During this year’s ADIPEC Exhibition and Conference held in Abu Dhabi, Energy Workforce President Molly Determan played a prominent role in discussions regarding the sector’s workforce priorities and strategies to attract new talent.
Determan spoke on a panel about the Millennial and Gen Z workforce, discussing what motivates them and why it matters. Joining her as fellow panelists were Dr. Carole Nakhle of Crystol Energy, Ghassan Aouad of Abu Dhabi University and Simon Andrews of Kent Global Engineering and Consulting, moderated by Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham, RME Media & Communications.
Throughout the discussion, the panel delved into the evolving landscape of work, largely influenced by shifting workforce priorities. Panelists highlighted how the incoming workforce places increasing emphasis on sustainability, achieving work-life balance and seeking growth opportunities, representing a notable departure from earlier generations.
“The incoming workforce will drive companies to adopt greater flexibility, with experimentation in areas such as rotational and gig work. Companies that proactively embrace these changes will excel in attracting and retaining this new talent.”
Molly Determan, President, Energy Workforce & Technology Council
During her remarks, Determan encouraged the industry to continue to evolve their cultures to attract new talent and speak to the next generation’s desires. She also emphasized that the energy sector presents an exciting opportunity for those seeking to participate in innovative cultures that are shaping the future of energy and making a substantial impact on the world.
Leadership Roundtable Briefing Conference
The Leadership Roundtable Briefing Conference, hosted by Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO of ADNOC Offshore and ADIPEC Chairperson, was moderated by Dania Nourallah of Deloitte. The conference centered around the theme of “energizing the future” and aimed to incorporate the vision of the next generation of energy leaders. It facilitated engaging discussions between youth representatives and industry leaders to envision the future of the energy sector.
During the roundtable discussions, Determan emphasized the need to empower the workforce to become advocates for the energy sector and align communication strategies to reach out to students who may have an interest in contributing to the future of energy.
Energy Workforce actively supports its members in workforce development through a comprehensive range of year-long training and education programs, including Executive Leadership, Building Business Acumen, Culture & Inclusion, ESG Certification, and Field and Operations Level Leadership. For further information about training programs, contact Peggy Helfert, Vice President of Programs & Events.
Maria Suarez-Simmons, Senior Director Energy Policy, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
