Our Team

Dr. Harting is an accomplished executive with a comprehensive understanding of the technical, operational, economic, and regulatory aspects of the global oil, gas and energy industry with more than 25 years of experience. He was involved on a wide range of international projects in the upstream E&P industry and has worked for large IOCs, NOCs, Independents, and Service Companies.

Mr. Erickson is a highly experienced and seasoned executive with over 25 years experience founding, financing, and operating both public and private oil and gas companies. Mr. Erickson has been directly involved in approximately $1 billion of equity/debt financings and asset & corporate acquisitions.

Mr. Mapplebeck is a seasoned CFO who excels in raising capital, optimizing performance, and delivering value, with over two decades of expertise in global finance, business, and investment management. He has prior experience as a Senior Investment Director with Lloyds International and as a Senior Finance Manager with top-100 global leaders, including ABN AMRO and HSBC.

Mr. Brown is a professional engineer and highly experienced executive with over 25 years’ experience. He was involved with exclusively researching international oil companies for the purpose of technical and economic justification for institutional investment. He has been involved with over $5 billion of equity financings.

Mr. Hurley has over 25 years of legal experience in the oil and gas industry, advising on transactions in Canada, the U.S., Asia, Africa, and the U.K. He is a Past President of the Calgary Bar Association and currently serves as a Canadian Regional Director for the Association of International Energy Negotiators. Mr. Hurley also served as managing director in the energy group of a North American investment bank and on the investment committee of a Western Canadian private investment fund.

With more than three decades of executive experience, Mr. Mugford is a recognized leader in industrial products, systems, and services, having served sectors like Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Power Generation, Metals & Mining, and Renewable Energy. His expertise spans global service operations, strategic planning, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and driving operational excellence.

Mr. Barkenaes is a senior finance professional with over 30 years of experience. He has worked as a financial analyst and partner in a corporate finance boutique and as an independent management consultant focusing on business development, financial management, and project management.

Mr. Oppermann is a Senior Geoscientist with more than three decades of international experience, having worked for Shell, Chevron, and multiple other oil and gas and mining companies. He is the founder of OPPtimal Resource Solutions, a technology service provider offering new and leading-edge resource characterization solutions in the oil and gas, coal seam gas, mining, geothermal, groundwater, CO2 sequestration, and underground storage sectors.

Mr. Ursin-Holm brings over 40 years of international experience in Exploration & Production (E&P) and Oil Services, having held executive roles in leading multinational corporations. He has a proven track record in establishing and expanding new E&P ventures, overseeing bidding, negotiations, and contracting, as well as securing financing for independent ventures and managing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across the CIS, Norway, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Alfredo Pochintesta brings over 35 years of extensive experience in the oil, gas, and energy sectors, having held strategic leadership roles in some of the most prominent companies in Latin America. His career spans across executive management, business development, and financial planning in globally recognized organizations. Alfredo will play a vital role in driving the growth and strategic direction of our South American business, leveraging his extensive leadership experience and deep expertise in the region’s oil and gas industry.

Mr. Doherty is a diligent, result-driven professional with extensive global experience of asset evaluation, petroleum systems, risk assessment, and prospect generation. Detail-oriented individual skilled in providing hands-on leadership and collaboration between project teams to drive the continued achievement of organizational objectives. An exceptional communicator focused on developing key relationships with diverse clients, colleagues, and stakeholders at all levels.

Mr. Szutiak boasts over 23 years of global experience in various technical positions. As an expert in drilling, completions, and well design, he brings unparalleled expertise to Oryx, including extensive experience in the development of geothermal energy projects. Renowned for his lateral thinking, he consistently provides innovative solutions, outstanding performance, and exceptional leadership.

Mr. Poirier brings to The Oryx Group over 35 years of senior level oil and gas experience. He has worked in executive positions for both Super Major’s, Intermediate and Junior Energy Companies with extensive experience in drilling, completions, facilities, exploitation, joint ventures, production and reservoir engineering, including all production operations. His extensive technical and operational knowledge provides Oryx clients access to expertise in A&D, enhanced recovery, and operational efficiencies. Gary is also a Mentor for Petroleum Engineering students at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Ms. Kranj brings over 25 years of experience in corporate and customer relationship management, having dedicated the majority of her career to leading positions within the Middle East. She has held prominent roles at the Government of Dubai’s Investment Corporation of Dubai, The Emirates Group. At Oryx, she spearheads our development efforts across the Middle East.

Mr. Clipea is a third-generation oil and gas professional and currently the Managing Director of Kareda S.A. He holds a BEng degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Aberdeen and an MSc degree in Reservoir Evaluation and Management from Heriot-Watt University.