Meet The Makers
With Flame 2016 now just over three months away, I caught up with co-editors Kathryn Bond and Heidi Stancliffe to chat about how preparations for the event are going.
View the complete agenda for Flame 2016 here.
What are the big themes for Flame 2016?
Kathryn | We’re really excited about the quality of the speakers at Flame this year and amongst other topics, we will be looking at the opening up of the global gas business and how Europe will absorb massive amounts of LNG. What is driving demand and how Europe is securing supplies is a big focus alongside the internal workings of the market such as trading, storage and infrastructure developments. There also is a big focus on global gas pricing and the new regulatory landscape.
What are people going to notice that’s different about Flame this year?
Heidi | The conference sessions are going to look quite different. We have lots of new formats, such as our ‘Around the World’ interactive digital mapping sessions, in which we will build a picture of global supply and demand trends before your eyes. There’s also a Bull/Bear Debate which will bring a touch of drama to the Flame stage. We also have a professional presenter, Sasha Twinning, who will be acting as conference Chair and will bring a journalist’s instinct to the Q&As. Sasha is keen to make the event is interactive as possible and I think she’ll make it a great experience.
Kathryn | There’s also our Festival of Flame events, Bright Sparks and Flame Future Leaders. If you book 2 places and you have a colleague under 35, they can attend Flame for just £750 through our Bright Sparks programme. Another option for early/mid-career professionals seeking to make the transition to senior management roles is Flame Future Leaders. This is a 3 day, CPD accredited course developed by respected business school the Energy Delta Institute. Participants will benefit from both the course and the networking opportunities presented by Flame.
Heidi | And don’t forget the Golf Day on Sunday 8th May, which offers a new social forum for the Flame community.
Is the difficult business environment having an impact on Flame?
Heidi | Surprisingly little! There is still a way to go until the event but so far we have only positive momentum. We’ve got a record breaking (180+) speaker faculty, we’re welcoming new partners such as Genscape and registrations are currently up on the same point last year.Kathryn | I think there are two drivers. So much has happened in the last 12 months that people value the opportunity to come together and take stock. And with little prospect of the oil price bounding back, at least in the short term, the industry is adjusting to this new normal. Relationships are always key for business leaders and Flame is the best opportunity to meet the industry under one roof.
Kathryn, you produced Flame between 2002 and 2008. What have you noticed has changed about the industry since you’ve been away?
Kathryn | We’ve all got a lot older (gracefully of course!). Whilst some of the topics like security of supply and demand have remained key topics, the markets have opened up and they are less characterised by monopoly-based organisational structures. In recent years, there has been a movement towards renewable and sustainable energy which has impacted the gas markets and the recent split of E.ON and Uniper are testimony to the changes. On one hand huge steps have been taken towards implementing the internal energy market and on the other we have seen sharp downturns in power, gas and coal markets not to mention oil prices as well.
Finally, what are you most looking forward to at the event?
Heidi | I’m looking forward to John Hulsman’s ‘war games’ on the energy mix and corporate strategies in the gas business. These were specially commissioned for Flame 2016 and a war game is an experience you can’t get anywhere else. It’s amazing how much of an insight you get into how industry players think in just 90 minutes.
Kathryn | I can’t wait to hear from some of our guest speakers talking about China, oil prices, Post COP21, innovative & disruptive technologies plus how cyber secure is the energy industry?
