SPE Leadership

CEO and Executive Vice President

Simon Seaton

As CEO, Simon Seaton is responsible for overall management of SPE. He works with the Board of Directors and senior staff to develop strategic and business plans and formulate the organization’s goals, objectives, policies, and programs. He also organizes and directs the global staff organization, which includes offices in Dallas, Houston, Calgary, Kuala Lumpur, and Dubai, to ensure the accomplishment of SPE’s mission.

He previously held the role of CEO, Energy and Resources Worldwide, at Sodexo, a global food, facilities management, and workplace services company where he worked since 2012 in Houston, Singapore, and Dubai.

A graduate of Cardiff University and a chemist by education, his career began as a drilling fluids engineer. He spent 22 years at Halliburton in various technical, business development, and executive roles in Aberdeen, Houston, and Nigeria. Positions at Halliburton included country vice president, managing director of the UK, and senior director of deepwater solutions.

Seaton has been an SPE member for 30 years and has authored or coauthored more than 20 technical papers. In 2021 he completed the Global Energy Leadership Program at the Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University. In 2025 he was elected a Fellow of the Energy Institute and joined the National Petroleum Council in 2026. Originally from the UK, he currently resides in Houston. 

CFO and Director

Steve Byrne

Steve Byrne is responsible for global finances, including treasury and investment services and coordination of the audit and consolidated financial reporting of all global SPE legal entities.

Before joining SPE, Byrne was controller for ThinkSpark Corporation, an Oracle database consulting firm, for 2½ years. Prior to ThinkSpark, he worked 16 years for ARCO where he held various financial and tax positions in US operations as well as the international division.

He received his BBA in accounting and finance from Texas A&M University in 1983 and became a certified public accountant in 1986.

Chief Global Events Officer

Michelle Boyd

Michelle Boyd joined SPE in 2011 and leads the global event teams based in Calgary, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, Kuala Lumpur, and London. She is responsible for SPE’s portfolio of events that includes large scale international conferences and exhibitions, topical regional conferences and symposiums, invitation-only forums, technical workshops, training courses and seminars. 

Before SPE, Boyd was head of conferences for Reed Exhibitions in Abu Dhabi and executive director of conferences and training for the Institute of International Research in Dubai, now the Informa Group.

Boyd began her career in Australia in corporate communications and has run corporate events and communication projects for clients including Pfizer, Optus, Qantas and TNT. She has run events across the Middle East, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore and the United States.

Boyd holds a BA degree from the University of New England and a MA degree in communication management from the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a member of the ASAE.

Vice President, Communications and Member Experience

Dana Otillio

Dana Otillio is responsible for the leadership and global operations of digital publishing, multimedia programs, marketing, communications, and public outreach programs. Working with other members of the executive team, she also delivers Board-approved initiatives, including the SPE Strategic Plan.
 
Otillio joined SPE in 2005 and has spent most of her career in marketing and public relations roles. Prior to joining SPE, she was an Associate at Burson-Marsteller, handling crisis communications and media outreach for several energy and utility companies. She also worked in communications roles for the Lafayette Utilities System and the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
 
Otillio received a BLA in Mass Communications from the University of Louisiana and is an active member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives and the American Society of Association Executives.

Vice President, Eastern Hemisphere Events

Michelle Tan

Michelle Tan is Vice President, Eastern Hemisphere Events and a member of SPE’s Senior Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership and oversight of SPE’s event portfolio across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe, the Caspian, Africa, and South Asia.

She leads the Eastern Hemisphere team in aligning global strategy with operational excellence, delivering impactful platforms, and advancing SPE’s mission while enhancing value for members, the industry, and global business.

Tan previously served as Director, Asia Pacific Events and expanded SPE’s regional and global footprint by leading flagship conferences such as OTC Asia and IPTC, launching new initiatives, and building strategic partnerships.

With over 20 years of global event leadership experience and more than a decade in association management, Tan brings extensive expertise in portfolio growth, brand development and international joint ventures. Before joining SPE, she held senior leadership roles at Informa and the Institute of International Research, including Managing Director of its finance and investment event portfolio in New York, and Division Director of Conferences in Dubai and Sydney.

Her career spans Australia, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and she holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Melbourne, with certifications from the Centre for Creative Leadership and the Institute of Sustainable Events.

Vice President, Western Hemisphere Events

Michael Ryan

As Vice President of Western Hemisphere Events, Michael Ryan oversees the strategy and delivery of SPE events across Canada, United States, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, aligning regional priorities with SPE’s global events approach.

Ryan has over a decade of B2B event leadership experience. Most recently, he served as Managing Director of Events at BridgeTower Media, where he oversaw a portfolio of more than 200 events across 40 media brands, including conferences, expos, and executive summits.

Prior to BridgeTower Media, Ryan spent over 12 years at Terrapinn, most recently as Managing Director of the Americas, where he led large-scale conferences and exhibitions across key industries including energy, supply chain, transportation, logistics, finance, and life sciences.

He is a graduate of Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business and resides in the Greater Houston area.

Global Director of People & Culture and Compliance Officer

Tami Chance

Tami Chance is the Global Director of People & Culture and is SPE’s Compliance Officer. Prior to this position, she served as the Senior Manager of Human Resources, Americas at SPE for over 8 years.

With more than 30 years of experience in Talent Management, Organizational Development, and Culture Change Leadership, Chance is a seasoned HR leader. She specializes in developing high-impact people processes and programs, drawing on her extensive knowledge across all HR functions to create synergies and enhance employee experiences. Throughout her career, she has worked with leading organizations across various industries, including PACCAR-Peterbilt Motors, FEDEX Express, Santander Consumer USA, and the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

Chance holds an MBA from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and is a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Director, Americas Events

Amanda Rushing, CMP

Amanda Rushing brings extensive non-profit experience, having led events and sales teams for The ESOP Association, American Urological Association, and American Society of Civil Engineers. Her background includes working every facet of events from global initiatives and large tradeshows to scientific meetings and academic education.

Not only has Rushing earned her Certified Meeting Professional designation, but she has also been a course instructor and facilitator affiliated with the Events Industry Council. She is a member of ASAE, CESSE and IAEE as well as serving as a board member for PCMA.

Rushing is a passionate events professional who believes in the power of events to create meaningful connections. She is committed to excellence and innovation, always looking for fresh, new, and creative solutions. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to mentoring and developing her teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Director, Europe and Caspian Events

Grigory Zarayskiy

Grigory Zarayskiy joined SPE in 2021 and is responsible for the management of SPE events throughout Europe and the Caspian.

Prior to SPE, Zarayskiy was with Reed Exhibitions for 15 years serving as CEO in Russia and in India. He has also worked for Hilti Russia as Vice President Marketing and led Canon business in the CIS countries.

Zarayskiy graduated from Moscow Institute of Engineering and Physics, with a Master's degree in automation and telemechanics, and later earned an MBA in General Management from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. He is passionate about travelling the world with his family and civil aviation.

Director, MEASA Events

Megha Chopra

Megha Chopra has over 20 years of experience in the global events industry and currently serves as Director of Events for SPE in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, and leads the events team based in Dubai, UAE. She leads the strategic planning and execution of major international conferences, overseeing financial performance, stakeholder engagement, and operational excellence across a portfolio of high-profile industry platforms.

Her leadership includes oversight of flagship conferences where she works closely with national oil companies, executive committees, sponsors, and global industry leaders. Chopra has extensive experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder environments and delivering large-scale events that drive technical exchange, commercial growth, and strategic industry dialogue across the Middle East and international markets.

Prior to joining SPE, Chopra worked at Dubai Autodrome, part of Union Properties’ Motor City development, managing manufacturer events, racing team winter testing programs, and corporate activations. She also supported the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Dubai, coordinating international delegate engagement.

Chopra graduated from Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing. 

Director, Magazines

Pam Boschee

Pam Boschee is the director of SPE magazines, including the Journal of Petroleum Technology and The Way Ahead. She joined SPE in 2011 as a senior editor to develop and launch Oil and Gas Facilities, bringing more than 30 years’ experience in the energy industry.

Prior to joining SPE, she held managing editor positions with publications related to the upstream and power-generation industries. Previously, she held roles as a natural gas analyst, an analytical and research chemist for a national laboratory for environmental regulatory compliance, and as a litigation consultant for the chemical and energy industries. 

Boschee holds a BS in psychology and chemistry from the University of North Dakota and an MS in behavioral medicine from North Dakota State University.

Director, Marketing and Integrated Communications

Louise Smith

Louise Smith joined SPE in 2019 and leads the global Marketing and Integrated Communications department, with teams based in Dallas, Houston, Calgary, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur. She is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive marketing and communications strategies that advance SPE’s business objectives and global outreach.

With over a decade of experience, Smith has built a career leading high-impact marketing and communications strategies and teams across diverse sectors, including professional associations and professional services.

She holds a BSc in Communications and Public Relations from the University of Northumbria and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Director, Member Programs and Experience

Shannon Reed

As Director of Member Experience and Programs, Shannon Reed is responsible for leading SPE’s global member engagement initiatives, volunteer support, and customer experience functions.

Prior to SPE, Reed served in senior leadership roles at The Electrochemical Society, most recently as the Senior Director of Engagement. In that role, he oversaw membership, marketing & communications, corporate programs, education, AMS & various technology components, and partnering with executive leadership and the board of directors.

Active in ASAE and CESSE, Reed serves as a member of the ASAE Membership Advisory Council and Workforce Development Subcommittee. He previously served on the CESSE Program Committee to develop the ACCESSE25 conference programming. Reed holds an MBA and a BA in Psychology from Wesley College.

Director, Publishing, Multimedia, and Technical Activities

Christine Diedrich, CAE

Christine Diedrich, CAE, is responsible for operations around all SPE technical publications, OnePetro, Energy Stream, and SPE Journal.

Diedrich joined SPE in 2023 and has extensive experience in academic and association publishing. She has worked with science and medical associations, overseeing open access and hybrid peer-reviewed journal programs, as well as book and digital content. She has previously held managing, development, and acquisitions roles, managing all aspects of building publishing programs across print and digital platforms.

Diedrich holds a BA in English from Northern Illinois University and MA in English from Northeastern Illinois University. She is a member of American Society of Association Executives, Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives, and the Society for Scholarly Publishing.