Oil and gas industry leaders gathered today in a prelude workshop held on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2010 to discuss the issue of retaining talented professionals in the industry.
Titled: "Unleashing the Potential of Professionals in the Region: Working Hand in Hand, Bridging the Gender and Generation Gap", the workshop was organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Exxon Mobil, Shell and Kuwait Oil Company.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, ADIPEC 2010 will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre, on 1-4
November 2010. The one-day workshop was addressed by Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister His Excellency Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak who gave a keynote speech.
H.E. Sheikh Nahyan congratulated the SPE, ADNOC as well as the organizers and other sponsors for the vision of this meeting to project into this important professional event.
"You clearly are aware that while the oil and gas industry is decidedly global, you see that there are some issues and challenges that are particular to our region," he said, adding that the pace of work in the oil and gas sector not only offers great opportunity to new workers, but places great stress on them as well. This creates gender and generalization issues that must be addressed.
He said the oil and gas sector, by organizing this forum, displays this type of leadership and demonstrates that it is responsive to the dynamic realities of the oil and gas industry, and is committed to the most creative innovations in developing the necessary workforce.
H.E. touched upon the role of Abu Dhabi and the UAE in regional and international economic affairs having committed substantial resources, playing a key role in regional and global security and being fully engaged in global energy matters.
He concluded with a call to professionals to be competent and well trained to serve the needs of their companies and communities, calling for increasing the share of the citizens, males and females alike, in the business sector.
He urged the oil and gas industry to continue to work closely with our colleges and universities. "As we look to the future, we must put greater and greater emphasis on the role of the business community in ensuring the quality of education," he said.
The workshop was attended by H.E. Yousef Omair Bin Yousef, ADNOC CEO, Dr. Hissa Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to Spain, H.E. Abdullah Nasser Al Suwaidi, ADNOC Deputy CEO, dignitaries and oil and gas executives.
Addressing the workshop, H.E. Dr Hissa gave an overview on the role of Emirati women in the past and today. She also touched upon the role of Islam in enhancing the image of women in the society.
Her message to the UAE women was to equip themselves with knowledge and be ready to make sacrifices for the sake of their homeland.
Abdul Munim Saif Al Kindy, CEO of the Abu
Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) who is also the Chairman of ADIPEC 2010 Conference said in his speech that the issue of talent management did not feature in our list of 10 highest priorities until the 90s though we started operations in the 50s.
Mr. Al Kindy spoke about the opportunities that had been taken advantage of in the oil and gas industry in the area of manpower development, shedding light on ADCO's achievements in this regard.
Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, ADMA-OPCO CEO spoke about the company's success stories and initiatives towards Emiratisation, innovation, excellence and manpower development.
He highlighted the different programs aimed at improving performance, skills, knowledge and overall competitiveness according to international best practices.
The workshop, chaired by Badria Khalfan, Deputy Director, Human Resource and Administration, ADNOC, discussed developing self leaders while bridging both the generation and gender gaps, career progression for female professionals and the motivators of generation Y - UAE professionals.
