Meet the leaders and unconventional experts sharing their knowledge and insights at URTeC 2026.
Bob Fryklund
Vice President and Chief Strategist, Upstream Energy Group at S&P Global Commodity Insights
Bob is a recognized industry thought leader on all aspects of the Upstream. He advises Boards, CEO's and management teams on strategic direction. He has been involved in many of the industries pivotal projects – TOR acquisition by Petrobras, a $10 billion arbitration; Oil export approval in the US; and restructuring of several of the industries major operators. He focusses on helping companies understand future trends and how to position themselves in the market. He also provides advice on how to build a better narrative for shareholders. Bob has 40 yrs in the industry and has been a senior executive at ConocoPhillips as well as at S&P Global. He sits on four industry Boards and is chair of the supply and demand committee at the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). He is a frequent industry executive speaker as well as media source for the major outlets. Bob holds a AB in Geology from Hamilton College and lives in Houston.
Janet Weiss
Former President, BP Alaska
Ms. Weiss has substantial experience in the oil and natural gas industry, including serving as the President of BP Alaska. Prior to that role, Ms. Weiss held numerous leadership positions at BP and ARCO. Through these experiences, Ms. Weiss gained and brings to our Board significant experience in engineering, management, health and safety, operations, and strategic planning, as well as invaluable insight and perspective on the operations and financial aspects of the global oil and natural gas industry.
Bob Brackett
Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst, Bernstein (AB/AllianceBernstein)
Bob Brackett is a senior sell-side research analyst at Bernstein (AB/AllianceBernstein), known for his coverage of energy, metals and mining, and the energy transition, after a long career in the oil and gas industry. He combines technical training as a geoscientist with strategy and finance roles at major energy companies and consultancies. Before joining Bernstein, Brackett was Director of E&P Planning and Director of Corporate Strategy at Hess Corporation, focusing on exploration and production and corporate strategy for a major international oil company. He began his career at ExxonMobil, spending about eight years in exploration, business development, development, research, and petrophysics roles, including work at several ExxonMobil upstream units. Brackett earned a PhD in Earth & Planetary Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was a NASA Space Grant Fellow. He holds an MBA from Rice University, reflecting formal training in business and finance alongside his technical background. He also completed a BS in Geophysics and a BA in Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as field geology studies at Indiana University Bloomington.