2024 speakers...

Past speakers...

Amanda McCulloch

Chief Executive for TMM Recruitment

Amanda McCulloch is Chief Executive at TMM Recruitment Ltd, a specialist recruitment agency in Aberdeen. She joined as a graduate and over the next decade was intrinsic to the commercial success of the business as it transitioned from a niche accountancy agency to a multi-million pound consultancy. Under her leadership the business has won many accolades including Scottish Recruitment Awards Small/Medium Agency of the Year and has grown to provide recruitment services across 10 professional disciplines.

In 2021 she launched TMM Executive, an executive search service focused on the appointment of finance, operations and non-executive directors at high growth, private equity backed and SME companies.

Amanda is the leading authority on financial resourcing in northeast Scotland and consults on remuneration benchmarking, market mapping and psychometric assessment. She is a board director of Aberdeen Inspired.

Doris Reiter

Senior Vice President for bp North Sea, bp

Doris Reiter is the Senior Vice President for bp North Sea. The first female to hold this position, she is accountable for all bp oil and gas operations in the North Sea, where the company is providing a reliable source of energy while helping develop the skills, infrastructure and supply chain that can support the energy transition.

Doris’s 25-year career with bp has taken her across the globe, from the Gulf of Mexico to Angola working in multiple engineering and technical leadership roles. Prior to her current role, she was Vice President for Reservoir Development North Sea and Angola, accountable for driving the safe progression and production delivery of resources from our assets in these regions.

She is a member of the bp global Production and Operations leadership team and serves as a director on boards including BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Aker BP and the International School of Aberdeen.

A native of Austria and a reservoir engineer by background, Doris has an MSc. equivalent in chemical and mechanical engineering from the University of Leoben, Austria and holds a PhD in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University.

Ingrid Huldal

Director of Portfolio Advancement, Expro

Ingrid Huldal is a distinguished leader in the energy sector, currently holding the position of Director of Sustainable Energy Solutions at Expro. In her role, she is at the forefront of developing a dynamic portfolio offering and propelling the company’s growth in line with the Energy Transition agenda.

With an expansive career, Ingrid has developed a vast international expertise through roles in Texas, Norway, Italy, Australia, Angola, Canada, and the UK, earning a reputation as a results-oriented innovator focused on client satisfaction. After returning to Scotland in 2018, she joined Expro in 2019, where she combines her passion for eco-friendly technologies with a commitment to delivering sustainable solutions in the energy sector.

Ingrid possesses a unique amalgamation of deep technical knowledge, sharp business insights, strategic foresight, and vast industry experience. Her proficiency covers the full spectrum of the well life cycle, including well design, construction, late-life production optimization, and decommissioning. As a devoted advocate for climate action, Ingrid is especially passionate about geothermal and hydrogen technologies and champions Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) as essential for attaining net-zero goals.

Outside of her professional activities, Ingrid is pursuing an MBA in Sustainable Energy Futures at the University of Starthycle. She advocates for the transformative power of technology, the critical importance of diversity and inclusion, and the benefits of collaborative engagement. These values shape her leadership approach and underscore her commitment to driving significant positive change in the energy industry.

Lisa Mitchell

Commercial Director, STATS Group

Lisa is a law and business graduate with over 25 years’ experience in the energy industry holding a variety of senior commercial roles, and heads the commercial team at STATS Group with responsibility for developing and implementing the commercial and contracting strategy of the business. Lisa is the Co-chair of the STATS Sustainability Steering Group and also chairs the group’s Business Ethics Committee.

Prior to joining STATS, Lisa was Commercial Director at Cosalt Offshore, an engineering service company to the oil & gas industry based in the UK and Norway.

Lisa holds a BA (Hons) degree in Law and Management from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

 

Megan Hine

Business Development Manager UK Ireland – Safe Energy Transition, Dräger

Megan Hine has worked for Draeger for 6 years, specialising in fixed gas detection, particularly in the energy industry. Alongside her technical background in gas detection, she has participated in the DNV Expert Hazard Awareness Course, witnessing hydrocarbon/hydrogen fires and detonations. She has spoken at TEDx Dundee in 2016 and is an annual guest speaker at the University of Aberdeen since 2021 on “Gas safety for the energy transition” and “Hydrogen gas safety” as part of the Renewable Energy Engineering MSc. Draeger are a long established safety company with decades of experience in detecting both hydrogen and hydrocarbon flammable gases.
 

Nicola Plenderleith

Head of Talent Acquisition, Leyton

Nicola Plenderleith is a highly skilled Head of Talent Acquisition with 20 years of global experience in recruitment and talent acquisition across various industries, including Finance, Tech, and Energy/Oil & Gas. A passionate advocate for gender equality, Nicola is a graduate of the United Nations Target Gender Equality Programme and advises on implementing the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles in corporate settings. She excels in creating robust talent strategies, diversity and inclusion practices, stakeholder management, and team leadership. Nicola is also a dedicated mum of two boys and dog mum to Ruby the Cavapoo.

Paula Smith

Head of People and Organisation UK, Aker Solutions

Paula Smith was appointed as head of people and organisation UK at Aker Solutions in May 2021. With more than 20 years of experience, Paula has held a number of management positions within the energy industry, specializing in HR and learning development. Prior to joining Aker Solutions, she was senior HR business partner at Spirit Energy and held similar roles at BG Group and Transocean. 

Sue Stevens

Head of Commercial for Elementz

Sue heads up all aspects of Elementz’ customer performance, including account management and overall G2M strategy. With over two decades of experience in Sales Management, Business Development and Contract Management roles in the UK and internationally, Sue has travelled extensively over the last 25 years, bringing a global mindset and broad perspective to her role at Elementz.

Sue has worked in areas such as Condition Monitoring, Asset Reliability and Integrity Management and brings a depth of understanding of the business drivers and challenges faced in a modern operating environment. With her team, she ensures a great experience with Elementz, from the very first commercial engagement to ongoing development and expansion. As an advocate for future-ready software solutions for a transitioning energy sector, Sue will delve into the latest predictions and barriers to look at how evolving technology and collaboration can create a more sustainable energy landscape.

When not at work, Sue can be found swapping technology tools for gardening tools and spending time outdoors.

Marielle Inizan

Central North Sea Asset Director, TotalEnergies E&P UK Ltd

Marielle Inizan has been working in the energy industry for over twenty years, developing expertise in subsurface, project development and management.

Marielle joined TotalEnergies in 2002 as a Reservoir Engineer and has held several positions in Geosciences and Reservoir in France, Venezuela and Gabon, and supporting the subsurface teams in Qatar, Brazil and Australia.

She later moved on to development roles on various TotalEnergies assets, managing in particular the preparation of an HPHT new development in the US Gulf of Mexico.

In 2019, Marielle became Managing Director of TotalEnergies Marketing & Services Gabon, a company affiliate focused on B2C and B2B sale of fuels and lubricant in Gabon.

More recently, Marielle played a key role in the creation of TotalEnergies’ OneTech, a new branch created in 2021 to bring together engineers, technicians and researchers of the Company to foster the transformation into a multi-energy company. She then held a central position in OneTech to monitor and follow-up the activities of the industrial hub, a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team providing support to TotalEnergies industrial assets across all branches of the Company (Exploration & Production, Refining & Chemicals, Gas & Renewable Power, and Marketing & Services).

Marielle became Central North Sea Asset Director in September in 2023.

Martin Hottass

Corporate Development Director, 3t

Martin Hottass joined 3T as Corporate Development Director in April 2022 from City & Guilds Group where he was Managing Director for Technical Training from October 2018 onwards. Prior to taking up his role with City & Guilds Martin had been working for Siemens plc since 2006 and was responsible for the skills agenda at Siemens in the UK and the company’s apprenticeship provision in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He also represented Siemens on the Apprenticeship Advisory Board at the Department for Education and served on a number of steering boards including the National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) and the Energy Efficiency Industrial Partnership.

Martin was appointed to the Route Panel for Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering at the Institute for Apprenticeships in 2017 and worked as an expert advisor on it until September 2018.

In February 2012, Martin became an Apprenticeship Ambassador.

Nick Little

Head of School, ISA

Nick Little has been with the International School Aberdeen (ISA) since August 2018, returning to the UK after sixteen years as Head at another international school near Shanghai in China. 

With extensive experience in International Baccalaureate (IB) Diplomas, Nick believes there is no better globally recognised qualification to prepare students for university life, benefitting all students whether they intend to live in one place the rest of their lives or move abroad. 

Starting his teaching career in Lancashire, after graduating from Oxford with a History degree, Nick first considered law, completing a post graduate course, before finding his true vocation after a year teaching English in China, where he met his wife of 25 years. 

As an International Educator, Nick is passionate about supporting pupils to find their place in the world and become confident, socially responsible, active global citizens in a complex and ever-changing landscape.

Andrea McLean

Multiple Sunday Times Best Selling Author, Broadcaster, Keynote Speaker

Multiple Sunday Times Best Selling Author

Andrea was born in Scotland and grew up in Trinidad in the Caribbean. After moving to England, she finished her education, backpacked around the world then moved to London with everything she owned on the back seat of her car, sleeping on floors to pursue her dream of becoming a writer… Her persistence paid off; she is now the #1 Sunday Times Best-Selling author of: ‘This Girl Is On Fire, ‘Confessions of a Good Girl’, ‘Confessions of a Menopausal Woman’ and ‘You Just Need to Believe It’.

Broadcaster

In her 24-year career as a broadcaster Andrea interviewed some of the biggest names in the business, including Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, Drew Barrymore, Michael Bublé and Ariana Grande.

Working alongside stellar guest panellists such as Goldie Hawn and Eva Longoria, Andrea hosted ITV’s ratings and multi award-winning live national Daytime chat show Loose Women for 13 years, bringing warmth, humour and journalistic skill to the small screen every lunchtime.

Midlife Champion

In 2020, after serving as the longest reigning host of Loose Women, Andrea pivoted, leaving behind her role as a national television anchor to pursue her passion for service and personal growth. She did this through her This Girl Is On Fire membership, where she ran masterclasses and courses to help women create a strong, balanced mindset to help them cope with life’s ups and downs. She now does this through her This Girl Is On Fire YouTube channel and podcast.

Andrea is now deepening her learning of the human condition by studying for her Masters Degree in Psychology.

Media Trainer

Andrea utilises her skill as a coach and her decades of broadcasting experience by collaborating with businesses and individuals to help them get their message across clearly and with integrity, through 1:1 and group coaching. She helps people say and do the right thing in front of the world’s media so they don’t ruin their business.

Keynote Speaker

Andrea is an in-demand speaker for corporate motivation days and on the after-dinner circuit, sharing her stories about her life of adventure, her work in television entertainment and her experience in the personal growth space.

Brand Ambassador

Andrea works with brands who represent her interest in and passion for health, personal growth, mental wellness, family and fashion.

Sarah Clark

Executive Business Partner to CEO,  Wood

Throughout her career, Sarah has held a variety of process engineering and project management positions in the UK and Poland, which includes design, offshore and site-based roles, as well as corporate consulting positions within O&G and military sectors. Sarah is passionate about the promotion of women in business and women in engineering and volunteers her time leading AXIS Network – Aberdeen’s cross-energy sector gender equality group. Sarah holds an Executive MBA April ’22, currently works as Executive Business Partner for Wood CEO.  Sarah currently lives in Aberdeen with her finance and their two cats.

Alessandra Simone

Petroleum Engineer and Project Technical Leader, Geostock Sandia

Alessandra is a Petroleum Engineer with over 25 years of international oil & gas experience, from exploration to re-development of conventional and unconventional oil and gas production as well as underground injection.

She started her career as a Petrophysicist in Shell Venezuela in 1996, working as the main asset Petrophysicist for field developments in 3 different countries. She started focusing her career on underground injection projects during her MSc studies in 2004, when she researched the possibility to inject CO2 into North Sea’s Brent field for EOR and permanent sequestration.

She continued working in oil and gas field development projects in the US from 2012 to 2020, as CCS projects experienced a decline in global investments. During this period, she completed her PhD studies in Petroleum Engineering. She joined Geostock Sandia in 2021, where she continues to develop underground injection projects.

Her current role includes temporary storage of energy or permanent disposal of industrial fluids using underground caverns and porous media (such as saline aquifers or depleted fields). She considers it a privilege to apply her underground injection expertise to the sustainable preservation of key industrial activities as well as associated community benefits, through underground storage of industrial waste as a safer alternative to landfill disposal.

Alessandra holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from University of Houston, where she developed an acoustic velocity model in tight rocks with application in seal strength characterization as well as fracking design for unconventional stimulation. She has an MSc in Energy from Heriot Watt University and a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Beena Sharma

CEO and Co-Founder, CCU International 

Beena is the CEO and Co-Founder of CCU International. CCU International provide next-generation carbon capture technology that captures and utilises carbon dioxide from industry emissions.

Beena is a multi-award-winning professional who sits on multiple international boards including the Society for Low Carbon Technologies and Carbon Capture Storage Brazil.

Having worked in multiple industries, her experience has taken her to various locations around the world. Industries including oil & gas, renewables, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare.

Beena has proven experience in managing high growth and innovative businesses, developing climate change programmes, and driving net zero strategy for businesses.

She is a professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Postgraduate in Psychology and is a qualified Carbon management specialist.

Christina Horspool

VP Sustainability & Climate Action, X – Academy

VP of Sustainability and Climate Action at X-Academy, Christina is passionate about designing and accelerating a Just Transition to a low carbon economy.

A creative, Christina’s role is to both stimulate and enhance ideas and initiatives whilst driving the X-Academy programme to deliver meaningful impact and genuine social value. Purpose driven, Christina was part of the Global ESG team at Xodus before taking the VP Sustainability role at X-Academy, where she was involved in designing and delivering the embedding of Sustainability and net zero pathways/strategies for Xodus and clients. At Xodus Christina enjoyed numerous leadership roles including heading up and growing the global environment team and offering.

Before joining Xodus Christina spent her first few years working as an emissions specialist in transport and infrastructure (designing some of the first CO2 emission calculators for the likes of BAA and Virgin trains) before taking a few years on sabbatical from industry to teach Chemistry at an inner-city Birmingham School. Which is where she really became passionate about creating the environment for learning, developing skills and the power of mindset.

A systems thinker, Christina inspires change through excellent communication and vision, challenging the status quo to address the risks and opportunities a changing physical, social and economic climate brings.

Fiona Booth

Finance & HR Director, Load Monitoring Systems (LMS)

Fiona is Finance and HR Director, Load Monitoring Systems Ltd (LMS). LMS specialise in providing intelligent load monitoring equipment to industry sectors worldwide including Renewables, Aquaculture, Entertainment, Construction and Oil and Gas.

Degree qualified, a Chartered Manager Fellow (CMgr FCMI) and Associate CIPD, Fiona has over 25 years’ experience in leadership roles across public, private and third sector organisations. Having enjoyed roles within the fitness sector, Grampian Police, Investors in People, and manufacturing industries, Fiona is a champion of people – with a strong passion for developing and empowering others.

A keen philanthropist, Fiona is proud to be affiliated with the Gathimba Edwards Foundation. She has represented the charity on several occasions and has recently returned from her second trip to Kenya. Fiona was part of the charity’s 2023 house building trip that saw a team of 27 volunteers successfully build 3 new homes for 3 families in need of a safe place to live.

Ingrid Huldal

Director of Portfolio Advancement, Expro

Ingrid Huldal is a seasoned professional in the energy industry, currently serving as the Director for Portfolio Advancement at Expro. In this role, she spearheads the creation of a market compelling portfolio offering and drives Expro’s growth strategy within the context of the Energy Transition.

With an impressive career spanning nearly 30 years, Ingrid has acquired a diverse international experience, having lived and worked in various countries including Texas, Norway, Italy, Australia, Angola, Canada, and the UK. Her expertise lies in Completions, Sand Control, and Stimulation, where she has built a solid reputation for delivering outstanding results and client-focused solutions.
In 2018, after two decades of international work experience, Ingrid returned to Scotland and joined Expro in 2019 where she combines her passion for technology that reduces the world’s carbon footprint with delivering sustainable solutions to energy challenges.

Ingrid’s unique skill set is characterized by a blend of strong technical expertise, business acumen, strategic thinking, and a wealth of industry experience across the energy sector. Her expertise spans the entire well life cycle, encompassing well design, well construction, late-life production optimization, and decommissioning.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Ingrid is a firm believer in the power of technology, diversity, and fostering collaboration. These values underpin her approach to leadership and problem-solving, as she strives to make a positive impact on the energy industry.

Jessica McGlynn

Senior Technical Consultant, Leyton UK

Jessica graduated from the University of Glasgow with a PhD in Chemistry in 2020 where her studies focused on the production of hydrogen via renewable routes for use as a clean energy carrier. This included efforts to separate the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions in space and time, and focused on advancing the understanding of catalyst properties to enable the low energy production of hydrogen via water electrolysis. 

Following her academic career, Jessica joined Leyton UK as a Technical Consultant, where she helps companies who undertake research and development activities gain vital funding in the form of R&D tax relief. Her role as a technical consultant spans a wide variety of sectors, particularly those which attempt to improve the sustainability and energy usage of their processes in order to meet the global goal of achieving net zero. 

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