Senior UK oil and gas officials and politicians are due to gather in Aberdeen on Friday for the first meeting this year of the MER UK Forum as the country’s offshore regulator also announced new appointments to key industry boards.

Held twice a year and co-chaired by Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) chief executive Andy Samuel, the forum oversees the tripartite strategy between government, industry and the regulator to maximise economic recovery of the UK’s offshore oil and gas resources.

Newly-appointed UK Energy & Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry is also set to attend the meeting in the Scottish oil capital.

Meanwhile, the OGA has announced the appointment of new chairpersons, all high-profile industry figures, to three of the six task forces that oversee its MER UK work in specific areas.

Bill Dunnett, managing director of Repsol Sinopec Resources UK, is taking up the position as chairman of the Technology Leadership Board, taking over from Paul White, managing director of Baker Hughes GE.

Nick Terrell, manging director of Azinor Catalyst, becomes the new chairman of the Exploration Task Force, succeeding Phil Kirk, chief executive of Chrysaor.

Jon Graham, managing director and vice president of Apache North Sea, will chair the Asset Stewardship Task Force, superseding Ray Riddoch, managing director of Nexen.

As part of the forum, the new chairpersons sit on the MER UK Steering Group, which oversees the six task forces. The task forces focus on technology, exploration, asset stewardship, decommissioning, efficiency and supply chain and exports.

"The industry has accomplished many positive changes through the recent difficult times and we have been very fortunate to have the support of talented and experienced leaders in achieving this progress," Samuel said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank those leaving the task forces for all their hard work, commitment and service to the industry.”

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OGA names new MER UK taskforce chairs