Paul de Leeuw, a visiting Professor at Aberdeen Business School, has been appointed as the first director of Robert Gordon University’s International Institute for Oil and Gas.
With extensive experience in the oil and gas industry Professor de Leeuw will take up his new role in July, helping Robert Gordon University (RGU) to build on its 40 years of supporting the oil and gas sector.
Professor de Leeuw said: “RGU has an excellent reputation for its close working relationship with organisations in the energy sector, particularly in regard to its courses for undergraduates, specialist postgraduate, bespoke training packages for industry professionals and applied research. The International Oil and Gas Institute will take this to a new level and help the university achieve its strategic aim of being recognised as a global leader in meeting the educational, training and research needs of the oil and gas industry.”
“This is an exciting time to be joining RGU with the ongoing development of its state-of-the-art facilities at its Garthdee campus, and with significant investment set aside for the International Oil and Gas Institute to develop the university’s relationships with the oil and gas sector.”
Paul de Leeuw has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 25 years for a number of companies, including Shell, Marathon Oil, Amoco, BP, Venture Production and Centrica Energy. His broad business and deep commercial background include senior roles in strategy, commercial, business development, planning and supply chain. With a track record in developing innovative and practical business solutions, his strong leadership skills have been key to him building, developing and leading high performing teams.
De Leeeuw was previously the strategy and commercial director for Centrica’s upstream business. He is currently chairman of the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre and a visiting Professor at RGU’s Aberdeen Business School. He is also vice-chair and governor of Robert Gordon’s College and a board member of ACSEF (Aberdeen City & Shire Economic Future).
The International Oil and Gas Institute will be the conduit through which all university activity – teaching, training and research – related to the oil and gas industry will flow. This will include the coordination and delivery of all education and training activities relevant to the oil and gas sector across the university’s portfolio and will encompass:
In addition, the Institute will develop new capabilities in terms of teaching and research in a range of areas including: brownfield development through enhanced oil recovery, asset integrity, subsea engineering and decommissioning; unconventional oil and gas; leadership; oil and gas finance and economics; and applied healthcare and corporate social responsibility.