Oil & Gas Academy Appoints New Skills Director

03 February 2009

The oil and gas industry's global focal point for skills, learning and workforce development has appointed a new director to help steer the skills and learning development arm of the organisation as it enters its second year.

Industry expert Mike Duncan joins OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy as it looks towards building on the strong foundations laid during 2008 and achieving its vision of securing a safe and effective workforce for the UK oil and gas industry.

He joins the Academy as it undergoes a period of growth and development, expanding both employee numbers and its portfolio of global products and services. The strategy will also see former skills and learning development director Peter Crowther relocate to Kuala Lumpur to take on a new role as technical specialist supporting the Academy's international growth strategy. Sam Howard, meanwhile, has been appointed corporate communications manager based at the Academy's headquarters in Aberdeen.

Mr Duncan has 25 years experience in the oil and gas, consulting and industrial industries. An Economics and Law graduate of the University of Aberdeen, he moves to the Academy from Sodexo where held the post of business development and marketing director, responsible for growing the business across the key Europe market.

Prior to this he was commercial manager for Europe at Bristows Group.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Duncan said: “The Academy has come a long way since it was established in December 2007 and my aim is to build on this success by ensuring that we continue to provide a focal point for investment and engagement while initiating a range of programmes that will have a tangible impact on the industry.”

Academy chief executive David Doig said: “We have had a challenging and successful first year working with industry employers, training providers, educational institutions and partnership organisations to deliver against the industry's identified skills needs across all sectors, both onshore and offshore, and to ensure the learning and training supply is in place to meet them.

“While 2008 has been a year of growth, development and progression for the Academy, like the industry itself, to meet current and future challenges we are reliant on the abilities, technical skills and ambitions of our people. Mike is a respected professional with many years experience under his belt and he will play a vital part in helping shape our progress as we move forward into our second year.”