webinars
VENEZUELA: THE IMPACT OF THE NEW HYDROCARBON LAW ON JOB CREATION IN THE US AND IN VENEZUELA
We are pleased to bring together leading voices from law, energy, and workforce development to examine one of the most consequential policy shifts in Latin America’s energy landscape: hashtag#Venezuela’s January 29, 2026, reform of the #Organic_Law_on_Hydrocarbons.
This landmark reform represents a significant departure from decades of state-centric control, introducing expanded opportunities for private and foreign participation in Venezuela’s upstream oil sector. While the legislation maintains state ownership of hydrocarbon resources, it opens the door to new contractual models, more flexible fiscal terms, and greater operational involvement by private entities.
The implications of this shift extend far beyond Venezuela. As investment frameworks evolve, so too will the global energy value chain—impacting capital flows, service company activity, and critically, job creation in both Venezuela and the United States.
Today’s discussion will focus on three core questions:
-How will this reform reshape employment and workforce demand in Venezuela’s rebuilding energy sector?
-What new opportunities could emerge for U.S. companies, contractors, and skilled workers?
-And what risks and uncertainties remain as policy, investment, and geopolitics continue to evolve?
We are honored to be joined by an exceptional panel:
Luis Galarza, Co-Founder of SoFlo Solar Advisors, bringing technical and energy systems insight
Roland Pettersson, Partner at D’Empaire Law Firm, offering legal and investment perspective
Sonia Clayton, Dr. H.C. VIRTUAL INTELLIGENCE PROVIDERS, LLC, CEO of Global Energy Transition, providing economic and workforce analysis
And moderated by Kathy Khuu, Board Director at Global Energy Transition.
In the next 60 minutes, we will move from policy framing to practical implications, in a 2-part webinar, that examines not only what this reform changes on paper, but what it may mean in practice for jobs, investment, and long-term energy development across the Americas.
Let’s begin!
This landmark reform represents a significant departure from decades of state-centric control, introducing expanded opportunities for private and foreign participation in Venezuela’s upstream oil sector. While the legislation maintains state ownership of hydrocarbon resources, it opens the door to new contractual models, more flexible fiscal terms, and greater operational involvement by private entities.
The implications of this shift extend far beyond Venezuela. As investment frameworks evolve, so too will the global energy value chain—impacting capital flows, service company activity, and critically, job creation in both Venezuela and the United States.
Today’s discussion will focus on three core questions:
-How will this reform reshape employment and workforce demand in Venezuela’s rebuilding energy sector?
-What new opportunities could emerge for U.S. companies, contractors, and skilled workers?
-And what risks and uncertainties remain as policy, investment, and geopolitics continue to evolve?
We are honored to be joined by an exceptional panel:
Luis Galarza, Co-Founder of SoFlo Solar Advisors, bringing technical and energy systems insight
Roland Pettersson, Partner at D’Empaire Law Firm, offering legal and investment perspective
Sonia Clayton, Dr. H.C. VIRTUAL INTELLIGENCE PROVIDERS, LLC, CEO of Global Energy Transition, providing economic and workforce analysis
And moderated by Kathy Khuu, Board Director at Global Energy Transition.
In the next 60 minutes, we will move from policy framing to practical implications, in a 2-part webinar, that examines not only what this reform changes on paper, but what it may mean in practice for jobs, investment, and long-term energy development across the Americas.
Let’s begin!
VENEZUELA: REBUILDING SKILLS, REBUILDING POWER
How energy reconstruction can create jobs - Challenges and opportunities
ABOUT THE MODERATOR:
Kathy Khuu combines analytical rigor with practical business solutions to help organizations navigate complex global challenges. She translates geopolitical, sustainability, and technology trends into risk frameworks and decision tools for boards and senior leaders. Kathy, a recent director of sustainability and human rights for Shell, connects global political developments to enterprise risk and strategy, enabling organizations to anticipate disruption and strengthen resilience. Her expertise includes scenario planning, ERM, advocacy strategy, stakeholder engagement, and policy impact.
PANELISTS:
Reva Goujon - is a geopolitical macro strategist and Director at Rhodium Group with nearly 20 years of experience advising C suites and governments. She focuses on United States and China technology competition and helps organizations translate global disruption into strategic insight and long term resilience. Her work equips senior leaders to anticipate systemic risk and position their institutions for sustained competitiveness in an evolving global landscape.
Sonia Clayton ERP-SAP-AI, CEO ADVISOR VIRTUAL INTELLIGENCE PROVIDERS, LLC, Sonia is an international technology and energy employment leader who has worked in more than 70 countries. She advises national and international leaders, universities, and CEOs on employment driven economic development across the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Her work bridges energy transition, workforce strategy, and geopolitical reconstruction, aligning policy, technology innovation, and workforce development to create sustainable employment pathways.
Oman Oquendo - Oman, is President of the Venezuelan American Petroleum Association and Founder of OQN2 Solutions. A petroleum engineer with over 40 years of experience, he has held senior executive roles across the Americas and the United States. He brings deep expertise in field development, asset management, and strategic leadership within complex energy environments.
ILEANA Ferber, MBA - Ileana, is a senior consultant and Founder and CEO of Colibrí Business Development LLC. With more than 25 years in oil and gas, including leadership roles at ExxonMobil, she specializes in local content strategy, supplier and workforce development, and public private partnerships across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
