Session Two: Executive Leadership Panel - Partnering for First Oil

19 Aug 2026
Omatako Room
Strategic Conference

This session aims to emphasise practical strategies to accelerate project delivery while maintaining value for all parties. Achieving first oil requires close collaboration across stakeholders. This session focuses on:

  • Effective partnership models between government, operators and investors
  • Lessons learned from other emerging hydrocarbon provinces
  • Aligning timelines, expectations and risk-sharing mechanisms
Chairperson
Elizabeth Rogo
Elizabeth Rogo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer - Tsavo Oilfield Services
Speakers
Mahesh Swaminathan
Mahesh Swaminathan, Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities and Managing Director, McDermott Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd
Terry Gebhardt
Terry Gebhardt, Vice President Exploration - Woodside Energy
Angela Opoku Afonope
Angela Opoku Afonope, Lead Geologist and Head of E&A - GNPC Exploration and Production Limited Company (Explorco)
Festus Hangula
Festus Hangula, Executive Director - NAMPOA
Charles Mbeha
Charles Mbeha, Deputy Director - Petroleum Legal, Compliance and Local Content, Upstream Petroleum Unit, Office of The President.
Rewaldo Quest
Rewaldo Quest, Upstream Legal Advisor - National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR)

Sponsored by:

McDermott Sponsor