In his closing editorial as 2026 IADC Chairman, Transocean’s Roddie Mackenzie shares what he learned visiting members around the world — and asks the industry to stay proud and stay involved.
When Roddie Mackenzie began his term as 2026 IADC Chairman, he set himself a simple standard: if he was going to ask members to fully engage, he needed to do the same. So he spent the year visiting chapters and members wherever they were. In his latest editorial, Mackenzie, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at Transocean, reflects on what those visits taught him.
His biggest takeaway was the pride people take in their work. “All over the world, I heard the same thing, again and again, in country after country: people with an enormous, almost surprising level of passion for doing their work the best way possible,” he wrote.
Stops along the way
From Mumbai to Aberdeen to Mexico City, Mackenzie found energized chapters, from young engineers leading student outreach to North Sea members standing up for their industry despite political headwinds. In Brazil, the chapter turned a long list of challenges into actionable priorities in a matter of months. “I didn’t do that – they did,” he wrote. Time at OTC and in Colorado alongside partner organizations reinforced another lesson: a collective voice is a stronger one.
Telling the industry’s story
Everywhere he went, Mackenzie carried the same message: the industry has a great deal to be proud of but hasn’t always been good at saying so. He pointed to the advocacy videos from IADC’s industry messaging campaign, which he said have been well received wherever he’s shown them.
At IADC’s Young Professionals Summit in September, his advice was to say “yes” to opportunities, even uncomfortable ones. He extended the same invitation to all members: join a committee, attend a chapter meeting or a conference — something, anything.
Looking ahead
Mackenzie closed with a call to keep speaking up for the industry. “No one else is going to say it for us, so let’s keep saying it, loudly and often. It all starts with us, the drillers.”
As his term ends, he made clear he isn’t going anywhere. He plans to stay as engaged with IADC as ever — members may just see a little less of him as the keynote.
