Steve Ballmer and Microsoft at CERAweek 2011

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Leaders from the global energy industry, representing oil, natural gas, power, coal and renewable energy companies, along with government leaders from around the world will be among the 2,000 people attending CERAweek in Houston this week.  This year's conference theme is "Leading the Way: Energy Strategies for a World of Change," and the conference features discussions on a wide range of topics related to energy and sustainability. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the conference, and Microsoft is pleased to be a sponsor again at the world's premier gathering of energy leaders.  Other Microsoft energy industry solution partners sponsoring this year's CERAweek include Alstom, AspenTech, HP and OSIsoft. 

We are especially proud that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will be the featured keynote dinner speaker on Wednesday, March 9, with a presentation on the future of technology and how it can impact the energy industry.   He delivered a similar keynote speech in 2005 and we are grateful to IHS CERA for the repeat invitation so that we can learn Steve's latest insights.  A transcription of the speech will be available on the Microsoft News Center soon after the presentation, and video of the speech also will be available shortly thereafter.  Steve joins a long list of industry luminary speakers including:

  • Christophe de Margerie, Chairman and CEO of Total
  • Robert Dudley, CEO of BP
  • Vagit Alekperov, President and CEO of Lukoil
  • H. E. Youcef Yousfi, Minister of Energy and Mines, Algeria
  • John Rowe, Chairman and CEO, Exelon Corporation
  • Ditlev Engel, President and CEO, Vestas Wind Systems A/S
  • John Wellinghoff, Chairman, US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Gregory Boyce, Chairman and CEO, Peabody Energy
  • Henry Kissinger, Former U.S. Secretary of State

At the conference, Microsoft also is represented by the leaders of our energy and sustainability teams.  They include:

  • Jon Arnold, Managing Director, Worldwide Power & Utilities
  • Ali Ferling, Managing Director, Worldwide Oil & Gas
  • Rob Bernard, Chief Environmental Strategist

We encourage you to continue checking the Microsoft Vertical Industries blog this week for more information about CERAweek.