– Simulation exercise signals strong potential for the future energy workforce
Three students from the University of Guyana (UG) student chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) emerged as top performers at the country’s first-ever PetroChallenge, a high-intensity oil and gas simulation hosted by SLB on March 24 and 25, 2026.
The winners were Alesia Chase, Irshaad Ali and Tyresse Phillips, who, under the team name “PetroNÖVAC”, competed against two other teams from UG’S SPE chapter and one team from The Bishops’ High School, the only high school represented. The inaugural initiative placed the participants at the centre of a simulated energy environment and tasked them with building, managing, and sustaining their own oil and gas companies, while navigating challenges across the full exploration-to-production lifecycle.
Despite competing against university-level engineering students, the Bishops’ team delivered a strong performance, demonstrating a level of adaptability and strategic thinking that stood out throughout the exercise. The simulation also challenged participants to consider environmental responsibility and long-term value creation.
The program concluded on March 25 with a closing ceremony attended by Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, and SLB’s Managing Director for Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname, Paul Hosein. Both commended the students for their performance and underscored the importance of such initiatives in building a capable local workforce. Minister Griffith encouraged participants to view the experience as a stepping stone into the energy industry, while Hosein highlighted the company’s broader commitment to developing local talent.
“We aim to meet students where they are and help move them forward, but today, we take that a step further,” Hosein said. “This is the first initiative of its kind we have launched externally in Guyana. This is what building local content truly looks like: developing talent early, shaping it, and creating opportunities for it to thrive.”
The PetroChallenge forms part of SLB’s wider engagement efforts in Guyana, which include career fairs, introductory oil and gas sessions, résumé writing workshops, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives designed to strengthen the talent pipeline. The event was coordinated by OilSim facilitator, Meghan Clark, whose leadership ensured smooth execution of the two-day programme.
The PetroChallenge offers a glimpse into the future of Guyana’s workforce by bridging the gap between academic learning and industry application. It also provides a hands-on introduction to the sector, equipping participants with the skills and preparation needed to contribute meaningfully to a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
This article was sponsored by SLB
