SPE International professionals in Energy Conference is the first regional conference for women in the industry

The opening ceremony will include welcome remarks by H.E. Hani A. Hussain; Hosnia Hashim, Deputy Managing Director at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation; and Ganesh Thakur, 2012 SPE President.

"We are very honoured to bring together the first SPE conference devoted to harnessing the full potential of women professionals in the E&P industry," Hashim said. "With the engulfing gap between highly experienced and young individuals in the industry, women play a crucial part in bridging the gap. Discussions will revolve around the obstacles women face climbing the corporate ladder, challenges they will face on top, and best practices both within and outside the industry in retaining and developing talent."

The conference agenda is comprised of three panel sessions on the first day, entitled Towards a More Balanced Leadership, Women on Board, and Attracting and Retaining Women in the Oil and Gas Industry. The panelists will include high profile speakers from Baker Hughes, ExxonMobil, Kuwait Energy, Kuwait Oil Company, Petrochemical Industries Company, PwC, Schlumberger, and Total. Sessions on the following day will address Work Conditions for Women in the Field and Future Tends for Better Planning and Development.

Speakers and attendees to IPEC will include senior female and male executives from key organisations in the oil and gas industry seeking to promote talent and diversity within their ranks.

Sponsors of IPEC include—Kuwait Petroleum Corporation as the Platinum Sponsor; Baker Hughes, Schlumberger, and Shell as Gold Sponsors; Chevron and Saudi Aramco as Silver Sponsors; and Total as the Conference Gala Dinner Sponsor. Oil & Gas Middle East is the official media supporter, and DEW Journal and Petroleum Africa are other media supporters.