The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) has unveiled its 2025 Emerging Leaders class. The prestigious program recognizes young professionals with less than 10 years of experience in the energy industry who have demonstrated exceptional talent, commitment, and promise as future leaders in the offshore energy sector.
Each recipient of the Emerging Leaders award is a member of an OTC sponsoring, endorsing, or supporting organization and selected by the previous year’s Emerging Leaders.
“Our Emerging Leaders are clear representations of the talent and excellence that will define the next generation of the offshore industry. We’re proud to recognize the contributions of these young professionals and remain eager spectators to the many future accomplishments they will undoubtedly achieve,” Alex Martinez, chair of the OTC Board said.
The following honorees will be recognized in a special ceremony in the Energy Evolution Exchange Theater and Lounge during OTC on 6 May 2025 at NRG Center, Houston.
2025 Emerging Leaders
- Ellen Reat Wersan, exploration geoscientist, Chevron, AAPG
- Yingda Lu, assistant professor, petroleum and geosystems engineering department, The University of Texas at Austin, AlChE
- Olusola Komolafe, project engineer, Geosyntec Consultants Inc., ASCE
- Brooke Polk, vice president-accreditation operations, International Association of Drilling Contractors, IADC
- Gabriel Correa Perocco, project manager, MODEC do Brasil, IBP
- Zheng Fan, assistant professor, University of Houston, IEEE-OES
- Sridhar Krishnamoorthy, senior research fellow, PhD research scholar, Indian Institute of Technology–Madras, Chennai, India, MTS
- Daniel Toerner, technical sales engineer, Bardex Corp., SNAME
- Olawale Ajayi, reservoir engineer, NNPC Ltd., SPE
- Scott Pisarik, lead materials and corrosion engineer, Chevron, TMS
“This year’s leaders have a clear passion for the industry, are eager to play a role in its future, and serve as inspiration to others through their exemplary commitment to excellence and pursuit of new horizons,” Martinez said.