On 24 September, IADC’s Young Professionals (YP) Committee hosted its third annual YP Summit in Houston. Young professionals gathered for a day of learning and networking with industry leaders.
IADC Chairman Roddie Mackenzie (Transocean) opened the day, followed by a keynote from Eric Kolstad (Caturus Energy) on building an innovation culture. Morning sessions covered contract negotiation with Blake Denton (Noble Drilling), the geopolitical landscape with Ed Hirs (University of Houston) and professional reputation with Kathryn Roark (Patterson-UTI).
A panel featuring Spindletop Community Partners, redM and WHOlives highlighted the industry’s impact beyond the rig, from fighting human trafficking to bringing clean water to communities in Africa. Attendees put that into action during the break, filling redM hygiene bags for trafficking survivors.
The afternoon featured panels on AI and career pivots, plus an NOV technology showcase on innovations shaping the future of drilling. Seadrill CEO Samir Ali closed with a contractor’s perspective on the industry and the opportunities ahead for its next generation.
The IADC YP Committee was formed in 2019 with the mission to drive young professional engagement to develop the next generation of leaders in the drilling industry. For more information visit our website or contact angie.gunden@iadc.org.
