In 2020, the TWA Editorial Board launched a new concept under the TWA banner called the "TWA Energy Influencers: Young Professionals Who Energize Our Industry.” Since then, 62 young professionals (YP) have received the distinction of being named a TWA Energy Influencer.
Hear from five TWA Energy Influencers, Nihal Darraj (2024), Sayanima Kisku (2022), Ismaila Ibrahim (2021), Olawale Ajayi (2022), and Gabrijel Grubac (2023).
How has winning this award impacted your career or professional opportunities?
Nihal Darraj (ND): Winning the TWA Energy Influencer award has been both humbling and empowering. It opened doors to new collaborations and leadership opportunities I hadn’t anticipated. People suddenly see your voice as carrying weight, which gives you a platform to champion the causes you're passionate about—like carbon capture and storage (CCS), decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors, and empowering young professionals in energy. I've been asked to mentor more young engineers and teach some online CCS webinars for SPE chapters globally. So yes, it's been a catalyst—one that amplified both my professional reach and my responsibility.
Sayanima Kisku (SK): Being named a TWA Energy Influencer in 2022 immediately boosted my visibility within the energy sector. The announcement, along with the subsequent webinar on subsurface, brought me into the spotlight. I quickly garnered attention from industry leaders, peers, and potential collaborators.
The recognition enhanced my credibility as a trusted expert in my field. That year, I was scheduled to take a sabbatical to pursue a master’s degree in mature field management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Upon my return to India, I was entrusted with the responsibility of leading a team to introduce a new technology to my (former) organization. Our team’s recommendation was approved by the management, and it promised not only to impact the organization but also to shape the country’s energy landscape in the future.
By the end of 2023, when I was exploring new opportunities in my career, being recognized as a TWA Energy Influencer made me more appealing to prospective employers. It paved the way for new networking opportunities, bolstered my professional reputation, and positioned me as a thought leader in the sector. The recognition accelerated my career progression and led to exciting advancements and responsibilities.
Ismaila Ibrahim (II): Winning this award has significantly improved my professional profile within the energy sector. It has opened doors to new strategic collaborations, speaking engagements, and mentorship opportunities. The recognition validated my contributions to the industry and positioned me as a trusted voice in the global energy space, particularly in areas of innovation, leadership, and cross-continental partnerships.
Olawale Ajayi (OA): Winning the TWA Energy Influencer award in 2022 was both affirming and empowering. It amplified my visibility within the global SPE community and beyond, opening doors to new collaborations, invitations to contribute to technical and leadership conversations, and deeper engagement across regional and international platforms. It also reinforced my passion for mentoring and investing in the growth of emerging professionals, a core part of my professional philosophy.
Gabrijel Grubac (GG): The TWA Energy Influencer award has inadvertently shown my commitment to education and support in the energy world to students and young professionals to the wider circle within my current employment. We often go through life doing what we love and letting the work speak for itself, and the TWA award has enabled that for me. A non-goal driven one, but a very valued exposure that I appreciate.
C. Susan Howes has recommended having an “awards nomination posse,” a committee of four to five people that works to match candidates with the awards that best suit them. What advice do you have for YPs to help them connect and form a nominations posse for awards like the TWA Energy Influencer award and other SPE awards?
ND: I love the idea of a "nomination posse"—it sounds like a support squad with ambition! For YPs, the first step is intentional networking. Find peers and mentors who see you—not just your job title, but your impact. Stay engaged in SPE events, serve on committees, volunteer for outreach. That's where genuine professional relationships form.
My advice: Be visible, be vocal, and be supportive of others first. Nominate your peers, cheer them on, and you’ll find that positivity reflected back. Also, don’t hesitate to ask—people want to support emerging leaders, but they need to know what you're up to. A posse isn't just about nominations, it's about mutual growth and accountability.
SK: Building a strong nominations posse can be a game-changer for YPs aiming for recognition like the TWA Energy Influencer or other SPE awards. Here's my advice:
- Identify key supporters: When I was considering submitting my nomination for the TWA Energy Influencer award, I followed a well thought out plan. I aimed to gather 360-degree feedback, so I reached out to mentors, colleagues, mentees, and industry leaders who were familiar with my achievements and potential. Their insights and endorsements proved invaluable and ultimately contributed to a successful nomination. A similar approach by the posse will make their endorsement and nomination compelling.
- Highlight shared goals: When forming your committee, ensure members understand the objective of the nomination and share a common vision to champion the purpose of identifying a TWA Energy Influencer for that year.
- Collaborate strategically: I suggest that a geographic section or a technical section with diverse perspectives would make an effective posse.
- Inclusion: Since 2022, individuals from around the world have contacted me for assistance in preparing their nominations. Unfortunately, the number of female YPs has been disappointingly low. I find it challenging to understand the reasons behind this. Perhaps the posse could play a role in promoting better gender inclusion.
A strong posse amplifies a candidate’s visibility, validates their contributions, and ensures a persuasive nomination. It's teamwork at its finest!
II: It is a brilliant idea and very empowering—particularly for YPs navigating the early stages of their careers. My main advice is to be intentional about building your network, give before you ask, form like-minded and proactive circles, seek mentorship and mentor someone at your level, stay visible, and keep learning about the industry.
OA: Building an “awards nomination posse” starts with authentic engagement. I advise YPs to intentionally cultivate relationships across and outside their immediate teams—colleagues, mentors, past collaborators, and even mentees. Volunteering in SPE committees and section boards is a great way to demonstrate impact and build those connections organically. Documenting achievements, however small, and being proactive in nominating others creates a positive feedback loop where people are inspired to also nominate you in return.
GG: Always go back to the basics. Answer the why someone deserves it, and if you can think of examples in less than 5 seconds, you have the answer. Creating different groups that could locally pinpoint awards is a great idea because the YPs across the world are many and we need local focus for global impact. My advice to YPs is be:
- Create a local committee to review the tremendous work of YPs.
- Understand the why and pinpoint the passion behind the nominations.
- Nominate those deserving and expand the circle by keeping the inspiration ongoing in local chapters.
What does winning the TWA Energy Influencer award mean to you?
ND: To me, it’s more than a title—it’s a validation that the nontraditional paths in energy matter. It celebrates influence that comes not just from publications and patents, but from mentorship, advocacy, and inclusion. It means that people noticed the quiet work: late nights of working on supporting YP programs, pushing students to excel in technical spaces, and standing up for sustainable transitions in oil and gas.
The award tells every young person that you don't have to fit a mold to make a mark. Influence isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the hard questions, showing up authentically, and lifting others as you rise.
SK: Winning the TWA Energy Influencer award in 2022 amplified my voice and influence in shaping discussions surrounding energy. I became involved in a podcast titled “Future of Energy,” where we worked to demystify the energy transition and address questions from individuals outside the industry.
The award paved the way for collaborations and significantly enhanced my visibility within the industry. Before long, universities and technical societies began reaching out to me, inviting me to share my professional and personal experiences through webinars and in-person events. Although nearly 3 years have passed since receiving the award, I remain actively engaged with both industry and academia, contributing through knowledge-sharing initiatives.
My passion for mentoring flourished within a few years of becoming a YP. The experience brings a profound sense of fulfillment, allowing me to play a role in shaping the next generation of talent. On an industry level, mentorship fosters a culture of collaboration, diversity, and growth, ensuring that skills and experiences are effectively passed down. I had been a registered mentor through the SPE eMentoring program, and after receiving the award, I noticed a significant increase in interest from those seeking my guidance. Personally, this was an incredibly rewarding experience.
II: The award holds deep personal and professional significance and fulfillment to me. It represents a recognition of my commitment to driving innovation, knowledge sharing, mentorship and inclusive growth within the energy sector. More than just an individual accolade, it affirms the value of amplifying diverse voices, mentoring emerging talent, and fostering cross-border collaboration. It is both an honor and a responsibility, one that continues to inspire me to lead with purpose and contribute meaningfully to the future of global energy.
OA: The award was a meaningful recognition of years of intentional service, knowledge-sharing, and leadership. For me, it symbolized the value of consistent contribution, especially in creating impact at the grassroots level through initiatives like the SPE Lagos Section “Own-a-Scholarship” scheme, local, and regional YP engagements. It remains a reminder to continue shaping spaces where others, especially YPs, can thrive.
GG: I often wondered what being an Influencer really meant and while this can be a very subjective definition, I have come up with mine. Someone that makes you see opportunity in energy where it seems difficult to be, whether professional or personal.
The TWA Energy Influencer award meant a lot personally and on a professional level where my contributions were acknowledged and supported. At the end of the day, it is not the award, but the people that stood behind believing I deserved it.
TWA recently opened the nominations for the 2025 TWA Energy Influencers. Click here to nominate a YP in the oil and gas industry (under the age of 35) who has displayed excellence and integrity, or demonstrated innovation, social responsibility, sustainability, and passion for safety. Nominations are open until 1 July.
