Darryl Willis

As Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Energy Industry, Darryl Willis leads the core teams driving digital transformation for organizations within the power & utilities, oil & gas, and mining sectors. Willis blends his technical and strategic acumen with his deep knowledge of the global energy sector to lead the global Microsoft team enabling the energy transition, reducing carbon emissions and intelligently fulfilling growing demand with new renewable sources.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Willis was Vice President of Oil, Gas and Energy at Google Cloud. His other past roles include president and CEO of BP Angola; head of Deepwater Horizon claims and spokesperson for BP; and senior vice president and deputy head of Subsurface for BP. Willis is passionate about empowering customers, partners, governments and investors to drive the transition to clean power, while providing equal access to all. Willis is an advocate for energy startups, supporting and fostering innovation in the field to enable next generation leaders to solve for the energy transition. Since joining Microsoft in 2019 Willis has grown the Microsoft Energy Industry organization to become a global leader in driving digital transformation in the energy sector.

Willis holds an MS in business from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, an MS in geology and geophysics from the University of New Orleans, and a BS in chemistry and literature from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He resides in the New Orleans area.

Session Overview

Tuesday, 5 November

All Sessions

15:30

ADNOC HSE Panel Conference Room A 15:30 - 16:30

View Session

Executive Leadership: Shaping the Future of HSE in an Ever-Changing Energy Landscape

In today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, fostering a robust Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) culture has shifted from a regulatory necessity to a strategic imperative. As operators, suppliers, regulators and investors navigate through the complexities of the energy transition, they face new exposures and operational challenges that demand an adaptative and forward-thinking approach to HSE management. This Strategic Executive panel will feature a broad range of leaders across the energy and technology sectors, as well as prominent industry regulators. The panel will explore the critical role of executive leadership and cross-sector collaboration in transforming organizational cultures, while ensuring that safety, environmental stewardship and sustainability are embedded at the heart of corporate strategies.

Attendees will gain insights into the evolving responsibilities of leadership in establishing proactive assurance mechanisms, embedding risk management into growth strategies, and developing advanced technologies and AI to promote workforce well-being and safeguard long-term value.

Attendees Insights:

The role of leaders in influencing organizational HSE priorities and long-term resilience
Practical strategies for integrating HSE culture within evolving energy systems and innovative AI technologies
Ensuring robust governance frameworks to shape HSE policy and practice
Balancing shareholder expectations with HSE imperatives, especially in a low-carbon future
The symbiotic relationship between financial performance and a strong HSE culture