The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GEC&SCE), scheduled for February 18 to 21, 2025, is committed to enhancing youth participation in the oil and gas sector.
Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Kiana Wilburg emphasized that the event will prioritize the inclusion of young people, stating, “We have a number of key initiatives that our team is diligently working on to ensure greater involvement not only from members of the business community here and abroad, but also from our young Guyanese—the next generation.”
One notable initiative is the conference’s inaugural Essay Competition, which offers a grand prize of a US$10,000 scholarship for Category 3: Form 5 and CAPE students. Wilburg expressed pride in this initiative, highlighting its purpose: “This demonstrates our genuine intent to engage youth meaningfully in the modern Guyana we aim to build. We have asked students to share their thoughts on how they would utilize oil revenues to ensure a sustainable future and to explore ways young people can contribute to building a better Guyana.”
In light of the increasing impacts of climate change, participants are also encouraged to discuss essential investments that Guyana should make to protect its citizens and secure its economic future.
These topics aim to help students develop critical thinking skills and to articulate their role in shaping a 21st-century Guyana. Winners will be awarded on the first day of the conference, February 18, 2025, in the presence of heads of state and key dignitaries, she noted.
Additionally, this initiative builds upon the conference’s established youth engagement forum, scheduled for the last day of the event, where students from various schools will gather to gain insights into career development and Guyana’s growth trajectory.
“We are excited to expand on the success of this exercise. We expect to continue leading discussions on critical issues such as the need for increased climate-resilient infrastructure in the region, achieving renewable energy targets, advancing women in leadership, ensuring supply chain optimization, and exploring the challenges and solutions related to digital transformation.”
