By Megan Rule | Staff Writer
CERAWeek by IHS Markit is proving why it is ranked among the top five corporate leader conferences in the world with big name speakers that will provide new insights and dialogue to the future of energy.
“Overall, this is a really unique event in terms of its scope and reverence,” Jeff Marn, senior manager for corporate communications at IHS Markit, said. “It’s a unique gathering where we’re going to have probably nearly 3,000 delegates from more than 60 countries attending.”
Marn said CERAWEEK has been called the “DAVOS of energy for its international scope and the preeminence of the stage,” DAVOS being an economic forum held every year that hosts prominent CEOs.
The conference will be held Monday through March 10 at the Hilton Americas in Houston.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the Senate Majority Whip, will join Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a discussion led by Dr. Daniel Yergin, IHS Markit vice chairman and conference chair, on the future of U.S. energy policy. The dialogue is on the agenda for 9:35 a.m. on March 10 and is titled “‘What’s Ahead in Washington?”
“We are honored to be joined by Senators Cornyn and Murkowski at CERAWeek 2017,” Yergin said in a press release. “Their experience and leadership across important cross sections of public policy will be an important source of insight at a time of important transition, both in terms of a new U.S. presidential administration as well as the broader energy world.”
Marn said the conference holds a strong global presence featuring attendees from over 60 countries, energy administrators from over a dozen countries, government officials, CEOs and senior executives from major oil and gas companies, power companies, renewable energy companies and leading technology and financial firms. Marn described CERAWeek as a unique and rare opportunity to get high-level insight from a broad spectrum of policy and industries.
“I want to stress the global nature of the conference,” Marn said. “It’s reflected in just about everything from the speaking program to the agenda to the various officials and minsters from a variety of countries.”
Marn said last year’s CERAWeek hosted both the senators, and their session was so well-received that IHS Markit approached them to do something similar this year. This is the 36th CERAWeek to take place and continue to discuss energy future, according to the CERAWeek website. Marn said he is proud that the conference is recognized as a preeminent energy conference and is looking forward to the insights they offer this year.
“The real purpose of [the senators’] dialogue is what’s ahead in Washington and really what the purpose is there,” Marn said. “This is a rare opportunity for us to have insights of two extremely respected senators on where they see U.S. energy policy going, where the agenda goes with the new administration, priorities and, overall, the outlook for the energy as U.S. policy sees it.”
Marn said these two speakers were selected in particular because they are both highly respected in their areas. The speakers’ unique position to discuss the future of energy while the United States is in a point of transition will be able to contribute to this year’s theme of transition. The speakers will be able to contribute to the energy policy moving forward by discussing what the future energy world will look like with a new presidential administration, Marn said.
“Also, it goes without saying that Senator Cornyn is a member of the senate leadership as well as being from Texas,” Marn said. “One of the reasons we host the event in Houston is because it really is a global center for the energy industry. As a representative of the state in addition to his senate leadership, we are thrilled to have him. Murkowski is a long-standing member and now current chair of the senate energy committee. Her deep involvement in energy issues is something we’re pleased to have on our program.”
