Amir Gerges
Conference Chair
Chief Health, Safety, and Environment Officer
ADNOC
Dear Colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 17th edition of the SPE International Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability Conference and Exhibition (IHSES 2026), taking place from 7–9 September 2026 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center, UAE.
For over a quarter century, IHSES has served as the global stage where the energy industry’s best minds come together to share lessons, advance performance, and strengthen the foundation of HSE excellence. This year’s return to Abu Dhabi comes at a defining moment, one where the power of intelligence, technology, and human capability must converge to deliver safer operations and resilient organisations.
Our theme, “Intelligence in Action: Safer People, Smarter Planet” reflects this mission. It is not about technology alone, but about how we apply intelligence, human and digital, to make real change where it matters most: preventing incidents, protecting people, and enhancing operational integrity.
At the heart of IHSES 2026 are the core risk areas that continue to test our industry’s resilience—Human Performance, Contractor HSE, High-Risk Transport, and Process Safety. These are not new challenges, but they demand new thinking: data-driven insight, predictive analytics, and leadership that enables learning rather than blame. By translating intelligence into practical action, we can build stronger barriers, more capable teams, and safer outcomes across every tier of our operations.
IHSES 2026 will bring together global leaders, technical experts, and front-line practitioners to exchange lessons from the field, explore proven interventions, and discuss how artificial intelligence, automation, and digital assurance can enhance decision-making and strengthen risk management. Most importantly, it will reaffirm our shared commitment that safety is not a programme, it is a mindset, a value, and a promise we uphold every day.
As your Conference Chair, I invite you to engage fully, to listen, to challenge, and to contribute ideas that transform intelligence into meaningful action. Together, let us continue our journey toward zero harm, disciplined operations, and sustained HSE excellence.
I look forward to welcoming you to Abu Dhabi, where Intelligence in Action will define the next chapter of how we keep our people safe and our industry strong.
Amir Gerges
Conference Chairman
Chief Health, Safety, and Environment Officer
ADNOC