Six young leaders of leading energy companies in Trinidad and Tobago are all set to navigate the sector's complex future.
The six spoke about the direction for the country's energy development during a special young leaders session at the TT Energy Conference, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Tuesday.
On the panel were Tanagna Lessey-Kelly, acting business venture manager of National Energy, Terrence Doodnath, surface engineering manager of Woodside Energy, Barry Nancoo, engineering and maintenance manager of Proman, Shawn Garcia, manager carbon abatement of Atlantic LNG, Sharista Kalapnat-Kisoensingh, team lead, deep-water exploration contract, offshore directorate of Acreage and Staatsolie, Jenna Boxill-Sooknanan, operations specialist of Methanex with the facilitator being Dr Priya Marajh, vice president, advocacy and member engagement of the Energy Chamber.
Marajh asked Doodnath what his generation would have in terms of leadership in the industry and what changes he would make. Doodnath said the changes that the industry is dealing with now are no different in terms of a need for "total consciousness" and adaptation of technology and learning.
[caption id="attachment_997791" align="alignnone" width="923"] Terrence Doodnath, of Woodside Energy, at the TT Energy Conference. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
He said, “In terms of the triggers and challenges, it’s probably no different. But I see the advantages we have in utilising the same triggers to address technology to be able to do data analysis, decision-making, and the use of artificial intelligence for example. So I do think the tools that we do have available to support the change process, if effectively used will help us to successfully navigate that change.”
Boxill-Sooknanan said, “We grew up in an era with information being readily available at our fingertips and what we would prefer is to use technology that is available to maximise our efficiency and to make optimal use of our resources. So I believe that innovation and digitisation are essential to transforming the energy sector in a more decentralised and a more renewable-based economy. I believe our generation is just more connected too. The generation to come will be even more connected and more skilled in the technological world to come.”
Lessey-Kelly said there are sectors that should allow for the current leaders to be more flexible.
“I will bring it straight to the transition, I’ve been waiting for the transition for a number of years and we are at a point now where our scope and time in leadership, we will be implementing those changes. That would call for some differences in how we would handle leadership.
"We need to focus on visionary leadership or transformational leadership where we would focus on the end game yet also look at transforming the way we interact and deal with our colleagues. We would need to be flexible, agile, to think strategically, to get and implement the changes that are required for the energy transition.
