Oil and gas heavyweights fuel diversity debate

Widely regarded as Australia’s premier event specifically on diversity and inclusion for the oil and gas industry, the Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference (AOG) Diversity and Inclusion Breakfast will this year see Executives from Woodside Energy, Chevron Australia, Shell Australia and Baker Hughes – a GE Company debate “Diversity of Thought.”

“The idea that our thinking is shaped by our culture, background, experiences, and personalities is core to the concept of diversity of thought,” said Kirsty Danby, Director of Platform Communications and Chair of the AOG Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

“Diversity of thought goes beyond recognising differences and responding to them. Diversity of thought acknowledges that having a diverse group of people, gathered from different backgrounds and beliefs, helps to boost innovation and problem solving within an organisation.”

The topic will be debated by representatives from Australia’s biggest oil and gas operators namely Jacky Connolly, Woodside Energy’s VP of People and Global Capability; Christopher Watts, Chevron Australia’s General Manager of Human Resources and Trish Moore, VP of Human Resources at Shell Australia.

“Diversity of thought has implications for safety performance, ethical behaviour, business performance, and of course innovation. I’m sure it’ll be a fruitful conversation,” said Ms Moore.

Also, on the panel Maria Sferruzza, President for APAC, Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE) which has taken the role of gold sponsor of the breakfast.

“Our vision is to create a workplace atmosphere without bias. We work and live in an inclusive environment where all employees are visible, engaged, developed and able to bring their whole authentic selves to work,” said Maria.

“The company is stronger when the diversity of its employees reflects its customers and the people it impacts”.

The AOG Diversity and Inclusion Breakfast will be hosted by CNN, SBS and Sky News journalist and news anchor Anjali Rao.

“At its core, diversity of thought requires the most basic of ingredients: a room with two people in it. Then, mix in their varying cultures, attitudes, backgrounds, experiences, and opinions. Any way you slice and dice it, the scenario becomes more complex, but much more interesting, and ultimately rewarding.

“The most successful companies are the ones who are able to embrace, and capitalise upon, the myriad of differences their staff bring to create a unified, inclusive, and cohesive structure in tomorrow’s increasingly globalised world,” said Anjali Rao.

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The breakfast will be staged at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from 7 to 9am on 14 March, 2019. For more information, visit the Diversity & Inclusion Breakfast page.