Best Oil & Gas & Energy Keynote Speakers (2026 Shortlist)
Updated June 2026 · 9-minute read · By Matthew Bertram, CEO, ModalPoint
The best oil & gas and energy keynote speakers are the ones whose real operating experience matches your audience — an upstream engineering crowd, a sales kickoff, and a board strategy offsite each need a different voice. For energy and B2B audiences, the most-booked names pair lived industry credibility with a stage-tested point of view. Below is our curated shortlist for 2026, starting with two Houston-based, energy-native speakers we work with directly — Mark LaCour and Matthew Bertram — followed by other leading energy voices worth shortlisting.
On this page
- What makes a great oil & gas speaker?
- ModalPoint’s energy-native picks
- Other leading energy & oil & gas speakers
- How do you choose and book the right one?
- Frequently asked questions
What makes a great oil & gas speaker?
Energy audiences set a high credibility bar: they can tell within minutes whether a speaker has actually worked in the industry or only read about it. The speakers who land share four traits — a point of view that’s genuinely new, lived sector experience, fit with the specific audience in the room, and a clear reason for that audience to act. For the full selection framework (event goals, budget, audience make-up, format), see our guide on how to choose an oil & gas speaker.
ModalPoint’s energy-native picks
Two Houston-based speakers we work with directly, available to book for energy, industrial, and B2B events:
Mark LaCour — oil & gas industry insider
Mark founded OGGN (Oil and Gas Global Network) in 2014 — now the world’s largest oil & gas podcast network, reaching more than 2.6 million listeners across 195 countries — and hosts Oil and Gas This Week. He has sold over $305 million into the industry across 2,200+ meetings, sits on several oil & gas boards, and is an author with one of the sector’s largest social-media followings. Speaks on: the state of oil & gas, energy-market trends, digital transformation in energy. Best for: operator and oilfield audiences, association meetings, sales kickoffs. See profile & book →
Matthew Bertram — AI, marketing & decision intelligence
Matthew is CEO of EWR Digital (est. 1999), President and founder of ModalPoint, and Fractional CMO of OGGN, with 25+ years of go-to-market experience. His 2026 talks cover how AI changes the way companies are found, trusted, and chosen, and how leaders keep decision integrity as AI accelerates — recently on the OTC 2026 Ericsson AI panel. Speaks on: AI visibility & governance, decision intelligence for boards, modern go-to-market. Best for: boards, marketing/sales teams, innovation and AI tracks. See profile & book →
Other leading energy & oil & gas speakers
Established voices the industry books for keynotes and panels (listed for reference; check each speaker’s bureau for availability):
John Hofmeister — former President, Shell Oil Company
Founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy and author of Why We Hate the Oil Companies, Hofmeister speaks on energy policy, the future of energy, and leadership from the vantage point of having run one of the majors.
Amy Myers Jaffe — energy economist & geopolitics expert
One of the most cited authorities on global energy markets and geopolitics, Jaffe has led energy research at institutions including Rice University’s Baker Institute, UC Davis, and the Council on Foreign Relations, and chaired the World Economic Forum’s Future of Oil & Gas. She speaks on energy markets, geopolitics, and the energy transition.
Jim Rogers — retired Chairman & CEO, Duke Energy
A long-tenured utility CEO and author of Lighting the World, Rogers speaks on the energy transition, utilities, and leadership through industry change.
Scott Steinberg — innovation futurist
A keynote futurist who advises energy companies on innovation, disruption, and future trends, Steinberg is a fit when you want an outside lens to challenge how an energy organization thinks about what’s next.
How do you choose and book the right one?
Match the speaker to your event goal, budget, audience make-up, and format — an industry insider almost always outperforms a generic motivational name with an energy crowd. Work the four-criteria framework in our how-to-choose guide, then shortlist. To check availability for Mark LaCour or Matthew Bertram, see the Houston business & energy speakers page or contact ModalPoint.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the best oil and gas speakers?
For energy audiences, the most-booked names include Mark LaCour (founder of the OGGN podcast network) and Matthew Bertram (AI, marketing & decision-intelligence speaker and CEO of EWR Digital), alongside established energy voices such as John Hofmeister (former President of Shell Oil), energy economist Amy Myers Jaffe, and retired Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers. The best choice depends on whether your audience is operators, executives, or boards.
How much does an oil and gas keynote speaker cost?
Fees range widely — from $0 for an up-and-comer to $20,000–$30,000 or more for a marquee name — with regional experts and active podcast hosts in between. Booking a local, energy-native speaker usually reduces travel cost and raises audience relevance.
What’s the difference between an industry insider and a celebrity speaker?
An industry insider brings sector-specific credibility that energy audiences trust immediately; a celebrity or futurist brings draw and an outside perspective. The strongest events often pair the two. Match the type to your event goal.
Should I book an energy-specific speaker or a generalist?
For an oil & gas audience, an energy-specific speaker almost always lands better, because the room’s credibility bar is set by lived experience. Bring in a generalist or futurist deliberately when you want to challenge how the organization thinks — but make sure they can translate their idea into your audience’s world.
Book an energy speaker for your event
Planning an energy, industrial, or board event? To check availability for Mark LaCour or Matthew Bertram, contact ModalPoint or see the Houston business & energy keynote speakers page.
