The Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA) opens its 2025 annual conference on Wednesday, bringing national decision-makers, state leaders and top executives together for two days of high-level discussions on the future of energy development.
The agenda features congressional leaders, senior federal officials, Alaska’s governor, and executives from major oil and gas companies.
The event kicks off Wednesday with an opening keynote lunch from House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, joined by Alaska’s Nick Begich and other committee members. Later that afternoon, Sen. Lisa Murkowski is scheduled to deliver remarks via video, followed by a session with Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam on collaborative approaches to conservation.
Federal permitting — a perennial issue for Alaska projects — will take center stage with a fireside chat featuring Emily Domench, executive director of the Federal Permitting Council, and Kati Capozzi of the Alaska Chamber. The day closes with a roundtable update on new development on the North Slope, featuring executives from ConocoPhillips, Santos, and Hilcorp.
Day two opens Thursday with a video address from US Sen. Dan Sullivan, followed by an economic update from McKinley Research Group President Katie Berry. Technical innovation is a major theme, with a panel on advanced drilling technologies led by engineers from ConocoPhillips, Santos, and Hilcorp.
Environmental and wildlife research also takes a spotlight, including a session on monitoring polar bear dens in Alaska. Industry milestones will be recognized with awards and Hall of Fame inductions, followed by an update on the Alaska LNG project from ExxonMobil and Glenfarne executives.
The Thursday keynote luncheon features Kate McGregor, Deputy Secretary of the US. Department of the Interior, in conversation with Santos’ Joe Balash.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is scheduled to speak in the afternoon, followed by a panel of state attorneys general from across the country, led by Alaska’s retiring AG Treg Taylor, on defending state authority against federal overreach. The conference concludes with the Marilyn Crockett Lifetime Achievement Award, presented this year to Mark Ireland of Santos.
AOGA’s conference remains the state’s premier energy policy gathering, drawing a lineup that underscores the national importance of Alaska’s resource development debates.