Serica Energy and Ithaca Energy executives named co-chairs of SPE Offshore Europe 2027 conference in Aberdeen
AI-madeTwo senior North Sea executives have been appointed to lead SPE Offshore Europe 2027. David Latin, chair of Serica Energy, and Yaniv Friedman, executive chairman of Ithaca Energy, will serve as co-chairs of the conference and its executive committee. The event is scheduled for 7–9 September 2027 at P&J Live in Aberdeen.
Two North Sea executives appointed to lead OE27
These appointments put two of the North Sea’s most recognizable figures in charge of one of Europe’s biggest offshore energy events. Latin chairs Serica Energy, an independent oil and gas company with significant North Sea operations. Friedman leads Ithaca Energy as executive chairman — another major operator in the same waters. Both will chair the conference and its executive committee, giving them direct say over the event’s direction and agenda.
SPE Offshore Europe is organized by The Offshore Europe Partnership, a joint venture between RX Global — also known as Reed Exhibitions — and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. The 2027 edition runs from 7 to 9 September at P&J Live in Aberdeen.
Supply disruptions, shifting alliances, and price swings have pushed energy security higher up the political and economic agenda than it was just a few years ago.
Why these appointments come at a critical moment for the North Sea
The North Sea’s energy sector is going through a tough stretch. Since the last SPE Offshore Europe in 2025, fiscal and regulatory uncertainty has kept weighing on long-term offshore investment — with real consequences: slower capital commitments, pressure on jobs, and strain across the sector’s skills base.
Geopolitical volatility has made things considerably more complicated. Supply disruptions, shifting alliances, and price swings have pushed energy security higher up the political and economic agenda than it was just a few years ago.
Renewables keep growing their share of the energy mix. The transition isn’t some distant prospect — it’s already reshaping investment priorities and policy conversations. Oil and gas remain a necessary part of the energy system, though, expected to stay relevant for decades alongside cleaner alternatives.
Both co-chairs run companies with real operational stakes in the North Sea. When Latin and Friedman talk about investment conditions or energy policy, they’re not speaking in the abstract — they’re describing the environment their own businesses navigate every day.
Co-chairs outline priorities for the 2027 event
Latin has been straightforward about his position on domestic production. He argues that growing North Sea oil and gas output and expanding renewables aren’t competing goals — they’re complementary ones. Homegrown production, in his view, delivers jobs, supports local economies, and carries a lower carbon footprint than importing energy from elsewhere.
“It has never been clearer why we should choose to increase all North Sea energy sources,” Latin said. He sees OE27 as a chance for the industry to come together and map out the opportunities to do exactly that.
Friedman’s message is equally direct. The UK North Sea has spent too long in a holding pattern, he says, and fiscal and regulatory instability has done real damage to long-term investment. His call is for collective industry advocacy — bringing voices together to tell what he describes as a “powerful UK North Sea story” to policymakers and investors.
Energy security sits at the top of both co-chairs’ priority lists. Friedman frames it as an issue affecting everyone, not just the industry — especially during periods of significant global uncertainty. OE27 is positioned as a platform to push that message and make the case for a clear, investable path forward.
Technical programme and next steps
The technical side of OE27 will be co-chaired by Irene Brekne Hamre, managing director of North Sea GeoZone at Baker Hughes, and Edna Michelle Bisso Bi Mba, head of reservoir services at Harbour Energy. Both bring solid operational and technical depth to the role.
The programme itself is being restructured. Organizers plan to accommodate more papers and sessions than previous editions — a sign that OE27’s scope is expanding considerably. Executive and technical committee members are expected to be announced shortly, with the conference theme and specific topics being agreed on now, ahead of the call for paper proposals launching in August 2026.
Background: SPE Offshore Europe’s role in the industry
SPE Offshore Europe has been running since 1973, making it one of the longest-standing offshore energy conferences in Europe. Over more than five decades, it’s grown into one of the largest events of its kind on the continent.
The conference draws a broad mix of participants — industry leaders, technical experts, policymakers — all focused on the future of Europe’s offshore energy sector. It functions as both a technical forum and a space for higher-level policy and investment dialogue. Organized jointly by RX Global and the Society of Petroleum Engineers, it’s historically been a key moment for the North Sea industry to take stock, share knowledge, and signal direction.
With Latin and Friedman now confirmed as co-chairs, OE27 is shaping up as a significant edition. The conference runs 7–9 September 2027 at P&J Live in Aberdeen. The call for paper proposals opens in August 2026, with committee announcements expected in the near term.
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