploration Symposium (1993)