Spotlight on service

Executive Director Gordon Ballard used the Milan EGM as an opportunity to recognize the achievements of three retiring chairs as well as the special contributions of two people who will continue in their committee roles.

First to receive his award was Chair Antoine Augustin of ENGIE, who served as Safety Committee Chair. His ‘quietly determined way and conciliatory style’ was, Gordon, said, ‘an obviously effective approach, since under his leadership the Committee published some of IOGP’s most crucial documents.’ These included reports on operating management systems and process safety reporting.

Environment Committee Co-Chairs Sue Ford (BP) and Karl Fennessey (ExxonMobil) were next on Gordon’s list. Having taken the leading roles in the Committee in 2013, ‘they initiated, completed and implemented a new five-year strategy, based on a review by the previous Chair. The Committee soon gained a new life and energy – and near capacity attendance at meetings,’

Gordon said. He also pointed out that both Sue and Karl will be staying on as Environment Committee Vice-Chairs.

Gordon went on to cite awards for special contributions to the work of IOGP, beginning with Roger Lott, Chair of the Geodesy Subcommittee of the Geomatics Committee.

‘Roger is an acknowledged global geodetic expert, Gordon said. ‘He actually retired from BP 14 years ago, planning to focus on playing bridge and orienteering during what he has referred to as his dotage. Instead, he has been devoting much of his time – on a voluntary basis – to IOGP, and is continuing to do so.’

‘That’s encouraging,’ Gordon added, ‘because Roger has been instrumental in making Geomatics one of the Association’s most active and influential committees.’

Gordon concluded the session with a presentation to Safety Committee Vice-Chair Kirsty Walker of Schlumberger, ‘a mainstay of IOGP for over 10 years,’ he said. Describing her crucial role in safety and health reporting – one of the things the Association is famed for – he added that she also helped to draft the Association’s widely-hailed Life-Saving Rules. In addition to all of that, Gordon said, Kirsty is also on the Human Factors Group and ‘pretty much any activity that involves safety or health data. It’s obvious that without Kirsty, much of IOGP’s work would grind to a halt.’

Pictured: Clockwise from top left: Gordon Ballard with Antoine Augustin, Sue Ford, Kirsty Walker, Roger Lott