Paul holds a BSc in Geology from University College Cork and an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience from Aberdeen. He began his career as an exploration geologist at Amoco, then trained as a Petrophysicist at Amoco's Research Centre, and has since held various geo-technical and leadership roles at BP, Enterprise Oil, Nexen, and CNOOC. In 2024, Paul joined SLB as Global Exploration Advisor. He advocates for responsible investment in hydrocarbon exploration and development alongside emerging energy solutions to meet global energy needs.

David Dutton is Senior Exploration Manager at CNOOC International, responsible for exploration strategy and delivery across Africa. He has over 20 years of subsurface experience, leading multi-disciplinary teams to mature prospects and execute high-value drilling programs in complex basins. David currently oversees prospect maturation and well planning for CNOOC’s operated positions in Mozambique.

He holds a PhD in Geology from Imperial College London and has recently completed an MSc in Marine Renewable Energy at Heriot-Watt University. David is an active member of EAGE, AAPG, and GESGB and was awarded the AAPG J.C. Cam Sproule Memorial Award for contributions to petroleum geoscience.