As the energy industry charts its course towards the future, offshore energy production stands at the helm of innovation and opportunity. Don’t miss out on Energy Workforce & Technology Council’s 2025 Annual Meeting, where the offshore panel promises to be a highlight, offering insights and strategies to navigate the complex waters of offshore energy development.
Offshore energy resources hold immense potential to power an all-of-the-above approach to energy production, empowering the industry to meet growing demand. The offshore panel will delve into the latest advancements in technology, policy, and investment driving the expansion of offshore projects worldwide.
Meet Our Expert Panelists:
Joining the offshore panel are industry leaders, innovators, and seasoned executives with unparalleled expertise in offshore energy development, bringing diverse perspectives and insights to the discussion, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of offshore opportunities and challenges:
Moderator-Jim Wicklund, Managing Director, PPHB
Mr. Wicklund is a veteran of the energy industry, having taken his career from field geophysicist to international operations, to equity research, to managing a hedge fund, and working as an investment banker. He has worked in geophysics and engineering for a geophysical company, an oil company, and a Petroleum Engineering group, both in the US and years of work internationally. He has lived and worked in Australia, Singapore, Milan, London several times as well as the US, with Western Geophysical, Sun Oil, and ECL before joining the financial services industry as a research analyst covering the Oilfield Services sector. He has won Best on the Street honors from the WSJ, 1st team in the II ranking multiple times and won the Greenwich Industry Knowledge recognition.
Brent Ozenne, CEO, Arena Offshore
Brent Ozenne joined Arena Offshore as a Production Engineer in 2008, assumed the role of Production Manager in 2012, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2020 and became Chief Executive Officer in 2022. In 2023 Mr. Ozenne, took on the additional role of Chief Operating Officer at Arena Energy. Previously, Mr. Ozenne was employed by Newfield Exploration, BP and Vastar Resources, holding various engineering positions. Mr. Ozenne has more than 25 years experience in production, facilities and reservoir engineering in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. onshore basins. Mr. Ozenne earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University in 1998.
Clay Thompson, Director, GOM Operations, Oxy
Clay Thompson currently serves as the Director of Gulf of Mexico Operations for Occidental US Offshore (Oxy). Clay is currently responsible for all Production Operations, Logistics, Maintenance and Asset Integrity for Oxy’s Deepwater fleet. Clay has more than 24 years of experience in offshore project execution and production operations for the offshore energy sector, both internationally and within the Gulf of Mexico. Previous roles within Oxy have been with the Facilities Engineering and Construction group managing large scale capital projects, as well as building and developing the marine engineering, life extension, and decommissioning programs for Oxy in the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to joining Oxy in 2012, Clay was focused in the offshore design, construction and installation for offshore structures all over the world, and on most forms of offshore structures including fixed jackets, Spars, TLPs, FPSOs, and Semi-submersibles. Clay holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Stephen F. Austin University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering degree from Texas A&M University and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas.
Casey Stewart, Vice President of Finance and Asset Manager, Kosmos Energy
Mr. Stewart is the Vice President of Finance and Asset Manager of Kosmos Energy Gulf of Mexico, where he oversees all finance and planning activities as well as approximately half of the production and subsurface operations of the Gulf of Mexico business unit. He has 22 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He started his career at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, making his way to Senior Manager while focusing on exploration and production and oilfield services clients. After Deloitte, Mr. Stewart held various positions at other Gulf of Mexico exploration and production companies in various capacities prior to his current position at Kosmos.
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science from the Texas A&M University Mays Business School, where he regularly returns to speak at the Energy Seminar course. He also serves as the Treasurer of the National Ocean Industries Association, an association that serves the offshore oil, gas and wind industries by uniting and advancing the business and professional interests of its members and the industry.
The offshore panel at the EWTC Annual Meeting 2025 promises exploration, discussion, and collaboration in the offshore energy sector. Join us as we chart the course towards a sustainable energy future!
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation. Register now for the EWTC Annual Meeting 2025.
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