2025 Message from the Board: Why Be a Member of CEGA?

Shelley Leggitt, 2025 CEGA President

When I ask myself this question, two key benefits immediately come to mind: technical idea generation and networking. In fact, nearly every component of our programming falls within these two categories.

CEGA is our association, our community of like-minded scientists. We share a passion for earth science, discovery, and learning. Our industry has undergone significant changes in how we explore and develop hydrocarbons, care for the environment, and are perceived by society. Change is constant, and as geoscientists, we strive to adapt and evolve alongside these shifts.

The mandate, as I start my term as president, is to focus on two key pillars: Membership and Outreach. These pillars are vital because the strength of our association relies on geoscientists’ desire to join as members and on robust outreach initiatives to foster the next generation of geoscientists.

To grow and strengthen our membership, we need to attract aspiring geoscientists by offering opportunities to gain technical knowledge, present and test ideas, develop leadership skills, and network with peers and industry leaders. Outreach efforts, in particular, focus on geoscience students and young professionals. How do we attract and retain top talent in our industry? Examples of Outreach initiatives include collaborations with other societies on Ambassador Programs, hosting social events, sponsoring career fairs, and targeting educational offerings to summer students and new graduates.

The strength of CEGA lies in its service to members. Technical learning, the core of our association, is delivered through timely, relevant, and innovative content such as publications, technical luncheons, division talks, conferences, courses, and field trips. Annual events like GeoConvention and the Core Conference exemplify how we provide technical upgrades.

However, this isn’t without challenges. Many leading experts and course instructors are retiring, mid-career specialists are too busy with work demands, and younger staff—who need the training—often face similar challenges or lack encouragement from leadership to enroll in courses or share their learnings. As an association, how can we reinvigorate our technical strengths? Participation, encouragement, planning, and marketing are essential. We need industry leaders to support and promote training, plan offerings that meet members’ needs, and bring innovative ideas to life to share with our peers.

Networking is another vital aspect of CEGA. You may not think you need it—until you really do. Imagine you’re a new graduate or student looking to build connections for your first job. Or perhaps you’re mid-career and want to explore a new role, or you’ve recently experienced a job loss and are seeking advice or opportunities. CEGA is your Networking Hub.

I recall my first networking experience with CEGA as a volunteer on the Thesis Review Committee in the mid-1990s. The connections I made were instrumental in helping me transition from government-related research to the downtown oil and gas industry in the late ’90s. CEGA offers a variety of volunteer roles, and I encourage you to find the one that fits you best. Explore opportunities on our website, fill out the volunteer form, or speak with staff or directors who can guide you.

Finally, while we are broadening our reach to include energy-related industries, our core membership remains oil and gas geoscientists. It’s crucial to keep this base strong and relevant. Recently, we’ve seen a focus on topics like CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) and emerging resources. However, we also need more technical content for key plays. We encourage industry leaders to motivate staff to share insights and present their learnings to our community—essential steps for advancing the business of producing hydrocarbons more efficiently and economically.

CEGA traces its roots back to the Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists (ASPG), formed in 1927, which later evolved into the CSPG. The association was formed for geologists to compare notes and swap data, a liberal exchange of results from exploration and geological data was advisable and helpful to all parties concerned (John Allan, 1927). Let’s continue that legacy and stand on the shoulders of those that came before us.