Shell Oil President Marvin Odum to Keynote Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell Oil Company President Marvin Odum will deliver the keynote address at the 2012 Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum "Fuel Fight: Environment Meets Economics"  to be held on Thursday, November 29, in New York City, Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemical and metals information provider and host of the event, announced today.

"We are pleased to have Marvin Odum as this year's keynote speaker," said Larry Neal, president of Platts.  "Mr. Odum is a known champion of environmental best practices in on- and offshore oil and gas development and a respected advocate of the industry innovations necessary to meet the world's ever-growing energy needs."

The agenda for Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum, now in its sixth year, includes the keynote address and two roundtable discussions: "The Technology Battle" and "Global Face-Off: Governments Lock Horns with Industry."

Odum and the Forum's distinguished speakers will discuss the challenges and vulnerabilities of the world's energy systems, including the U.S. shale boom and nuclear safety.  They will also explore what's at stake as traditional energy sources and still less scalable renewables battle for private sector and government funding.

"More than ever before, we will need to think about the business of energy as only one part of a complex global system of interconnected economic, technical and societal challenges," Odum said.  "And succeeding in our business will mean coming up with integrated and innovative solutions and partners to tackle those challenges."

Odum has been president of Shell Oil Company since 2008 and director of its Upstream Americas business since 2009.  In the latter role, he oversees Shell's exploration and production in the Western Hemisphere. Odum joined Shell as an engineer in 1982.  In June, Odum appeared on Platts Energy Week television, an all-energy news and talk show program, discussing the challenges of drilling in regions with substantial resource potential and fragile ecosystems.

"We're looking forward to hosting such important debates and industry dialogue at such a critical time when so many new agendas are being mapped in the wake of recent natural disasters, elections and other events," said Patsy Wurster, director of Platts strategic media, and organizer of the Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum.   

Industry executives, government officials and participants from the economic and other political spheres are set to attend the Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum, which will take place 8 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET at the Digital Sandbox at 55 Broad Street, in downtown Manhattan.  Odum's keynote address will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET and will be followed by an exclusive press conference for accredited media. 

Corporate and industry executives may register to attend the Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum at the general registration link (http://bit.ly/SgNJ9i).  Accredited media may attend by pre-registering at this media registration link (http://bit.ly/REKKEO).

Fortune is sponsoring the Forum. For information on sponsorships, contact [email protected] at +1 970-461-1090.

Following the Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum, some 500 energy executives and other guests are expected to attend the black-tie dinner at New York's Cipriani Wall Street, at which the 2012 Platts Global Energy Awards will be unveiled for 19 categories of exemplary performance in the arenas of vision and leadership, commodity excellence, leading technologies, premier projects and stewardship.  CNBC News Anchor Amanda Drury will emcee the Awards for a third year.  Corporate and industry representatives may register to attend the Global Energy Awards at this general registration link (http://bit.ly/SgNJ9i) and accredited media may register to attend as Platts guests at this media registration link (bitly.com/PCh37t).

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information and a premier source of benchmark prices for those markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the oil, petrochemicals, natural gas, electricity, coal, nuclear power, shipping, and metals markets. A division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Platts has approximately 900 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies: McGraw-Hill announced on September 12, 2011, its intention to separate into two public companies: McGraw-Hill Financial, a leading provider of content and analytics to global financial markets, and McGraw-Hill Education, a leading education company focused on digital learning and education services worldwide. McGraw-Hill Financial's leading brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Indices, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. With sales of $6.2 billion in 2011, the Corporation has approximately 23,000 employees across more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

SOURCE Platts