This year’s theme “Guided by History, Shaping the Future; Protecting People and the Environment in Africa” is targeted to focus on leveraging our diverse and unique industry expertise, together understand the genesis and emerging futures of the oil and gas opportunities and build capacity in addressing the daunting operational challenges faced by industry. The Society of Petroleum Engineers has a history of providing an outstanding conference with new and exciting avenues for learning and growth and as such an interesting time to be part of the unfolding history of the emerging and bourgeoning oil and gas industry in Africa. R