From October 21 to 23, 2024, meetings of the governing bodies of WPC Energy took place in Washington, D.C. (USA), with the participation of the Kazakhstan National Committee.
Mr. Jambulat Sarsenov, Vice President of WPC Energy, delivered a report at the WPC Energy Council and Executive Committee meetings. Mr. Bulat Zakirov, Deputy Chairman of JSC "NC "KazMunayGas", also participated in WPC Energy Congress Program Committee's work.
In his speeches, Mr. Jambulat Sarsenov presented key initiatives aimed at strengthening WPC Energy's role in promoting gender equality, youth support, and inclusivity in the energy sector. He emphasized that diversification and inclusivity are playing an increasingly important role in the development of the industry, fostering innovation and more efficient solutions.
Mr. Sarsenov paid special attention to gender equality, highlighting the importance of women's participation in major energy projects. He announced the launch of a unique initiative, Women10x, aimed at eliminating systemic barriers for women and creating a digital ecosystem for the exchange of experiences and knowledge among industry participants.
Additionally, Mr. Sarsenov emphasized the importance of youth support as a key factor in transforming the energy sector and transitioning to sustainable development. His speech also mentioned the Summer School held under the auspices of WPC Energy in August this year at the Kazakhstan-British Technical University, and he proposed allocating part of the WPC Energy Legacy Fund to support youth projects.
Mr. Bulat Zakirov, in turn, actively participated in discussions regarding the structure and key components of the program for the 25th WPC Energy Congress, which will be held in Riyadh in 2026. He also noted that this year, the Kazakhstan National Committee submitted the largest number of applications for nominations to participate in the technical program of the Congress-2026.
The general proposals from the Kazakhstan representatives were accepted and approved by the Council and committees for implementation, demonstrating the strengthening of Kazakhstan's position as a significant participant in WPC Energy.
Following the meeting of the Council, Ms. Burcu Gunal, WPC Energy Vice President for Finance, was elected as the new Director General of WPC Energy starting in 2025.
Ms. Burcu Gunal will succeed Dr. Pierce Riemer, who has led the organization since 1999. Dr. Riemer is due to retire in March 2025 and will support this transition during a three-month handover period.
