Energy Voice | Invest Abz

What

Kicking off an annual initiative to lead the conversation on the future of the energy workforce, this solutions-focused event is based on ideas sharing across the energy industry via moderator-led workshops on four key topics:

Jobs & Skills
Training & Education
Health & Safety
Diversity & Inclusion

Each workshop will feature up to 25 attendees, contributing to a moderated discussion focused on an actionable outcome, creating a legacy of learning and practical solutions for our partners.

The findings from each session will be collated and written up by the Energy Voice editorial team, with input from our event partners. This will create high-impact, co-branded content for Energy Voice readers in the form of an editorial and podcast series plus a whitepaper. This will ensure our event generates a long tail of content and conversation for our event partners and pave the way for future activity for future activity.

Where	When
Aberdeen Science Centre	The afternoon of 19th of March 2024

Key Themes and Topics

With the general election on the horizon, our panellists discuss the potential changes it might bring to energy sector investment and its workforce.

After last years event asked how Aberdeen could secure the title of Europe's energy capital, we're back, as a breakfast event that discusses how Aberdeen can secure and retain the capital and workforce required to maintain that spot.

You'll have the opportunity to listen in as our speakers discuss the future of Aberdeen with the topic:

How to create an investment environment for Aberdeen

You're then invited to attend a workshop delivered by ECITB, that discusses regional skills, innovation for offshore and asks, what should be the approaches to attracting new entrances to the industry with the topic:

Innovation in skills and training

Speakers

Stephen Flynn

MP for Aberdeen South

Stephen Flynn

MP for Aberdeen South

Stephen Flynn is the Scottish National Party MP for Aberdeen South, and has been an MP continually since 12 December 2019. He currently undertakes the role of SNP Westminster Leader.

Professor Paul de Leeuw

Director, Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University

Professor Paul de Leeuw

Director, Energy Transition Institute, Robert Gordon University

Paul is a senior industry leader and executive with over 36 years’ experience in the global energy sector. He has worked for a wide range of companies and organisations, including Shell, Marathon Oil, Amoco, BP, Venture Production and Centrica.

He is currently the Director of Robert Gordon University’s Energy Transition Institute, Chair of the National Energy Skills Accelerator, a Board member of the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), a government and industry advisor, a Board member of the International School in Aberdeen and a Professor at Robert Gordon University (UK).

Paul is an experienced non-executive director, with over 25 years of involvement in public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

He is also a regular contributor to net zero activities, climate change discussions and industry events and a media commentator on issues and developments in the international energy sector.

martin-simmonite-2

Martin Simmonite

Senior Vice President, UK Operations, Wood

Martin Simmonite

Senior Vice President, UK Operations, Wood

Martin Simmonite joined Wood in October 2023 as Senior Vice President of UK Operations.

Based in Aberdeen, Martin oversees operations across the country, and leads a team of more than 3400 employees, supporting upstream, duty holder and process and energy clients, contracts, and projects. Focused on operations, maintenance, and engineering services, the business is also leveraging its experience to support the industry to decarbonise assets and explore low-carbon energies as part of the drive to net zero.

Martin joined Wood from KBR where he was most recently SVP for Sustainability and Energy Transition, leading the strategic shift to drive business transformation and readiness for emerging markets. He previously held the position of Senior Vice President of Technology Led Industrial Solutions, also at KBR, where he developed and implemented the strategy to deliver a combination of general maintenance services, LNG asset solutions, technical service consulting and digital solutions, globally.

Emma Behjat

Co-Chair of Axis Network

Emma Behjat

Co-Chair of Axis Network

Emma is a graduate from Imperial College London and holds both a master’s degree and PhD in Chemical Biology. After leaving the academic sector, Emma moved into scientific communication roles with a focus on international business development. Emma currently works as the Interpret Business Development Manager for Intertek where she concentrates on the oil and gas sector.

As a woman of mixed race, Emma is passionate about creating inclusive workspaces. Also, as a mother and aunty to young girls, promoting gender equality within the STEM workplace is one of her top priorities.

Event Host

erikka-askeland

Erikka Askeland

Senior Reporter, Energy Voice

Erikka Askeland

Senior Reporter, Energy Voice

Erikka is an award-winning journalist and commentator with a keen focus on the energy transition. She has written for titles including Energy Voice, The Press and Journal, The Herald, The Scotsman, The Sunday Times Scotland and Scottish Business Insider. Originally from Canada, she has been reporting on the energy industry and the economy in Scotland and the north of England for over 20 years.

Workshop Host

Andrew Hockey

CEO of ECITB

Workshop: Innovation in skills and training

Andrew Hockey

CEO of ECITB

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is the employer-led skills, standards and qualifications body for the development of the engineering construction workforce of Great Britain. An arms-length body of the UK Government, the ECITB reports to the Department for Education.

The ECITB works with employers and training providers to attract, develop and qualify the engineering construction workforce in a wide range of craft, technical and professional disciplines. We invest about £25 million each year to support skills development within the industry.

The organisation was established to address a market failure within the industry to provide training to its workforce. The ECITB addresses this market failure through its levy and grant system, which is used to drive up skill levels and fund training that would otherwise not take place.

The Agenda

Arrival and Breakfast: 7.00 am	Breakfast is served whilst you register for the event and chat with your fellow Invest Abz guests.
Event Start: 7.20 am	Take a seat and listen to our keynote speakers introduce why investing in Aberdeen and it's workforce is integral to the future of the North Sea industries.
Panel Discussion: 7.40 am	Our panellists discuss the future of Aberdeen, including how to nurture the growth of North Sea industry both with jobs and investment for the city.
Audience Q&A: 8.30 am	An opportunity for the audience to get involved with ideas and questions.
Networking: 9.10 am	Have a coffee, browse the exhibition stands from our Aberdeen partners and network with your fellow invitees.
Workshops: 9.30 am	Attend one of our workshops focusing on how local organisations are skilling the next generation of energy talent and reskilling those already in the industry.
Workshops & Networking: 9.10 am until close	Have a coffee, browse the expo stands from our Aberdeen partners and network with your fellow invitees before attending one of our invite-only workshops focusing on how local organisations are skilling the next generation of energy talent and reskilling those already in the industry.