Mr. Praveen Mal Khanooja

Additional Secretary
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Shri Praveen Mal Khanooja is currently the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). Prior to this role, he was Director General, Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC), an attached office of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas since November 2019. Mr Khanooja is a B Tech in Chemical Engineering and M Tech in Management & Systems. He belongs to 1994 batch of Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS) and has worked in various capacities in Defense Audit, Railways Audit, State Government Accounts & Audit at many field and Headquarters’ postings. His diverse experience and technical expertise make him a valuable asset in shaping India’s energy policies and strategies.

Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil IAS

Director General (DG)
Directorate General Of Hydrocarbons

Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, appointed as the new Directorate General of Hydrocarbon (DGH) by the Indian government has an impressive track record, she has previously served as Principal Secretary of Public Health and Family Welfare and Health Commissioner in Madhya Pradesh. She is a 1994 batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre and holds double Master’s degrees in Economics and Public Policy Analysis from the Delhi School of Economics and Princeton University, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Dr. Govil's expertise will guide India's hydrocarbon exploration and production policies.

Mr. Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale 

Joint Secretary
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Dinesh Jagdale serves as the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, a position he has held since September 2019. With over 25 years of experience, Mr. Jagdale has significantly contributed to the renewable energy sector. Previously, he was the Director & CEO of Panama Renewable Energy Group, leading the company for over eight years. His tenure at Enercon India Limited as General Manager of Marketing spanned nearly a decade, where he drove substantial growth. He began his career at Crompton Greaves Ltd as a Marketing Executive in Exports. Mr. Jagdale holds a BE in Electronics from Walchand College of Engineering, graduating with distinction, and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Pune. His extensive background and leadership in renewable energy and marketing make him a key figure in advancing sustainable energy initiatives in India.

Mr. David Hume

Domain Expert
University of Houston

David Hume, is a distinguished expert in energy sector, currently serving as a Business Development Specialist and Geoscience Advisor at the University of Houston. David stands at the forefront of the upstream segment, leveraging his profound expertise in geoscience and carbon capture, utilization and storage(CCUS). David’s innovative approach and commitment to sustainability and technological advancement have set a benchmark in the industry.

Dr. Ranajit Rath

Chairman & Managing Director
Oil India Limited

Dr. Ranjit Rath, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), Oil India Limited (OIL) has an impeccable experience and expertise of more than 26 years in the field of geosciences. Dr. Rath is a proud recipient of the prestigious National Geosciences Award from the Hon`ble President of India. Dr. Rath has a rich portfolio of diverse roles spanning from strategy formulation, business development and upstream asset management to application of geosciences & exploration geology in several important projects including creation of Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs), a first of its kind initiative of Govt. of India entailing underground rock caverns for strategic storage of crude oil - An intervention towards Energy Security.

Mr. Ashutosh Kumar

Chief Operating Officer (COO), Oilmax
Energy Private Limited

Mr. Ashutosh Kumar is the Chief Operating Officer (E&P) of Oilmax Energy Private Limited has over 30 years of diversified experience of upstream Oil and Gas business. Over the years, he has demonstrated strong leadership skills and has played a key role in delivering complex projects, operational excellence with focus on safety, quality and schedule. He has played a key role in developing and implementing Safety and integrity management Systems, Risk management systems, Operational excellence and Organizational development programs in the organizations he has worked before. His pioneering efforts in promoting Asset integrity in Indian offshore industry are well recognized.

Mr. Jim White

Executive Director
SEG,USA

Jim White is the Executive Director of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), leading the organization since December 2020. With over 40 years of experience in the sub-surface imaging services business, he has acquired extensive expertise in managing complex operations and advancing geophysical imaging technologies. At SEG, Jim connects the global geophysics community, supporting over 14,000 members in 116 countries. His leadership focuses on promoting excellence in education, professional development and fostering new business opportunities.

Mr. Steeve Moore

Deputy CEO, Oil & Gas
Vedanta Limited

Dr. Steve Moore, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Vedanta Limited over 35 years of extensive experience in the oil & gas sector. At Cairn, Dr. Moore is responsible for delivering core operational performance, leading Technical Assurance, Business Excellence, HSE governance, and Commercial. Prior to joining Cairn Oil & Gas, he held global leadership positions across Technical Integration, Operations, and Business Development, in reputed organizations such as Shell, Maersk, and Mubadala. Dr. Moore holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. For the last nine years, he served as the Technical Director and Chief Growth Officer at Energean, which grew into one of the leading European listed E&P companies.

Mr. Kartikeya Dube

Vice President-Investor Relations
bp

Mr Kartikeya Dube, currently the Vice President, Group Investor Relations in bp’s head office in London driving investor engagement has been associated with bp for 20 years where he has held senior roles in finance, commercial and business transformation in India, Singapore and UK. The company has announced his appointment as Country Head-India and Senior Vice President, gas and low carbon for India effective July 1, 2024, replacing Mr. Sashi Mukundan who has been with bp for over 42 years, leading bp in India, by September 30, 2024. He has an extensive experience in Business Development, Investment Cases, Finance, Business Transformation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Risk Management, Debt, Procurement, Government Affairs, Advocacy etc with a track record of building diverse teams and leading collaborating across businesses and disciplines in support of bp’s growth plans.

Ms. Sushma Rawat

Director (Exploration)
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Ms. Sushma Rawat, an industry veteran with 35 years of experience, took over as Director (Exploration) at ONGC on 1st January 2023. Previously the Executive Director-Basin Manager of Assam & Assam Arakan Basin and OSD - Exploration, Ms. Rawat has been instrumental in introducing innovative technologies such as Node Based Seismic Data Acquisition, Passive Seismic Tomography, and Airborne Hydrocarbon Sensing Survey. Ms. Rawat's initiatives led to strategic collaborations with Northeast Hill University and CSIR-NEIST. Her leadership in Basin-scale 3D Petroleum System Modelling earned her the CMD Award in 2015. She is also on the boards of ONGC Tripura Power Company Limited and has served on the board of ONGC Petro Additions Ltd.

Mr. Pankaj Kumar

Director(Production)
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Mr. Pankaj Kumar as the Director(Production), provides strategic stewardship to the entire spectrum of oil and natural gas production across ONGC's production fields, both in Offshore and Onshore. His extensive 35-year journey in the oil & gas sector encompasses multifaceted expertise in Operations Management, Well Engineering, Joint Venture Management, Corporate Strategy, and Asset Management. His leadership roles include Chief of the Corporate Strategy & Planning group of ONGC and Asset Manager of prominent producing assets. A Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee), he holds a Master's degree in Process Engineering from IIT Delhi. His continuous academic pursuits have led him to advanced management programs at prestigious institutions.

Mr. Saloma Yomdo

Executive Director
Oil India Limited

Saloma Yomdo, has been recently appointed as Director (Exploration & Development) of Oil India Limited, a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. With a degree in Petroleum Engineering from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, joined Oil India in 1994. He has been responsible for significant advancements in exploration and development activities both in India and overseas. Mr. Yomdo is also an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Association of Petroleum Geologists, contributing to the industry through his published technical papers and presentations at various international and national forums.

Mr. Bishwanath Ghosh

Director (Exploration)
Vedanta Limited

Mr. Bishwanath Ghosh, is a leading explorationist with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. As the director, Mr. Ghosh has been instrumental in leading extensive exploration and appraisal extensive exploration and appraisal campaigns across more than 50 blocks in 12 basins in India. His core competencies lie in exploration project management, prospect evaluation, geoscientific data interpretation, and utilizing advanced technologies such as 3D seismic visualization and multi-attribute classification. He is adept at leading multidisciplinary subsurface, exploration and development teams.

Mr. Manish Maheshwari

Director
Invenire Petrodyne Limited

Mr. Manish Maheshwari, Director of Invenire Energy, with over 25 years of experience in the upstream oil and gas sector has a remarkable track record of turning around struggling businesses in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. Starting his career as a management trainee at Unilever after studying chemical engineering, he transitioned to the oil industry. Currently, Mr. Maheshwari oversees Invenire Energy, that supplies 10% of India’s crude oil and natural gas. His career is a testament to his strategic vision and leadership.

Mr. Ranajit Banerjee

Advisor
HDFC Bank Limited

Mr. Ranajit Banerjee, a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He provides advisory services to senior management covering areas of corporate governance and analysis and monitoring of a large M&A transaction towards closure. Mr. Banerjee has an impressive track record in managing high-value client relationships and driving business growth. His extensive expertise and in banking and finance, coupled with his strategic vision has been instrumental in enhancing HDFC’s market position.

Mr. S. Roychaudhary

Director
Selan Exploration Technology Limited

Mr. Samarendra Roychaudhary, is a distinguished veteran with over four decades of invaluable experience in the Oil & Gas Industry. His leadership has extended across both E&P Onshore and Offshore operations in numerous countries including India, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Syria, Vietnam, Iran, Qatar, Russia, Egypt, and Sudan. His extensive knowledge spans the entire spectrum of the upstream oil and gas industry and energy sector, making him an invaluable asset to any endeavor he undertakes.

Mr. Vinay Malhotra

Managing Director
Schlumberger

Mr. Vinay Malhotra, is an esteemed leader with extensive experience in the oil and gas service industry. As the Managing Director of Schlumberger South Asia, Mr. Malhotra brings a wealth of worldwide exposure to his role, having successfully navigated various facets of the business, including Field Operations, Operations Management, Training & Development, Marketing, Quality, and IT. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Mr. Malhotra's journey exemplifies his commitment to excellence and innovation in the energy sector.

Mr. Ajit Kumar Thakur

CEO
Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL)

Mr. Ajit Kumar Thakur is the CEO of Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), a significant entity in the Indian natural gas sector. With a robust background in the energy industry, Mr. Thakur brings extensive experience in project management, strategic planning, and operational excellence. Under his leadership, IGGL focuses on developing the North-East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid, aiming to boost regional economic growth and ensure energy security. His vision and leadership are instrumental in advancing India's gas infrastructure and promoting sustainable energy solutions.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar

Director Marketing
GAIL (India) Limited

Mr. Vinay Malhotra, is an esteemed leader with extensive experience in the oil and gas service industry. As the Managing Director of Schlumberger South Asia, Mr. Malhotra brings a wealth of worldwide exposure to his role, having successfully navigated various facets of the business, including Field Operations, Operations Management, Training & Development, Marketing, Quality, and IT. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Mr. Malhotra's journey exemplifies his commitment to excellence and innovation in the energy sector.

Mr. Rajesh K Mediratta

MD and CEO
Indian Gas Exchange Limited (IGX)

Mr. Rajesh K Mediratta is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Indian Gas Exchange Limited. With a comprehensive background in business development, he has established a strong foothold in the power sector, specializing in areas such as power market, renewable energy, grid operations, and entrepreneurship. He has played a significant role in creating the Indian Energy Exchange Limited, a listed company, from the ground up. Rajesh K Mediratta's extensive experience and leadership in the energy sector, combined with his strategic approach to market development and regulatory affairs, make him a pivotal figure in the advancement of energy trading and market operations in India.

Ms. Barnali Baruah Tokhi

Managing Director Bharat Petro Resources Limited (BPRL)

Ms. Barnali Tokhi is the Managing Director at Bharat Petro Resources(BPRL) has 35+ years of experience in oil, gas and energy sector. She brings of wealth of experience in the oil and gas industry, having previously held position of President-Technical at Reliance Industries. Ms. Barnali has extensive experience in the energy sector, with a focus on technical leadership and geoscientific expertise in shale gas development. Her current role as the Managing Director at BPRL signifies her contribution and expertise in the industry.

Mr. Krishna Raghavan

CTO-Exploration and Production
Hindustan Oil Exploration Company

Mr. Krishnan Raghavan serves as the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at the Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC). With a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry, Mr. Raghavan oversees the technical operations, driving innovation and efficiency in exploration and production activities. His expertise spans across various domains, including project management, reservoir engineering, and technological advancements in hydrocarbon extraction. Under his technical leadership, HOEC continues to strengthen its operational capabilities and enhance its production efficiency, contributing significantly to India's energy sector.

Prof. Hemant Sarma

University of Calgary

Dr. Hemant Sarma is a distinguished scholar with a rich academic background in petroleum engineering. With a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta and extensive research experience, his expertise spans various facets of petroleum engineering, including enhanced oil recovery and reservoir engineering. His current projects focus on cutting-edge areas such as low-salinity waterflood, gas-based enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and relative permeability characteristics in heavy oil and oil-gas systems. As a leading expert in his field, Dr. Sarma brings invaluable insights and innovative approaches to address the challenges and opportunities in the oil and gas industry.

Mr. Arun Mittal

Executive Director
Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD)

Arun Mittal, Executive Director of Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), is an experienced leader with an experience of over 3 decades in oil and gas sector. Under his guidance, OISD continues to lead initiatives aimed at enhancing safety standards and implementing best practices across the oil and gas sector. With a solid background in petroleum engineering and extensive expertise in safety regulations, Mr. Mittal plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety sand integrity of operations within the industry.

Mr. Ajay Dixit

Corporate HSE
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Mr. Ajay Dixit, is the Executive Director of Corporate HSE at ONGC Limited, Mr. Dixit has been serving in a critical role as Chief of HSE at ONGC, leveraging his extensive expertise as a Drilling Engineer, Well Control expert, and Crisis Manager to lead and manage complex situations. His career with ONGC began in May 1989, where he received on-the-job training on drilling rigs in Jorhat and Western offshore. His work in CMT was particularly challenging, requiring him to manage and control multiple emergency situations during drilling and workover-related activities. His remarkable handling of these crises earned him the CMD’s Professional of the Year award in 2004.

Ms. Mandira Jain

Head-HSE
Schlumberger

Ms. Mandira Jain, is a highly accomplished professional with an impressive career spanning over 19 years in the oil and gas industry with Schlumberger. Currently serving as the HSE and CSR Head for South Asia, Ms. Jain is based in Gurugram, Haryana, India, where she leads with a focus on health, safety, environment, and corporate social responsibility. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Her technical acumen, combined with her extensive industry experience, positions her as a leading figure in the field of oil and gas services.

Ms. Moyalama Kromah

Head Technical Solutions
bp

Molyama Kromah is a passionate engineering leader with over 23 years of extensive global experience with BP. Her career spans diverse geographies including Trinidad, Egypt, the UK, and India. Molyama has proven expertise in leading production and operations activities for resilient hydrocarbons. She has successfully supported the startup and production of three deep-water gas fields offshore India. In her current role, Molyama manages the setup and integration of bpTSI, BP's new center of expertise. She provides engineering and technical support to BP's energy businesses worldwide.

Dr. Vikram Vishal

Professor
IIT Bombay

Vikram Vishal is a distinguished serves as a Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where he is actively engaged in teaching and research. His entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in his role as the Co-Founder and the Director of Urjanovac, a company dedicated to innovative energy solutions. As the Convener of National Centre of Excellence in CCUS, Vikram leads initiatives aimed at advancing technologies and strategies for carbon capture, utilization, and storage, addressing critical challenges in climate change and sustainability.

Mr. Mandeep Narang

Director-Operations
Vedanta

Mandeep Narang is a seasoned professional in the oil and gas industry with extensive experience in operations management, production, and installation. He currently serves as the Director of Operations at Cairn Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited. In this role, Mandeep is responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of the company's oil and gas projects, ensuring efficiency and safety in all processes. His expertise in managing complex projects and large-scale production operations contributes significantly to the company's success in the energy industry.

Mr. Neeraj Sethi

Area Director - India and Bangladesh
Baker Hughes

Mr. Neeraj Sethi, as the Area Director at Baker Hughes which is a fully integrated energy technology company, leads the strategic and operational objectives for the business spanning the sub-continent. With over 27 years of international experience in the upstream oil and gas industry, he has a proven track record of growing and running divisions and companies at a country and district level, carrying out due diligence, integrating technology portfolios, and delivering optimal production and exploitation of current and new assets.

Mr. Ashish Verma

Global Account Director
Schlumberger

Ashish Verma is the Global Account Director at Schlumberger, focusing on the oil, gas, and energy sectors. His career includes strategic roles at leading companies in oil, gas and energy sectors, with expertise in financial modeling, project finance, and contract negotiation. He possesses a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta and has successfully cleared the 2nd level of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. His expertise in global account management and strategic project leadership of clean energy projects drive advancements and manage large-scale projects effectively.

Ms. Pomila Jaspal

Ex-Director (Finance)
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Ms. Pomila Jaspal, Ex-Director Finance at ONGC has 36 years of experience across varied segments of the oil & gas industry, encompassing operating, regulatory and policy aspects of upstream and downstream industry. Ms. Jaspal is a fellow member and gold medalist of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. While she served as the Director (Finance) of MRPL, she focused on the restructuring of the borrowing portfolios leading to a lower effective rate of interest. She was instrumental in the merger of OMPL with MRPL, paving the way for synergy and integration benefits for the ONGC Group.

Mr. Rajesh Kumar Srivastava

Ex-Director Exploration & Chairman
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Shri Rajesh Kumar Srivastava is the former Chairman and Managing Director, as well as Director (Exploration), of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC). Mr. Srivastava is a visionary leader with nearly four decades of experience in the E&P industry. He has played a crucial role in major hydrocarbon discoveries and field development plans, introducing geo-cellular modeling in ONGC. His contributions earned him the ‘Geologist of the Year’ award in 2002 and the ‘National Mineral Award’ in 2009. He also played a pivotal role in formulating the ‘Hydrocarbon Vision-2030 for Northeast India’. He also serves as a principal technical advisor with DGH and is the President of the Indian Geological Congress for 2021-2022

Mr. Atul Patni

Head Digital
Vedanta Limited

Atul Patni is a seasoned professional with 17 years of experience in Digital and IT Strategy, specializing in creating value across various functions, particularly in Manufacturing, Operations, and QHSE. He excels in delivering transformational programs that align with business strategies, leveraging his deep understanding of both business and technology. As a digital leader, he collaborates across functions to drive change and enhance business agility. With considerable experience as a line manager and coach, he builds motivated, success-driven teams and cultivates relationships across functional leadership, operational business, and support functions to achieve organizational success.

Mr. Chitwan Garg

Divisional Country Manager
Schlumberger

Chitwan Garg is an accomplished Digital & Integration Geounit Manager at Schlumberger has over 20 years of experience, overseeing operations in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Based in Gurugram, Haryana, he brings a wealth of expertise in Sales & Marketing, Project Management, Financial Management, and People Management. With a strong professional network and a solid educational background from IIE KIC and Heriot-Watt University, he excels in driving strategic initiatives and fostering growth within the digital and integration domains.