Navigating Energy Transition - Energy Industry Panel Discussion - Members in Transition

• Net Zero: CCUS/Hydrogen


• Red Tree Consulting Managing Director


• SEG Foundation Director and SEG Sustainability Committee Chair


• AAPG Distinguished Lecturer 2021/2022 and SPE Honorary Member


• UNECE Women in Resource Management Co-Chair

Cav. Maria Angela Capello is an expert in sustainability, ESG, and diversity and inclusion, with over 37 years of experience in O&G. Maria Angela is a Cavaliere (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy), SPE Honorary Member, SEG Lifetime Member, SEG Foundation Board Director, and has been a Distinguished Lecturer for AAPG, SEG and SPE. She is Managing Director of Red Tree Consulting, and the author of three books and 73 technical articles. She is a Physicist (Universidad Simon Bolivar); MSc in Geophysics (Colorado School of Mines); and is certified in Circular Economy and Sustainability (University of Cambridge).

• Green Non-Hydrocarbon Energy and World Energy Forecast


• Chevron Retirees Association

John Moncrief had a 35 year career with Texaco and Chevron.  Most of his work involved international offshore, deepwater and subsea facilities and ventures.   This includes early field development and planning after discovery, and design, fabrication and installation of the facilities.

He worked as Project Manager and Engineering Manager on his last few projects.  After retiring in 2016, John pursued a deeper understanding of global energy and the issues driving its future.  He has given multiple presentations on green & hydrocarbon energy; offshore and deepwater facilities; and working with international cultures.

• Data Analytics


• VP – Data Architecture & Engineering, Wood-Mackenzie

Liz Dennett, Ph.D. is a passionate technologist with over a decade of experience using data-driven approaches to solve pressing energy challenges. She has demonstrated success pioneering novel data types, architectures, and analytics solutions through the energy value chain. Liz is currently a VP of Data Architecture and Engineering at Wood Mackenzie where she is helping slay data silos to fuel sustainable innovation, and hosts the Horizons Podcast, a candid take on the Energy Transition.

As a technology evangelist, Liz has given over 100 invited presentations, received over a dozen awards including being named #13 in the “Top 50 Women Leaders in Houston” in 2022, and written more than 10 academic and industry publications.

• Distinguished Professor of Petroleum Engineering, University of Houston


• Director of Energy Industry Partnership


• 2012 SPE President

Ganesh C. Thakur, Ph.D., NAE, NAI is Distinguished Professor of Petroleum Engineering and Director of Energy Industry Partnerships at the University of Houston since 2016, leading research with significant contributions in the field of integrated petroleum reservoir management, enhanced oil recovery, unconventional resources, CCS and CCUS (working on CO2 injection projects since 1979).  With fossil resources continuing to be the primary source of energy consumption and increasing emphasis on GHG and climate change restrictions around the world, CCUS plays an increasingly important role in today’s oil and gas operations to address and establish the low carbon technology.  His expertise covers both theoretical and practical aspects of these fields and he has worked in the industry for over 40 years, including 37 years with Chevron. 

His most recent position with Chevron was VP – Reservoir Management of Chevron Technology Center.  He designed and implemented major capital projects involving billions of dollars of investments. He has published over 100 technical and management articles and patents, and authored three books, and two of them serve as textbooks in many universities.  He is 2012 President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and Former SPE Foundation President.  Dr. Thakur currently serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST).  He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a member and Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.  In addition, he serves as Chevron Fellow Emeritus and Chief Technology Advisor for GeoPark.

• Manager Talent Acquisition - Occidental Petroleum

Mitch North has extensive experience in the areas of Human Resources, Project Management and Recruiting. Effective at leading global projects and people across business units and functional groups.  His specialties include talent management, full life cycle recruiting, international recruiting, team building, managing teams, salary negotiations, and human resources. Mitch has a BSBA from the University of Arkansas in Finance, Real Estate.

• Senior Partner- Environmental Resources Management (ERM)

For 32 years, Trey have focused on delivering a broad range of environmental consulting and construction services to Oil & Gas and Chemical sector clients throughout the world. He is currently responsible for leading a team of individuals who are focused on delivering a broad suite of environmental and safety services to a portfolio of Fortune 500 oil and gas key clients.

Trey chaired the Gulf Coast Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers from 2017-2018 and chaired the Safety & Environment Study Group for the Gulf Coast Section of the SPE in Houston, Texas for many years. He also served as the HSSE-SR Technical Director on the SPE International Board of Directors from 2014-2017 and in 2021.

• Manager, Talent Development & Certified Leadership Coach - Occidental Petroleum

Talent Development Manager, Certified Coach, and Speaker with a passion for sharing new and innovative information on leadership skills, emotional intelligence, positive psychology, brain science, and exceptional communication. Joyce values strength of character, high integrity, accountability, trust, collaboration, and respectful communication.

Joyce has exceptional people skills, with the ability to ask the right questions to understand true concerns. She is an intuitive coach who builds strong relationships with her clients. She is an engaging speaker who endeavors to change hearts and minds, by sharing the latest research. Joyce believes in a growth mindset, and that we all have the capacity to be closer to our ideal self.