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HSME magazine sit down with Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, in the lead up to The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC).
What do you enjoy most about your role?
With over 20 years of experience in the global events industry, I have been fortunate enough to work across a variety of sectors and markets, from Europe to Asia, and now the Middle East. The energy industry is evolving quickly and what’s most enjoyable about being involved in the planning of ADIPEC is witnessing first-hand how the industry addresses challenges and how it’s able to adapt to overcome them. The Gulf region is fascinating in that regard. It is wholly invested in a brighter, more sustainable future and its bold public policies are testament to its commitment to find innovative solutions to global energy industry challenges.
Taking place before COP27 and ahead of COP28 in the UAE, ADIPEC provides a unique opportunity for key decision-makers to debate and deliberate on pathways to translate climate pledges into action. My responsibility is to make sure that the industry can harness this opportunity, particularly at such a pivotal moment.
ADIPEC provides an energy platform that convenes global leaders and industry executives from across the energy value chain, to share knowledge, experience and expertise to tackle diverse topics throughout the energy industry. This agenda will engage the globalised and diverse audience that will stimulate the creative and critical thinking required to identify the solutions to the complex challenges that our industry, and our world, faces today.
How does ADIPEC happen?
Putting on ADIPEC requires a year-round effort. It is an event for the industry, by the industry, and we are in continuous communication with leaders from across the energy sector. These conversations help us reflect the priorities of the industry and determine what themes should be at the heart of our agenda. ADIPEC aims to drive change – to showcase action and implement promises – and this can only be achieved in close co-ordination with those at the heart of the industry.
Managing the unique scale of ADIPEC – attracting 150,000 energy professionals from over 100 countries – also requires significant planning and organisation.
There is also essential activity that takes place behind the scenes as soon as an ADIPEC concludes. Most importantly we make sure to capture the conversations that took place across the strategic and technical conferences so that they can be circulated globally. These are critical discussions about the future of energy, and they must be made available to all.
How has the market and the show evolved over the years? How has ADIPEC made their mark?
ADIPEC has been at the heart of the energy industry since 1984. Our mission has evolved over almost four decades, and today, we are driven by the dual goal of bringing together over 12,000 global policymakers, energy CEOs, and industry professionals to discuss key trends shaping the future of energy, the challenges and opportunities of energy transition, geopolitical shifts, new finance and partnership frameworks to deliver the energy needs of today whilst investing in the energy systems of tomorrow.
The world has changed significantly since we launched, and today the global energy system needs to evolve to meet the new demands. To mitigate climate change, we must reduce or prevent the emissions linked to human activities and energy companies will be at the heart of that playing a pivotal role in advancing the global energy transition through fresh ideas and innovation.
In response to this, ADIPEC has grown to become far more than a trade event. Today it’s a key global platform, producing content year-round content, leading the energy discussion and the responsible transition of energy sources around the world. ADIPEC has made its mark as a knowledge-sharing platform for technical and strategic expertise.
This year’s conference programme will provide critical insights into geopolitical trends, new energy solutions, innovations, and technology developments. We will host strategic discussions through Ministerial Panels and Leadership Interviews, where global ministers, policymakers and decision makers will take the stage to discuss the most pertinent geopolitical, sustainability and economic issues. Live Sessions where innovators and decision makers will provide critical insights on global economic trends, breakthrough developments, and Leadership Roundtables convening some of the world’s prominent experts to address the ongoing requirements, challenges and opportunities facing the energy industry.
What can visitors expect to see at this year’s show?
For this edition, we have further diversified our range of panels and conferences to increase access to strategic insights for visitors from all backgrounds. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend In Focus Sessions where industry experts will discuss the energy transition evolution and changing economies in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. There will also be Opinion Sessions where global experts will discuss and share their takes on the most pertinent issues around geopolitics, changing consumer behaviours, new energy fuels and the future energy agenda. In total, ADIPEC 2022 will have more than 350 conferences sessions with over 1,200 speakers.
We have also introduced more dedicated zones and exhibitions, in line with current industry trends, to enable new models of cross-sector collaboration, strengthen existing partnerships and drive future growth. The Offshore & Marine Exhibition and Conference, Digitalisation in Energy Exhibition, Smart Manufacturing Exhibition, Technical and Strategic Conferences and the new Decarbonisation Zone reflect ADIPEC’s commitment to create a platform to provide strategic and technical insights on key trends shaping the future of energy.
The Offshore & Marine Exhibition will address the current transformation in global supply chains and new maritime trade patterns with the world’s key shipping hubs and services and maritime shipping and logistics professionals in attendance. The Smart Manufacturing Exhibition will provide a forum to discuss the impact of today’s technologies and the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy across the manufacturing ecosystem with leading global manufacturers.
What is this year’s theme and why is it important?
Strategically taking place pre-COP27, it is the global platform for leaders to reinforce commitments that will drive the industry towards reducing emissions, meeting decarbonisation goals, and providing a realistic view on short- and long-term energy outlooks.
In line with this, our core theme for 2022 will be the need for a pragmatic and progressive energy transition. Within this, we will explore topics such as menthane, CCUS, hydrogen, the future workforce and innovation.
ADIPEC’s new engaging programme will aim to drive innovation through expanded ‘zones’ which will gather global experts to showcase the innovative strategies and latest technologies shaping the industry.
The brand-new Decarbonisation Zone will be a central focus of ADIPEC 2022. It will be accessible to all attendees and will host complementary conferences spearheading new insights and discussions focused on articulating the industry’s path towards net-zero. It will also offer visitors access to a range of innovative products, technologies and solutions dedicated to the decarbonising economy.
Discussing decarbonisation and sustainable solutions is essential in understanding the pathways toward a pragmatic and progressive energy transition and in turn spurring innovation – not just from the oil and gas perspective, but also through the lens of the technologies and cutting-edge industries that are rapidly growing.
