Nine international leaders from some of the world’s most prominent oil and gas companies have confirmed their participation in the 19th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC 2016), revealed the organisers.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and organised by the Global Energy division of dmg events, ADIPEC continues to show significant growth, bolstered by repeat senior level representation from the world’s industry giants in the event’s prestigious Conference Programme. The three CEO Plenary sessions within the programme will offer both national and global perspectives on achieving sustainable practice in the energy sector.

Confirmed global CEO speakers include Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of Total; Jeff Miller, President of Halliburton; Vicki A. Hollub, President and Chief Operating Officer of Occidental Petroleum Corporation; Paal Kibsgaard, Chairman and CEO of Schlumberger Limited; Lars Christian Bacher, Executive Vice President – Production and Development International at Statoil; Mark Garrett, CEO of Borealis; and Toshiaki Kitamura, President and CEO at Inpex Corporation.

Speakers representing leading companies in the region will also be participating in the high-level discussions, including Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), and Mohammad Ghazi Al Mutairi, CEO of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC).

Established as the world’s most influential exhibition and conference for the oil and gas industry, ADIPEC has a longstanding track record of bringing together globally celebrated luminaries and experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in the energy sector. The landmark event is anchored on the international presence of some of the world’s leading petroleum producing countries, as well as emerging markets, underlining its position as the global meeting place for industry professionals.

With global energy consumption set to increase by slightly more than one-third (34 per cent) by 2035 according to BP’s latest Energy Outlook report, and fossil fuels expected to supply about 60 per cent of this growth, decision makers are increasingly looking for ways to enhance their operational efficiency amid a challenging economic landscape for the petroleum industry – one marked by an evolving global energy mix.

Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, Strategy and Coordination Director at ADNOC and ADIPEC 2016 Chairman, said, “ADIPEC has a worldwide reputation as an event where companies within the sector achieve strong business results, and for providing essential thought leadership on the industry’s most significant present and future challenges.”

“By bringing the world’s most knowledgeable experts under one roof, we are able to provide a platform where ideas are exchanged and critical issues are addressed, enabling both established and emerging markets to adopt policies that will strengthen their oil and gas businesses,” he added.

News of the confirmations follows recent announcements that the prestigious energy event will be held under the theme “Transitional Strategies for an Efficient and Resilient Energy Industry”, setting the agenda for ADIPEC’s distinguished Conference Programme.

“Today’s economic environment makes it critical that industry professionals develop new approaches to doing business across all verticals in the energy sector, from operations to management,” said Christopher Hudson, President – Global Energy at dmg events.

“Empowering stakeholders with knowledge and best practice is fundamental to achieving industry resilience, and ADIPEC provides an international arena where decision makers, innovators, and experts can learn valuable information, network, and generate solid business opportunities,” he added.

Forming the cornerstone of the event, the ADIPEC 2016 Conference Programme will feature 95 technical sessions that will look at topics ranging from Exploration and Production Geoscience to Marine and Offshore. Organisers are looking to build on last year’s record-breaking success, with a target of gathering more than 2,500 abstracts ahead of the 21 April submission deadline.

The programme will also feature two Ministerial Sessions, eight Panel Sessions,10 VIP Briefings, three Breakfast Sessions, and three Luncheon Sessions that will address some of the most imminent topics in the energy sector.

Through a series of topical features, ranging from the ADIPEC Awards, which recognise excellence in energy, to Young ADIPEC, an ‘edutainment’ programme designed to cultivate the next generation of energy professionals, ADIPEC offers a holistic platform for stakeholders to address all industry requirements.

Event features also include Women in Industry, a dedicated forum that tackles some of the most pressing challenges facing women in energy, and the Offshore and Marine conference and exhibition, which offers the region’s largest waterfront showcase for the offshore sector.

ADIPEC 2015 generated an estimated USD 9.7 billion in business, welcoming more than 94,000 attendees, 8,500 delegates, 700 speakers, 2,000 exhibitors, and 23 international pavilions. The four-day event takes place annually at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.