In a market where budget constraints, M&A disruption, and AI-induced uncertainty are squeezing every conversation, collaboration can no longer be a buzzword — it must be a behavior. But somewhere along the way, our industry lost the plot. We replaced trusted partnerships with transactional urgency. We chased activity, not alignment.

This keynote will explore how operators and service companies can course-correct — not just for survival in 2026, but to thrive with clarity, confidence, and strategic cohesion. Drawing on real-world conversations with over 1,500 E&P operators across six major basins, JP Warren distills what the next phase of connection looks like: less about networking, more about alignment; less about performance stats, more about shared priorities.