Tuesday | September 15, 2026

2:00 – 4:30pm | PRE-CONFERENCE ACTIVITY (optional)
This optional pre-conference activity is available for those interested in building technical knowledge and capacity.

University of Tulsa’s North Campus Research Facility

Watch this short 3-minute video about this facility! A working lab like no other.

The goal of UTulsa’s North Campus is to explore innovations for the petroleum industry and foster learning by students, researchers, private industry and governments. The research projects have generated millions of dollars and hundreds of research projects designed to solve the problems of today’s energy industry. The land and buildings were donated to The University of Tulsa by Humble Oil and Refining Co. in 1965. The property included a drilling research laboratory and a full-sized enclosed drilling rig. The gift provided an avenue for academia, industry and government to join forces to fund major research initiatives.

This event is free, but registration is required.

5:00 – 6:30 pm | CONFERENCE WELCOME RECEPTION
101 Archer Building – 3rd Floor
Conversation and Engagement begin here! Join us for light hors d’oeuvres as we kick off this year’s conference with welcome remarks from TEC and TU; student research posters and energy displays.

Wednesday | September 16, 2026

8:00 – 8:30am | Conference Sign-in & Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:00am | CONFERENCE OPENING: WELCOME & PURPOSE

This year’s conference focus is on knowledge transfer, learning, recognition, understanding and respectful exploration.

CONFERENCE ARC 1 | ENERGY REALITY & AWARENESS

9:00 – 10:00am | ENERGY REALITY BRIEFING:
ENERGY REALITY & THE FUTURE OF ENERGY
A grounded overview of the current energy landscape, including key constraints, trends, and considerations shaping decision-making today.

10:00-10:30am | GUIDED TABLE DIALOGUE
Participants will discuss the opening briefing focusing on 1) KEY TAKEAWAYS; 2) PERCEIVED OPPORTUNITIES; and 3) CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS

10:30-10:45am | Break

10:45-12:00pm | ENERGY MULTI-PERSPECTIVE DIALOGUE
Leaders from across sectors share how energy realities are experienced within their respective roles and responsibilities.

• International
• National
• Regional/State
• Tribal

“Voice Backs” from 1) Tribal Leadership, 2) Industry, and 3) Government.

12:00-1:00pm | LUNCH
SPEAKER: Kristie Ferguson, President, KLF Geological, LLC, Tulsa, Ok
“Oil and Gas: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?”

CONFERENCE ARC 2 | DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS & UNDERSTANDING

1:00-1:45pm | Tribal Leadership Panel: Decision-Making & Priorities

• Tribal Nations as RIGHTSHOLDERS
• How decisions are made within tribal governments
• Balancing economic opportunity with cultural, land and community priorities
• Internal considerations, timing and capacity
• What meaningful partnership looks like from a Tribal perspective

1:45-2:30pm | Government & Regulatory Landscape

• Permitting pathways
• Consultation processes
• Funding opportunities
• Regulatory timelines

Q&A Roundtables with agency representatives.

Continued: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026:

2:30-3:15pm | Industry Perspective: How Energy Projects Actually Move

• Project lifecycle (from concept to decommissioning)
• Capital investment structures
• Workforce requirements
• Infrastructure development
• Risk and timeline considerations

Table reflections: 1) What was surprising, 2) What feels challenging, and 3) What should be clarified before engagement.

3:15-3:30pm | Break

3:30-4:00pm | Academia as a Resource

• Applied research partnerships
• Technical assistance opportunities
• Workforce training and education pathways
• Student engagement with Tribal communities

4:00-5:00pm | Cross-Sector Dialogue: Open Floor Conversation

• What defines a strong and respectful partnership
• Where misunderstandings commonly occur
• What preparation improves outcomes
• Lessons learned from past experiences

Thursday | September 17, 2026

8:30-9:00am | Continental Breakfast

CONFERENCE ARC 3 | ENGAGEMENT IN PRACTICE: HOW IT UNFOLDS
Participant-driven dialogue, connection, and application of insights from Day 1.

9:00-10:30am | Cross-Sector Engagement Labs: Real-World Energy Topics
Participants will engage directly with one another in a structured facilitated small-group setting designed to support meaningful conversation on specific topics.

• Tribal utilities and Grid Reliability
• Transmission (molecules and electrons) and infrastructure
• Workforce development pathways
• Financing energy projects
• Regulatory navigation
• AI / Data Centers
• Critical Minerals
• Energy Planning

Explore 1) Key information gaps, 2) Partnership opportunities, 3) Realistic next steps, and 4) Considerations related to resilience, cost and long-term planning/partnerships.

10:30-12:30pm | Mock Energy Negotiation

• Tribal Leadership
• Industry Developer
• Federal Regulator
• Community Representative
• Environmental Advisor

12:30-1:30pm | Lunch | Connection + Next Steps

• Key insights, take-aways and reflections
• Remaining questions and concerns
• Opportunities for continued conversation and collaboration

1:30 PM | CONFERENCE CLOSES

*Agenda, speakers, topics subject to change
*All conference events will be held on the 3rd Floor of TU’s 101 ARCHER BUILDING (unless otherwise indicated)