Cany Jobe is the Director of Exploration at Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), where she shapes upstream strategy and advises government on exploration activities. She oversees GNPC’s technical collaborations and commercial partnerships with international energy companies, across traditional and emerging energy sectors. Her focus lies in advancing high-impact, transformational energy initiatives for GNPC, The Gambia and the wider West African region. Beyond GNPC, Cany actively collaborates with regional institutions and international development partners to promote inclusive energy access. She was engaged by the ECOWAS Commission as a national consultant to help shape Gambia’s LPG strategy—an initiative aimed at providing cleaner, safer, and more affordable cooking energy options, while supporting climate resilience. She holds a Master of Engineering degree in Oil & Gas from the University of Western Australia, an Accredited Master of Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University and a B. Sc in Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering from National Taipei University of Technology. Cany’s career has taken her from rig floors to corporate boardrooms across Asia, Australia, West Africa and America. Early in her career, she worked in technical roles with China Petroleum Corporation in Taiwan, PDVSA in Venezuela, and contributed to a flagship INTECSEA–UWA gas project in Australia focused on the offshore Browse Basin’s 15+ TCF gas reserves. Having lived and worked across five continents, Cany is known for her ability to connect across cultures and disciplines. A cultural bridge-builder and compelling communicator, she is a passionate advocate for gender equity, STEM education, sustainable development, and pan-African solutions, regularly sharing her insights on global panels and summits. Her story has been profiled by NBC Washington, Africa Report, Jeune Afrique, Major Waves Energy Report, and Africa Intelligence. She is listed in Choiseul Africa’s 2025 Top 100 African Economic Decision Makers Under 40 developed by Forbes Africa, Institut Choiseul, and Roland Berger. She previously featured on Africa Oil Week and Lean-In Equity’s Pan African Power List of 50 Female Energy Leaders (2021), honored by PETAN & SAIPEC in Nigeria as a Pioneer Leading Woman in Energy (2022), and named among 100 Outstanding Female Executives and Africa’s Top 100 Career Women (2022). In 2023, she was recognized as a National STEM ICON in The Gambia. Outside of her professional pursuits, Cany contributes to advisory roles in non-profit and community-led initiatives. She is a devoted wife, mother of two, and lifelong learner, driven by purpose, equity, and curiosity.