By Kiana Wilburg
In an industry where the shadows of ExxonMobil and other multinationals loom large, Sispro Inc., an all-black female quartet, has made a formidable rise to challenge the status quo of representation in the nation’s multibillion-dollar industry. This group of dynamic Guyanese women recently won two oil blocks which featured in the country’s maiden auction. Whether they find “black gold” or not, these women, by their winning applications alone, have not only broken a major glass ceiling, but have proven once again that together, women can achieve just about anything.
At the heart of this new sisterhood in Guyana’s oil industry stands Dr. Melissa Varswyk, Sispro’s Chairwoman and Executive Director. Dr. Varswyk is a distinguished figure in education, healthcare, and energy, with established leadership roles in multiple international organizations. She holds for example, the position of Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown American University (GAU), an esteemed institution with a presence in Guyana and the USA.
Also, part of her team is Abbigale Loncke, an innovative entrepreneur and the founder of the Loncke Group, a business enterprise consisting of three companies, which she heads. Her fastest-growing firm is MBW Energy Support Services, a comprehensive oil and gas service advisory that provides guidance for companies entering the Guyanese energy market.
The quartet also includes Ayodele Dalgety-Dean. She is the Founder and Director of Blossom Incorporated which works with children and families affected by sexual violence and exploitation in refugee communities. Here, her mission is to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence against children and women in society.
As for Mrs. Dee George, she is the co-founder and Director of Herdmanston Lodge, a wholly Guyanese-owned boutique hotel. An Economics major from the University of Guyana, Dee George, she recently assumed the role of President of the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana. Additionally, she serves as a Director on the Protected Areas Commission where she actively contributes to safeguarding Guyana’s natural beauty and biodiversity.
At its core, Sispro Inc. embodies the unity and potential of women from diverse walks of life, signifying what can be achieved when barriers are defied. As articulated by Dr. Varswyk, the firm is not just a business entity; it is a resonant message to every young woman that her potential is boundless.
In an exclusive interview with Guyana Standard, Chairwoman Dr. Melissa Varswyk decoded the very ethos of Sispro—a name that once stood for ‘Sisters Professional’ but has since evolved to mean ‘Sisters Production’.
Besides looking for opportunities to invest in the oil and gas sector, Dr. Varswyk said she and her team observed that no woman-led group or African Guyanese were owners of oil blocks in Guyana, the region, and possibly extending to the entire hemisphere. “This underrepresentation presented an intriguing challenge that we were eager to address,” the Chairwoman said.
She said this eagerness to compete was premised in their belief that there is power in representation which Sispro strongly believes should be reflected in the oil and gas sector. The Sispro Inc. Executive Director also said such representation by women who are in their 30s and 40s can have a profoundly inspiring impact on the national psyche, especially for youth.
“It’s essential that all Guyanese feel a sense of belonging and participation in harnessing our natural resources,” she said, hence the group embarked on submitting winning applications for the shallow water block S3 and deepwater block D2 to contribute toward their vision for inclusivity.
While the quartet itself is new to the oil and gas industry, they have made key alliances with experts that can guide their pathway to commercial discoveries.
Dr. Varswyk said a competent team has been drafted consisting of Rotimi Ogunlowo, a Petroleum Engineering Consultant. With around 35 years in the oil and gas field, Ogunlowo has dedicated 26 of those years to Mobil Producing Nigeria, an ExxonMobil affiliate. His expertise spans various disciplines, including field development, production optimization, and reservoir management, all of which he intends to channel into Sispro.
Another key expert on the team is Francis Bassey who serves as an Executive Geoscience Technical. His illustrious career includes pivotal roles at ExxonMobil, where he contributed to major oil discoveries in Nigeria and Angola and became an instrumental figure in asset coordination and strategic planning.
Other key members include Gregory Dean, Digicel Guyana’s former Head. He serves as Sispro’s Financial Advisor. Meanwhile, Candacie Brower-Tompson has been appointed Sispro’s Environmental Specialist. She is considered a key asset given her 16 plus years of experience with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and her instrumental role in developing the legal and institutional framework to manage oil and gas production in Guyana.
Overall, Dr. Varswyk said Sispro’s technical specialists, all of whom are of African descent, bring years of experience with International Oil Companies (IOCs), offering a rich repository of industry knowledge. “We also intend to subcontract most of our operations, focusing on collaboration with industry professionals known for their robust safety record and quality services,” the Chair shared.
Apart from the technical team which Sispro will rely on to spearhead its hunt for “black gold”, it will first need to ensure that it secures a US$10M signing bonus for its shallow water concession as well as a US$20M bonus for its deepwater block. Backing for this major financial undertaking is being sourced from NewHayven Merchant Bank, another black-owned and led establishment.
With the technical and financial parameters covered, Dr. Varswyk said she and her team are overwhelmed by a deep sense of accomplishment.
“We have taken incremental steps in a journey with a lot of work ahead. As an indigenous company, our success is Guyana’s success. The apprehension of embarking on new ventures often holds us back until we see others succeed. However, through our achievements, we aim to show women and girls everywhere that they can overcome the impossible by relinquishing fear,” Dr. Varswyk shared.
Along with being a beacon of hope for other women, Dr. Varswyk said Sispro intends to make meaningful changes through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programmes. She passionately related that Sispro will be a platform of advocacy for equity and inclusivity for women, children, and marginalized communities. Dr. Varswyk said this includes championing programmes that increase access to quality education and training for women, girls, and underserved communities. “By doing this, we aim to equip them with a competitive advantage in exploring opportunities in both the energy and non-energy sectors,” the Executive Director said.
With Sispro Inc., Dr. Varswyk said it is her fervent hope that its presence drives home that women in the sector are not just fulfilling a ratio of men to women representation in the sector, but also demonstrates that they can thrive and create more opportunities for growth for those to follow.
To all women reading this piece, she urged that they confront their fear of obstacles. “…Hurdles, like financial challenges, and discrimination, are likely to be in your path; but remain persistent, they will dissipate, and the opportunities will surface. Persistence surely paves the way for rewarding outcomes,” the Chairwoman concluded.
