SPE Asia Pacific Executive Dialogue: The Carbon Neutral Journey

28 June 2023

The SPE Asia Pacific Executive Dialogue brought together distinguished senior leaders for a thought-provoking session focused on the crucial theme of “The Carbon Neutral Journey.”

The event, held on Wednesday, 28 June 2023, on the sidelines of Energy Asia in Kuala Lumpur, was an exclusive, by-invitation-only gathering hosted under the guidance of Datuk Adif Zulkifli, Executive Vice President and CEO Upstream of PETRONAS and Chairman of the SPE Asia Pacific Regional Advisory Council.

A group of 25 senior industry leaders from 16 organisations and six countries engaged in an open discussion, under Chatham House rules, about the many opportunities and challenges related to achieving carbon neutrality, specifically for the upstream industry. The closed-door session encouraged candid conversations moderated by Neil Kavanagh, Chief Scientist of Woodside Energy and Vice-Chair of the SPE Asia Pacific Regional Advisory Council; and supported by Vivek Lath, Partner of McKinsey & Company, who also shared current industry insights and an outlook.
 
Selected based on their outstanding expertise and unwavering commitment to sustainability, these senior executives brought a kaleidoscope of perspectives that fuelled a dynamic exchange of ideas.
 
The one-hour dialogue was highly interactive, covering various areas including the unique challenges, opportunities, and success stories of the Asia Pacific region; progressing regulations, standards and policies for decarbonisation; carbon-related investments and partnerships; upskilling and evolving competencies; and ultimately - finding the right balance to achieve positive impact in the discourse of the energy trilemma of security, accessibility and sustainability.
 
Thanks to the active participation and valuable input from attendees, the roundtable dialogue engaged in meaningful discussions to contribute to the collective efforts towards a carbon-neutral future. The outcome of the Executive Dialogue is expected to inspire collaborative practices and further actions in industry, the region and from SPE. By sharing the knowledge and experiences gained during the event, SPE can play a pivotal role in driving change and fostering a more sustainable future for the global and upstream community.
 
The success of this roundtable dialogue demonstrates the power of collaboration and collective vision as attendees continue to turn ideas into action.