President’s Column: Creating Our Energy Future

_ Editor’s Note: This is a summary of the August episode of the President’s podcast. We encourage you to listen to the episode to hear the full conversation. _ In this month’s episode, I was joined by Austin Palisch, staff engineer at Liberty Energy (and my son), for the final episode of my presidency. Our discussion focuses on reviewing the past year, my theme of “Creating Our Energy Future, ” and the future of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Recent Travels and Engagements Austin and I start the episode by recapping my recent travels. It has been a busy month. I started with the Oil and Natural Gas Technology Symposium in Washington, DC. This event, co-sponsored by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), focuses on sustainable energy for future generations. It brings together technical leaders, policymakers, and think tanks to discuss sustainable energy and strategies for the future. Then, I started my European tour in Dubrovnik, Croatia, where I helped kick off a summer school event focused on energy and geothermal energy. In Paris, I participated in a panel about generational diversity in the workforce. In Vienna, I met with the OMV leadership team, an important sponsor in the region, and attended the Vienna Basin Section’s annual event. Next, I visited Milan and Turin, Italy, where I met with the Italian Section to discuss local initiatives and attended our forward-thinking European Energy Conference and Exhibition (EuropEC). The trip concluded with a visit to the London Section before heading to Stavanger, Norway, for the summer SPE Board meeting. My Presidency Austin and I discussed my year as president by reiterating my theme. “Creating Our Energy Future” has been the foundation for my talks and presentations throughout my presidency. The energy industry’s future relies heavily on young professionals and students, and I chose this theme to guide SPE members and the organization toward a sustainable future. This theme has been well-received globally as I travel and meet members. My messages emphasize the importance of lifelong learning, industry participation, and volunteerism, and how leadership and SPE are the paths to accomplish this. I like to compare SPE membership to a gym membership, where the benefits increase with active participation.