Oil and Gas Growth Centre Chair to provide key industry overview at AOG

The organisers of the Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference (AOG) have announced that the chair of Australia’s new Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Growth Centre, Ken Fitzpatrick, will be a keynote speaker on the opening day of the 2016 event.

One of the most respected names in the Australian oil and gas sector, Fitzpatrick was named by the federal government in early 2015 as the new chair for the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Growth Centre, which will be headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.

The former Woodside, Ampolex, Mobil, Nexen and PTTEP executive brings more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in Australia and overseas to the chair role.

At AOG 2016, Fitzpatrick will discuss the important role the new centre will play in supporting and determining the future of the local petroleum industry.

The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Growth Centre is one of five growth centres that are part of a $225 million federal government initiative to guide industry into a new era of growth, investment and jobs, by focusing on areas in which Australia has an edge over its competitors, promoting innovation and productivity. The growth centre will identify opportunities to reduce regulatory burden, increase collaboration and commercialisation, and improve capabilities to engage with international markets and global supply chains.

This focus aligns perfectly with the AOG 2016 theme of industry collaboration and the development of new ideas and technologies that will be critical in maintaining Australia’s position as a leading oil and gas industry investment destination.

Bill Hare, AOG event director at Diversified Communications, said the event organisers were delighted to have Fitzpatrick as a participant in the opening session of AOG 2016.

“Ken is highly respected within the global oil and gas sector and he was an ideal choice to chair the new Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Growth Centre. Listening to his views on what benefits the centre will bring to the local industry and the importance of topics such as collaboration and the changing status of the local oil and gas industry will be a must attend event at AOG 2016.”

Fitzpatrick will join Western Australia’s Minister for Commence, the Hon. Michael Mischin, for the opening session of the AOG 2016 Conference on Wednesday 24 February.

Celebrating its 35th year, AOG 2016 will bring together specialist companies from around the globe to exhibit their products, while the AOG 2016 Conference will feature a theme of ‘collaboration’ with over 100 experts from leading companies providing input on how industry, government and other key stakeholders should continue to work closely together to reduce costs and improve productivity at a time of global crude oil price uncertainty.

Australasia’s largest oil and gas industry event, AOG 2016 will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, 24–26 February.

For more information or to register now, go to aogexpo.com.au.