Champagne & Conversation Gender Balance & Energy Dynamics

Starts: Wed, Jan 28, 2026 5:30 PM CST
Ends: Wed, Jan 28, 2026 7:30 PM CST
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Join us for “Gender Balance & Energy Dynamics” on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 PM at The Velvet Tavern. This interactive event will bring together women and allies in the energy industry to explore evolving roles, share experiences, and foster collaboration.

Through guided table discussions, we will dive into four key topics:

Growth & Professional Development
Leadership & Representation
Advocacy & Allyship
Community & Caregiving

Each discussion will be led by a table representative to encourage open dialogue and meaningful exchange of ideas. Together, we’ll examine strategies for career advancement, the importance of diverse leadership, the role of mentorship and allyship, and how professionals balance work and personal responsibilities in a changing world.

Networking opportunities before and after the discussions will allow attendees to connect and build lasting relationships. Our goal is to inspire participants to leave feeling empowered and ready to create positive change in their workplaces and communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in thought-provoking conversations and help shape the future of gender balance in energy.

Moderator:

Sarah Truchard
As the Manager of Talent & Leadership Development at CITGO, Mrs. Truchard brings over 15 years of experience in the learning and development space, driven by a deep passion for engaging employees through innovative learning strategies. She hold a B.A. in Exercise and Sports Science with an Education concentration from St. Mary’s University in Texas, and an M.S. in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University. Outside of work, Mrs. Truchard enjoys spending time with her twin boys, coaching, playing, and watching softball and baseball, and actively volunteering with the Houston Rodeo.

Table moderator:

	Agatha Onuwaje Mrs. Onuwaje is a Senior Geohazards Specialist at Shell, with over 20 years of experience in geoscience and offshore energy development. She supports global well delivery and infrastructure planning, and has led initiatives in geohazards assessment and pore pressure prediction. Mrs. Onuwaje was the 2023 SEG North America Honorary Lecturer and actively promotes knowledge-sharing across the industry, including through Shell’s Open University and the Deepwater Operators’ Geohazards Forum.
	Roneet Das Roneet Das is a geotechnical engineer and researcher with experience across offshore and onshore energy projects. His work focuses on soil–structure interaction, interface shear behavior, geotechnical instrumentation, and geohazard assessment in terrestrial and marine environments. He has led laboratory testing and interpretive programs supporting offshore developments in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Mozambique, contributing to ground models and geotechnical bases of design for foundations, risers, and pipelines. His research applies Bayesian methods to pipe–soil interaction and slope stability. Roneet currently serves as Chair of the SUT Young Professionals Committee.
	Dr. Patrica Varela Dr. Patricia Varela is a Senior Geologist at Geosyntec Consultants in The Woodlands, Texas, with a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering and licensed Professional Geologist credentials. She specializes in offshore and onshore site characterization, geotechnical and geological hazard assessments, and risk-based decision-making for critical infrastructure. Patricia has led multidisciplinary teams across North and South America, supporting projects in pipeline integrity, landslide and submarine slope stability, and offshore site evaluation, utilizing probabilistic modeling, GIS, remote sensing, and geostatistics. As a former graduate research assistant at Texas A&M and founder of its Society for Underwater Technology chapter, she blends technical expertise with leadership in industry outreach.