"I want to foster the preeminence of AAPG in energy geoscience to serve our profession and society while maintaining the highest ethical standards of professional practice. These core principles are as important today as they were when AAPG was formed in 1917."
— Gretchen M. Gillis
Aramco’s Gretchen M. Gillis was recently voted president-elect of the American Association of Petroleum Engineers (AAPG) for the 2020-21 term. She will assume the role of AAPG president for the 2021-22 term.
Gillis is a geological consultant with Aramco Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Aramco.
A member of AAPG since 1990, Gillis is the fourth woman to be voted president-elect in the 103-year history of the association. AAPG is currently one of the world’s largest geological societies with approximately 30,000 members in 129 countries.
"I want to foster the preeminence of AAPG in energy geoscience to serve our profession and society while maintaining the highest ethical standards of professional practice. These core principles are as important today as they were when AAPG was formed in 1917. — Gretchen M. Gillis
a focus on mentoring, young professionals, and the underrepresented
Gillis has served the geosciences community and industry with distinction — with a focus on mentoring students and young professionals, advancing women and others underrepresented in the field; and supporting the association’s publications and scientific mission.
Through the years, she has served on and chaired numerous AAPG committees, including those responsible for the AAPG Annual Conference and Exhibition Technical Program, AAPG publications (such as the AAPG Elected Editor), AAPG Women’s Network, and AAPG Public Outreach. Gillis is a trustee associate of the AAPG Foundation, which promotes the geosciences by funding initiatives that support the preservation of data and career enhancement for geoscientists.
To further support the world’s next generation of geoscientists, Gillis has worked with geologist colleagues from Saudi Aramco as judge and volunteer for the AAPG Imperial Barrel Award Program — an international competition for geoscience graduate students held in conjunction with the AAPG annual conference.
past awards and future plans
AAPG honored Gillis with the AAPG Distinguished Service Award in 2011, and the AAPG Honorary Member Award in 2018. Gillis holds a Master of Arts in geological sciences from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Arts in geology from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.
“It will be an honor and privilege to serve as the AAPG president-elect,” Gillis said. “I want to foster the preeminence of AAPG in energy geoscience to serve our profession and society while maintaining the highest ethical standards of professional practice. These core principles are as important today as they were when AAPG was formed in 1917.”
Aramco Americas president and CEO Mohammad S. Alshammari commented: “On behalf of Aramco, I would like to congratulate Gretchen on becoming president-elect of this world-renowned organization. We are proud of her accomplishments to support AAPG’s mission to advance the geosciences, bringing people together to promote growth and opportunity — which align with Aramco’s imperatives as well.”
— The Arabian Sun: June 3, 2020 | Vol. LXXV, No. 22