Historic African Upstream Industry Awards Open for Nominations
Frontier Energy Network, the exclusive global community for those driving change in the upstream oil and gas industry, has announced that entries are now open for the 29th edition of the legendary Big Five Board Awards.
Known colloquially as The Big Five, they hold a special place in the heart of the continent’s energy industry, having the distinction of being the longest-running African-centric oil & gas awards.
The Awards’ founder’s original objective – to celebrate the very best individual and corporate contributions to the continent’s energy sector - remains true today. Winners are decided via peer voting, and the roll call of previous recipients is an impressive list of the most distinguished, innovative and committed companies and individuals working in the region.
Just a handful of previous recipients include: Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner of Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy; Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies; Luca Bertelli, Chief Exploration Officer at Eni; independent operator Impact Oil & Gas; energy data and service provider, TGS; Fatoumata Sanogo, CEO of Petroci and The Gambia’s Petroleum Commission.
The highly-anticipated, invitation-only, awards ceremony will be held in an iconic London setting, during this year’s Africa Energies Summit, 13 – 15 May.
Nominations for finalists are now open until 4 April 2025, with winners chosen by delegates attending the Africa Energies Summit.
Award Categories:
• Elephant: Distinguished Individual Contribution to the African Energy Industry
• Lion: Distinguished Corporate Contribution to the African Energy Industry
• Leopard: Africa's Independent Player of the Year
• Buffalo: Service & Supply Company of the Year
• Rhino: African NOC / Regulator of the Year
• Africa’s Legend Award: recognising an individual who has made an outstandingsignificant professional contribution to the African upstream industry
Gayle Meikle, CEO and Founder of Frontier comments:
“As we embark upon the 29th Big Five Board Awards, we can truly refer to these as a historic feature of the African oil and gas industry.
“Setting us apart from other industry awards is the peer-voting process. To be nominated and voted for by this illustrious group of individuals is an outstanding accolade, appreciated by category winners and finalists alike. Taking place during the renowned Africa Energies Summit, our delegates represent the most effective and influential within the industry; in other words, those who are 100% committed to the sustainable future of the African continentvia development of its natural resources.”
