Distinguished Lecture Series of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Business:
Panel Discussion: ESG and the future role of oil and gas in the global energy mix
Abstract:
Energy companies face a variety of new pressures and investor expectations, ranging from ESG (Environmental, Social, & Governance) concerns to energy security. This panel will identify key issues that investors are raising and how companies are addressing them. In particular, do investors know best? Should energy companies attempt to adjust their activities in areas where they lack expertise? Does the market want them to stay focused on what they're good at, or diversity into new areas? How are companies trading off societal demands for an energy transition with returns?
Panelists:
- Castlen Kennedy, Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Apache Corporation
Castlen Kennedy is an energy executive with extensive experience in public policy, industry advocacy, reputation management, investor relations, ESG engagement and community investment. Castlen currently serves as Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs for Apache Corporation, a publicly traded, global exploration and production company. In this role, she oversees Apache’s internal and external communications strategies, government affairs efforts, and community investment and engagement. Prior to her current role, she held various leadership positions in government affairs, investor relations and public relations at Apache. Before joining Apache, she served as a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy, as a business analyst at S&B Infrastructure, and as a financial analyst on the commodities desks at RWE Americas and Enron Corporation. Castlen currently serves as the President of The Texas Lyceum, a leadership organization committed to civil discourse on issues important to the future of Texas. She also serves on the Advisory Council of the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin and as an advisor to the Energy and Earth Resources Program at the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. She serves as a board member for the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA) and as a board member for Springboard, a nonprofit dedicated to the education of young girls in Egypt. In partnership with Apache Corporation, Springboard has built 201 schools for girls across the country. Castlen holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, a master's degree in public affairs and a master's degree in energy and earth resources all from The University of Texas at Austin.
- Leslie Beyer, CEO, The Energy Workforce & Technology Council in Houston, Texas
Leslie Beyer is CEO of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council in Houston, Texas. Working with the Council’s Board of Directors, she serves as primary advocate for the energy services sector and the key role it plays in providing reliable, affordable, cleaner energy to the world. Highlights of Beyer’s career include 15 years in Washington, D.C. serving in the U.S. Senate, multiple presidential campaigns, The White House - Executive Office of the President, U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Most recently, Beyer served as Director, Member and Board Relations with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), collaborating with NAM member companies on targeted priority legislative issues and advocacy efforts, primarily in the energy industry. Beyer holds a BA in Latin American Studies and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. She is an Independent Director on the Board of Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. in Midland, TX, serving on the Audit, ESG and Compensation Committees. She also serves on the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Board and World Oil’s Editorial Advisory Board. She is a former Independent Director at Pemex Procurement International (PPI) and served on the U.S. International Trade Administration’s U.S.-Mexico Energy Business Council.