Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE

تحت رعاية صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان، رئيس دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة

Supported by

Ellis Renforth

President, Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa

Wood

Ellis
Ellis

Ellis assumed the role of President of Operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Wood in 2022, following three years as Senior Vice President of the company’s upstream business in UK and Europe. Based in the UAE, Ellis leads a team of more than 7,000, supporting operations, decarbonisation and asset optimisation across the region.

A chartered engineer with more than 20 years of experience, Ellis has held several senior leadership roles within the oil and gas industry, including eight years with Aker Solutions as Operations Manager. Latterly, in his three years with CNOOC International as Senior Project Manager, he supported the subsea development for the largest oil discovery in the UK North Sea of the past two decades.

Committed to propelling growth safely and sustainably across EMEA, Ellis is focused on delivering exceptional results through the development and deployment of integrated and smart operations solutions across a broad range of end-markets, including oil, gas, new energies, life sciences, and the circular economy.

Session Overview
Tuesday, 4 November
16:40
Decarbonisation ICC Hall B 16:40 - 17:20
Industrial competitiveness: balancing energy security, sustainability and affordability

Europe’s Clean Industrial Deal marks a pivotal shift in aligning climate ambition with industrial competitiveness, aiming to decarbonise the economy while strengthening strategic sectors such as steel, chemicals, and clean tech. With a target of a 90% emissions reduction by 2040, the Deal prioritises investment in low-carbon manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and circular economy solutions, while keeping affordability and reliable power at the core of the transition. The proposed €480 billion annual investment seeks to modernise grids, drive innovation, and lower production costs through reforms in procurement and resource efficiency. Although initiated in the EU, the Deal offers a blueprint for the Global South and other regions balancing sustainability with industrial resilience. Its global implications - from clean product standards to tightening emissions expectations- signal a future where businesses and industries must move beyond viewing climate ambition as a trade-off to competitiveness, harnessing all energy sources, technologies, and innovations to thrive.

Attendee Insights:

Explore how Europe's industrial strategy is influencing global trade, investment, and energy priorities, and learn how operators are adapting to balance cost, carbon, and competitiveness in an evolving policy landscape. 

Monday, 4 November
13:00
Decarbonisation Conference Decarbonisation Theatre 13:00 - 14:00
View Session
Role of policy and regulation in ending routine flaring and achieving near zero methane emissions

Flaring operations contribute significantly to climate change by releasing both carbon and methane into the atmosphere. However, by implementing robust policies and regulations that mandate monitoring, reporting, and abatement of emissions, countries can effectively eliminate routine flaring, minimise non-routine flaring, and achieve near zero methane operations. This not only helps combat climate change but also creates opportunities to bolster energy supply by utilising the natural gas that would otherwise have been flared, whether for on-site power generation or sale on the market. Addressing flaring and methane in tandem is essential to attain sustainable and energy-efficient operations.

Attendee insights:

This session will explore policy and regulation strategies aimed at ending routine flaring and mitigating methane emissions as well as the implementation strategies needed to implement them.

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