SPE professional sections exist across Australia and Indonesia but there have never been sufficient professionals and broad enough organizational diversity to establish a section in Timor-Leste, the youngest nation in Asia, founded in May 2002. Consequently, there had never been an initiative to establish a student chapter in Timor-Leste because of the default assumption that a "local” professional section would be necessary to support it. For example, the SPE Java Section in Jakarta, Indonesia, supports 12 SPE student chapters across Java, while the SPE Western Australia (WA) Section supports three SPE student chapters at universities in the greater Perth area.
In 2021, we discovered that four universities in Dili taught courses in petroleum and geological sciences. Since students are the future of our industry, and those in Timor-Leste have particularly limited job opportunities, WA Section proposed to SPE International and Asia Pacific regional directors that it is willing to support a student chapter in Timor-Leste, with respect to career guidance, financial assistance, and connectivity to potential employment.
SPE subsequently gave approval for two exceptions to standard policy: WA Section could be the parent for any new student chapter in Timor-Leste (i.e., in another country almost 3000 km away), and the new chapter could include students from multiple universities, at least initially until it gains some momentum (since it would be extremely difficult to support the establishment of multiple new chapters simultaneously).
In mid-2022, Steve McBride, chair of SPE WA Section, met with H.E. Dr. Victor da Conceição Soares, Minister of Petroleum & Minerals, and H.E. Excellency Ms. Inês Maria de Almeida, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Australia, in Perth, who both expressed their firm support for this initiative. Subsequently in October 2022, McBride embarked on a fact-finding mission to Timor-Leste, delivering seminars on SPE to approximately 600 students in total at the four universities in Dili (DIT, UNTL, UNDIL, and UNITAL) and in addition, having very positive meetings with the Minister of Petroleum & Minerals as well as the NOC, regulator, and Institute of Petroleum and Geology.
As a result, almost 400 students signed up to SPE, and we then assisted the selected chapter president to navigate through the nomination process for both DIT and UNTL. The chapter was formally established by SPE International in February 2023. (The students are still working on the nominations for UNITAL and UNDIL). SPE WA also established a dedicated Timor-Leste fund and successfully attracted 11 sponsors.
From the outset, the excitement in Timor-Leste surrounding SPE was palpable. The novel concept of being a student member of a globally recognized energy society which, besides other advantages, might enhance the potential opportunities for employment, was clearly recognized as a significant benefit. Subsequently it had always been our vision to launch the ceremony with a degree of fanfare, although not to the heights that was ultimately realized.
Only a few days prior to the ceremony, following a positive meeting in Dili, H.E. Dr. Victor da Conceicao Soares had agreed to attend in the morning. However, while the Hon. Consul to Western Australia had kept the president’s office fully informed of our initiative and plans for months in advance, it was not actually until the eve of the event that we received confirmation that H.E. Dr. José M. Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Laureate, would also attend the chapter launch ceremony.
Scarcely believable to all of us, but simultaneously underscoring the importance of what we had achieved to date.
SPE International was represented by 2022 SPE President Kamel Ben-Naceur, SPE Asia Pacific Regional Director Neil Kavanagh, and Justin Kijam, Regional Manager Member Programs and Strategic Initiatives.
The greatest concern was trying to ensure that we did not exceed (by much) the 450-person capacity of the beautiful auditorium at the Hera campus of National University of Timor-Lorosa'e (UNTL), funded by the Japanese Government and opened in 2019. Besides 70+ VIPs plus the various entourages, the number of SPE student members stood at 466 in the chapter (from DIT and UNTL) plus another 100+ student members from UNITAL and UNDIL. Not all student members were able to attend.
It was a memorable moment when McBride introduced the President of Timor-Leste to Inersia Crijodia do Carmo Soares, inaugural president of the SPE Timor-Leste Student Chapter. Do Carmo Soares and nine SPE student members were in traditional Timorese dress and formed a guard of honor on the stairs to the auditorium; later, mid-morning, they performed a Timorese dance after months of rehearsal. The president of Timor-Leste, a national hero, entered the auditorium to an immense round of applause, and shortly thereafter the UNTL choir led the audience of over 500 in singing the national anthem.
McBride gave an introductory speech explaining the background and objectives of SPE and the chapter: namely to provide much-needed guidance, financial support, and connectivity to industry in Australia and beyond via the SPE global network. Quarterly technical meetings will be held in Dili for the students and annual scholarships awarded to Timor-Leste commencing with 12 in June 2023, which will include a 6-day trip to Perth. Most of the students have never been overseas before.
Speeches by da Conceicao Soares, and the president followed, the latter initially expressing some concern at the huge number of petroleum students in Timor-Leste, but later emphasizing just how important energy was to the nation, and hence also stressing that the students represented a vital foundation for the future.
Do Carmo Soares spoke with passion and gusto ending with “Viva Timor-Leste, Viva SPE”, and then Ben-Naceur and Kavanaugh gave informative speeches on SPE global and regional perspectives, respectively. Kevin Martins, vice president of the student chapter, wrapped up the morning agenda by singing a song that he had composed specially for the launch.
We were further delighted that the president and the minister stayed to have lunch with us, engaging in interesting conversation about future energy developments within the country.
Overall, their attendance for 3–4 hours represented a major coup for everyone associated with this event, especially the students, and also a huge endorsement of SPE WA objectives for this initiative. Both Ramos-Horta and da Conceicao Soares expressed appreciation and complimentary words about SPE on their departure. Several newspapers and one of the national TV channels covered the event. In truth, to be frank, this was way beyond our expectations—a proud, emotional, and historic occasion for both SPE and Timor-Leste.
