The OGM Round Table

YPE & The OGM – Round Table Discussion

The OGM recently hosted a round-table discussion with 16 emerging young professionals affiliated with the oil and gas industry in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The table consisted of board members and representatives from the Calgary chapter of Young Professional in Energy (YPE), as well as two student representatives from the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment & Economy Students’ Association (ISEEESA) at the University of Calgary.

Each individual brought a unique perspective to the discussion regarding the industry as it stands and where it is heading. The range in expertise, in terms of educational and professional
backgrounds, resulted in a spirited conversation.

We as students observed the enthusiasm displayed by each individual in the room and were inspired to see that opportunities to nourish one’s passion for the energy industry exist even after you finish your education. The questions presented to the table promoted discussions on issues surrounding industry practices and external factors contributing to the industry’s growth. We were pleased to come to a unanimous consensus on issues related to finding one’s passion in the industry and the relevance of transparency in operations.

Overall, we were left with a dynamic conversation, where attendees challenged each other’s perspective, and built off ideas presented to the table. For many of the questions, there were no clear-cut answers, and it is this search for solutions that ultimately drives and motivates young professionals in this industry. Munaf Samji, CEO & Publisher of The OGM asked questions that engaged the individuals in the following dialogue:

Participants: Joanna Shea; Kay She, CAPP; Matthew Berry, Gov’t of Alberta – Energy; Sebastian Madrid, SNC-LAVALIN T&D; Tomasz Budny, TransCanada; Sean Delsnider, Shell Canada; Christopher Link, Statoil; Stefanie Hanz, Suncor; Martin Rejman, PennWest; Shauna Brisebois, Birchcliff Energy Ltd.; Chelsie Klassen, Imperial Oil; Jeremy Bruns, Encana; Pasley Weeks, ISEEESA; Jodie Hansen, ISEEESA; Sonia Gupta, Suncor; Mark Blackwell, Cenovus

OGM: What attracts young professionals to work in the energy industry?

Chelsie Klassen (CK): Our generation is charged by a sense of adventure and this industry brings constant adventure. That adventure may include working overseas or transferring from technical development to project management to venture capital analysis. The opportunities in this industry are endless.

Stefanie Hanz (SH): The Millennial Generation is interested in innovation and opportunity, both of which are amply available within this industry.

Joanna Shea (JS): Energy: It’s important and it’s vital to everyone’s life. How you manage it, how you extract it, and the questions about how you effectively develop it are what make this industry so interesting and appealing.

OGM: Do you think you can find your true passion in the oil and gas industry?

Mark Michael Blackwell (MMB): This industry initially attracts people due to its offerings of ample benefits, holidays, monetary compensation, and a work-life balance. But what’s driving our generation even more so into this industry, and fueling our true passion, are the initiatives these companies are developing that offer young professionals the opportunities to innovate and have influence in their current roles.

Sonia Gupta (SG): I wrote my thesis on the oil sands, and six months later the concepts I presented were obsolete. I loved that. The industry provides continuous learning, and every day brings new changes. I love how dynamic this industry is and the changes it offers.

OGM: What if our lifestyles could be maintained through sustainable resources? Would you continue to work for the oil and gas industry?

JS: I’m 110 percent supportive of it. I’d stop what I’m doing, and I’d get onboard.

OGM: How do you find people’s reactions to you working in the energy industry, specifically oil and gas?

Tomasz Budny (TB): Mine is very negative as I am working in the environment sector. People often call me a sell-out, or say that I am finding the loopholes for these industries to sneak around our legislations, and they say, “You’re not actually protecting the environment!” But what I’m doing is trying to ensure the best possible practices are completed and followed through within an industry that will inevitably continue to exist.

CK: In my experience, oil and gas companies have been open and willing to converse with those who have opposing views about the industry. Opposition from others can create the opportunity for new ideas to arise. Being directly involved in implementing those new ideas is extremely gratifying.

Jeremy Bruns (JB): Nowhere else in the world does it make as much financial sense as it does in Canada to begin investing in these environmental practices. With our business models allowing all employees to contribute knowledge and collaborate on innovation, we should have the ability to develop these technologies and financially benefit from them in the future.

Chris Link (CL): Education is key: it’s a matter of clearly communicating what we’re actually doing and all the positive contributions we provide to the community—all the environmental practices we have implemented and all the technologies we are developing. People need to know about these positives as well as the negatives.

OGM: Do you think your companies are doing enough to educate the critical masses about what this industry is giving back?

MMB: I don’t think it’s one company’s mandate. It’s the combined role of industry, organizations, governments, and magazines like OGM who have the ability to reach and educate
the mass public. We as companies need to be consistent with our message and it’s organizations like CAPP and COSIA that can accurately depict and distribute our core messages.
Matthew Berry (MB): There are a lot of external parties who benefit from this industry and have a stake in it. In a way, almost all industries are connected. Somehow these direct connections need to be convinced that they need to tell their story. We’re never going to convince the critical masses if it’s just Alberta oil companies telling them what is so.

Shauna Brisebois (SB): When I travel and I say I work in the “oil and gas” industry, it is often received with a negative stigma, so I have begun to say the “energy” industry. People realize and understand that they use energy and respect this, but their fear of the oil and gas industry is a direct result of the media’s negative portrayal.

OGM: I want to elaborate on education a lot because we find that we are in a transitional period with the Millennial Generation coming in. In 5-10 years, it will be you as the leaders within this industry. What does education look like to you?

JS: We are the future, and it is our responsibility to help educate the mass public through mentoring or educational programs. Trying to find the means to properly convey the industry to young adults poses a completely new challenge.

Jodie Hansen (JH): At ISEEESA, we try to provide students with experiential learning opportunities like facility tours to the oil sands, local wind farms or hydro-electric dams. We aim to educate the student body before they enter the workforce, so they will have something to offer. We provide mentorship and development programs as well, to bridge the educational
and generational gap between industry and school. ISEEESA provides the platform to build that knowledge and prepare thestudent body for the workforce.

MB: Is it acceptable in our society for people to be energy ignorant? What should be considered the “necessary knowledge” that is provided even in grade school? The real question is at what age and to what extent should people be informed about energy’s role in our society? Considering absolutely everyone is affected by the energy industry, is it OK that we let different special interest groups provide potential misinformation to young people, or should we ensure there is an acceptable standard of education surrounding this sector?

OGM: Living in the world of transparency, does it actually add value to the company you choose to work for?

JS: The “need-to-know basis” should be a “need-to-know basis.” With all the social media outlets available—talk about data overload—we’re left with a generation with rampant ADD.
Someone will read an annual report and focus on one fact and blow it out of proportion, and stock prices end up plummeting 20 percent over a rumor. Employees should understand what is appropriate to be said to avoid these kinds of situations.

Martin Rejman (MR): There has to be a happy medium when it comes to the concept of transparency. In Alberta, the oil and gas industry is encouraged to go forward to the board and
publicize catastrophes, so that we can learn from our mistake.

JB: Transparency is a philosophy that helps us not only be more responsible, but also profitable. CL: Scrutiny makes us innovate; it makes us think how we can do things better. If we didn’t have to be transparent and if we didn’t have to report our emissions, we would continue to push pollutants into the atmosphere.

OGM: For someone who doesn’t work in the industry, what are the reasons you think they should invest in oil and gas? What kind of companies should they invest in? What is it about a company that makes you comfortable investing in it?

MB: Companies are currently paying a relatively low carbon price, but I think it’s inevitable that it will rise in the future. I would consider investing in companies that are hedging that
risk and preparing for that future by investing in renewable technologies. These are strategic moves that will make them more competitive in the long-term.

CK: I think that model works in a larger organization.

Kay She (KS): What we need is a happy medium. You want to invest in a company that gives you high returns, but also aligns with your values. The concept of socially responsible investments is becoming more prevalent. It is quite evident that these Young Professionals have diverse views on emerging topics. This discussion is unique because it is raw, unbiased dialogue that gives you a glimpse into the new generation’s perspective on an industry they are truly passionate about. Each one of these 16 individuals stand to foster change in the energy industry.